girlfriends may june issue

Faribault • Northfield • Owatonna • St. Peter • WasecaGirlfriends Magazine • P.O. Box 537 • Northfield, MN 55057

Owatonna women find

friendship on the golf course. Health 101

TMJ a painful experience for many women.

May/June 2010

Treasure huntersGarage sale goddesses gear up for the season.

We Time introduces women to the region’s

18 golf courses.

DRIVE! PUTT! ENJOY!

i n s i d e

I know I’m going straight to Hell. This should be of no surprise to any of my

friends. Matter of fact, I like to think of myself as becoming the “Greeter” at the gates of Hell, welcoming the majority of my pals with open arms.

One (of a multitude) of rea-sons I’m pretty much assured of this position, is my complete hatred of forced small talk.

I know some customer service yahoo did a training ses-sion for my financial institution and turned all the tellers into Stepford Wives with a cus-tomer service chip. They came in to teach them to “make the customer feel like a returning friend.”

It makes me insane. The entire time they are “chatting” with me, I’m putting a response together in my head that would most likely get me jailed.

“Hi Mary, it’s Kathy. I’m go-ing to be making this deposit for you today.”

Thanks a ton Kathy, but unless we’re having Thanksgiv-ing dinner together, do I really need to know the name of the gal who is putting an $80 check into my account? I mean, let’s

say I had big money. If I were sending $100,000 through a tube to nowhere, yeah, I want to know your name. I might ac-tually come inside the bank and demand a copy of your driver’s license and a DNA sample, but $80. Really?

“Are you on your way to work today, Mary?”

Yes, and I’m late thanks to all your smarmy small talk. I have like $12 in my account, how can this possibly be taking so long. I’m aging as we speak.

“What bills would you like back, Mary?”

Gee, I don’t know … really big ones that are worth three times more than the check I deposited would be fabulous.

“That’s quite some weather we have today isn’t it, Mary?”

Kill me now…

“Your hair is much longer on your driver’s license photo.”

Thanks, Captain Obvious. I also lied by 12 years and about a hundred pounds, maybe you could poll the customers waiting in line and see which hairstyle they like best?

“I have an Aunt who has brown hair just like yours.”

At any time during this festive encounter did I inquire about your relatives? And if you send a photo of your kid through the tube with my cash, I will have you fired.

“Well, Mary, I’m making that deposit now. Your receipt should be shooting right out to you.”

Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up! If you say my name one more time, I will cut you.

“Is there anything else I can do for you today?”

Well, yes my new BFF, I’d love for you to come over and we can give each other pedicures and maybe later, we could braid each other’s hair. Super fun.

“Mary, you enjoy your week-end.”

No, no, no, a thousand times no. I thought we had already wrapped up our conversation Kathy. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in…

“Do you have anything spe-cial planned?”

Special … hmm, let’s see. I was thinking about killing some folks and making furniture out of human skin. Want to come over and help?

“Ok Mary. Hope this weath-er warms up a bit. Thanks again for your business.”

For the love of all that is holy, Kathy, stop talking. The Min-nesota goodbye is robbing me of the will to live. Next time I have $80 burning a hole in my pocket, I’m going to leave it un-der my mattress, or better yet, I may just throw the money in the street and drive over it be-cause I just spent five minutes of my life that I’m pretty sure I’m never getting back. G

— In reality, Mary Closner leads a life of high finance and multiple decimal points. She has well over $15 in her checking account at any given time.

Girlfriends.mn 3 May/June 2010

Mary Closner

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Volume 2, Issue 4Copyright © Girlfriends 2010Published May/June 2010 by: I-35 Target Media, P.O. Box 537, Northfield, MN 55057 / 507-645-1136Send releases and story ideas to: Jerry Smith at Girlfriends Magazine, [email protected]

Publisher: Julie Frazier Associate Editor: Jerry Smith Sales Associate: Nicole Howard Graphic Designer: Ashley PtacekPhotographer: Kelli WenclContributing writers: Azna A. Amira, Kari Berit, Mary Closner, Briana Gehring, Mary Beth Hagen and Amy Roemhildt.

Cover PhotoAfter Stacy Hanson, Mandy Young and Jolayne Mohs started golfing together on a regular basis at the Owa-tonna Country Club, their friendship began to bloom even more. Pages 6-7(Photo by Kelli Wencl)

About Us

26

Girlfriends MAY/JUNE 2010

Features8 GARAGE SALE GODDESSES As garage sale season switches into high gear, area women begin to get their items marked and ready for sale and their bargain-hunting skills honed.

14 ABOUT WINE Wine columnist Mary Beth Hagen tells us how she fell in love with wine and then takes us on her “natural” journey of discovery.

18 HELPING HANDS A network of massage therapists in Owatonna makes it their mission to help others feel good through the many different techniques of massage.

26 TMJ 101 Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome affects more than 60 million people nationally, with women afflicted twice as often as men. Girlfriends takes a closer look.

Women We Know13 BON APPETIT Through long hours in the kitchen and many exper- ments, Lina Vuleta has become a cake-making artist.

30 INSPIRED Jane Bartho’s love of arts and crafts has led the rural Faribault mom to success as a summer camp director.

Accessories3 Play Clothes

5 Contributing Writers / Updates

6-7 Covergirls

16 From the Kitchen

17 Unexpected Caregiver

24-25 We Time

8

Look for your next issue of Girlfriends the week of July 5

1830



Contributing Writers

Kari Berit

Kari Berit is a freelance writer living in Red Wing. She is the author of “The Unexpected Caregiver.” Mary

Closner

Mary Closner is the humor columnist for Girlfriends. In “Play Clothes,” Mary talks about a very chatty teller.

Azna A. Amira

Azna A. Amira is a freelance writer living in Northfield. Amira also writes for 35C business magazine.

Jerry Smith

Jerry Smith is Associate Editor for Girl-friends. He lives in Northfield with his wife and two boys.

Amy Roemhildt

Amy Roemhildt is a free-lance writer who lives in Janesville. She owns Akorn Creations.

Julie Frazieris Sales Director for Girlfriends. Call her at 507-837-5442 or email her at

[email protected]

Advertise in Girlfriends

Briana Gehring

Briana Gehring is a staff writer who lives in Waseca. She contributes to Girlfriends and 35C magazines.

Nicole Howardis an Advertis-ing Consultant for Girlfriends. Call her at 507-645-1135 or email her at

[email protected]

Corporate Graphics1/2 page ad

Coming in July/August

Rice County Habitat for Humanity is currently plan-

ning its 2010 Women’s Build, set to begin in July.

Gina Franklin, Habitat’s Director of Development, calls the Women’s Build an all day event where only women will work on the site.

“It’s an event where women come to build, learn skills and have fun,” said Franklin, who

is hoping for additional funding through the Women’s Foundation. “We have a female head of household with four children who will be our 2010 partner family for a home in Dundas.”

In the July/Au-gust issue of

Girlfriends, learn about the Women’s Build, how the families are chosen and much more . G

Habitat’s ‘2010 Women’s Build’ to be featured

Cover Girls

Golfing girlfriends enjoy the links, of courseBy JERRY SMITH

There’s an old adage in golf that goes something like this:

“Any day on the golf course beats a day at the office.”

That has never been more true for three girlfriends who meet regularly at the Owaton-na Country Club for a round of golf and a lot of laughs.

“Golf has been a very good social thing for all of us,” said Jolayne Mohs, who has been golfing with close friends Mandy Young and Stacy Hanson for nearly three years. “We end up doing things together sort of as a spin-off from golf.”

The three amigas would much rather be whooping it up or supporting each other on the golf course than working, and find that getting together is a big stress release.

“It’s an escape,” said 31-year-old Jolayne, who has two children ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. “For all of us, it’s a break from being a mom. We’re good friends and we lend moral support to each other.”

In the beginningWhile Jolayne and Mandy

have worked together for nearly five years, their rela-tionship has grown stronger now that they golf together. They have parlayed that love of the game into more social

events and a much deeper friendship.

“Mandy is much more than an acquaintance and golf partner,” said Jolayne, who has been a member of the Owatonna Country Club for three years and has golfed off and on for the better part of

10 years. “Our families get together in a social setting, but golf has really been a catalyst for a more personal friendship.”

Mandy couldn’t agree more.“Jolayne put me under her

wing and has encouraged me not only on the golf course,

but off as well,” said 37-year-old Mandy. “I consider them both good friends. We have a good time on the golf course and when we aren’t golfing.”

Stacy has her husband Scott to thank for her introduc-tion to both Jolayne, and a roundabout way, Mandy. Both Jolayne’s husband and Stacy’s husband golf together, which led to the introduction of their wives.

“A little more than two years ago, I met Stacy,” Jolayne said. “We were at a social function with our husbands and from there they started golfing together. Then we all joined in.”

Thursday night fun

While the three “Cover-girls” tend to golf and social-ize on a regular basis, there is a group of six or seven friends who take part in the Thurs-day night women’s golf league at the Country Club.

For Stacy, who has golfed the longest and tends to be the coordinator of most of the activities including golf, this group of women is tight-knit.

“While I do a lot with Jolayne and Mandy, all of the women in the group (in-cluding Peggy Hanson, Lori Haarstad, Michelle Simon and Tia Marks) are all good friends,” said 36-year-old Stacy. “We like to mix things up on Thursday nights.” >>>

“Golf has been a very good social thing for all of us. We end up doing things together sort of as a spin-off from golf.” — Jolayne Mohs, talking about her relationship with Mandy Young and Stacy Hanson

Girlfriends photo by Kelli Wencl of Ginger Snaps Photography

Stacy Hanson (from left), Mandy Young and Jolayne Mohs had fun during the Girlfriends “Covergirl” photo shoot recently at the Owatonna Country Club.



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Girlfriends photo by Kelli Wencl of Ginger Snaps Photography

Mandy Young (standing on left), Jolayne Mohs and Stacy Hanson (sitting) strike poses at the Owatonna Country Club.

“They’re just fun to be around.” — Mandy Young, talking about golfing with her girlfriends

All for fun?While all of the women in

the group will tell you they golf primarily for enjoyment, if pressed, each would say they have a competitive side.

“We are all competitive, but we pretend we aren’t,” Jolayne said. “That’s what makes it so fun.”

When asked, Jolayne and Mandy said that Stacy has the upper hand when it comes to golf.

“Stacy is the better golfer,” Jolayne said. “She’s competitive, but not in an obvious way. We all want to golf well, though.”

While Stacy has been golfing the longest, she says she isn’t always the best.

“I’m the one who is most dedicated to golf, but I don’t always golf the best,” said Stacy,

who has been golfing for nearly 15 years. “I’ve been golfing with my husband since we moved to Owatonna, so I’ve been getting better at the game. It was learn or be left behind. I love it now.”

But when things aren’t going quite as planned, you might find one of the women, includ-ing Stacy, drop out of the game and just walk with the others.

“There are nights that one of us might get frustrated on the sixth hole and say ‘I’m just going to walk along,” Stacy said. “It’s not all about the golf score.”

In fact, all three would agree that the game takes a back seat to the fun and camaraderie.

“Golfing with women in a more relaxed atmosphere has made the game more fun.” Stacy said. G


Area women prepare wares, skills for upcoming seasonBy BRIANA GEHRING

Photos by JERRY SMITH

Most people have heard the garage sale slogans like

“you never know what you’ll find,” and “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” They are mottos that the hardcore garage-salers — both those who hold the garage sales and those who shop them — keep in mind. But for many, it is more than that.

Garage sales are really a form of entertainment and socialization for most of the women who love the sales. Not only do shoppers meet new people while searching for their own treasures, they also tend to run into people they know. At least that is the case for Kay Schmidt of Owatonna.

“I love to go garage saling,” she said. “It’s my entertain-ment.”

Schmidt is one of the lone wolf shoppers. She’ll check out

the newspapers for sales before getting up early to check it out. She looks for sales that are within walking distance of each other so she can park once and get some exercise while seeing what people have to sell.

“You’re outside, walking. You meet people you know and find treasures,” Schmidt said. “It’s just great.”

Schmidt prefers to shop alone because of her shopping style. Everyone tends to >>> ‘‘

“If you go with the intent of finding

something specific, it will never hap-

pen. It’s the kiss of death.”

— Kay Schmidt, Owatonna garage sale

aficionado

Goddesses

Garage Sale


>>> shop at a different pace, so instead of getting frustrated with waiting, she goes alone and just runs into people she knows.

Of course, buying stuff is still a part of her journey. Schmidt tends to look for things like jewelry, purses and dragon figurines, but doesn’t have anything specific in mind when she goes.

“If you go with the intent of finding something specific, it

will never happen,” she said. “It’s the kiss of death.”

Schmidt did find some great deals when she wasn’t looking, though. At one garage sale, she found a Christian Brothers entertainment center in good condition for what she called “a steal.”

“It’s huge and gorgeous,” she said. “It was a tremendous deal.”

Unfortunately, Schmidt’s strategy works a little too well.

She is still shopping but has to be careful with what she brings home now. According to the Owatonna garage sale aficionado, she’s at saturation point and is ready to get rid of some of her finds. Schmidt plans to have her own garage sale this year thanks to all the treasures she’s found.

“With the amount you spend on the stuff, you don’t have to keep them,” Schmidt said.

Different town, strategyRose Thissen of Waseca

has a little different strategy. Her garage sale excursions are rarely planned and can be with or without people. Thissen has made stops when she was driv-ing home from work or passing a sign on vacation.

“If there’s time, you can’t let a sale go,” Thissen said.

One of those signs that called to Thissen resulted in her biggest purchase. >>>

‘‘“A bargain isn’t a bargain unless you need it. Everyone loves a bargain.” — Rose Thissen, Waseca bargain hunter

Stacy Becker and Renee Wilson

of Faribault take inventory of what

they will be selling at their first garage sale. Both women love to have sales

and go in search of bargains.

Rose Thissen of Waseca and her sister, Dorothy Dunn

of Owatonna, collect figurines and glass villages, which

they’ve found during their garage sale excursions.

Kay Schmidt of Owatonna is a lone wolf shopper,

someone who likes to go rummaging by herself.

The lone shopper Bargain hunters

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>>> Coming back from a picnic in New Richland, Thissen happened to see a sign. She stopped, of course, to take a look and ended up taking home a piano for $300.

“It was calling my name,” Thissen said.

Thissen looks at the sales as a way to get the things she needs. She says that her kids grew up on garage sale clothes and she gets many practical things from the sales. Cookbooks, kitchen-ware, craft materials and rubber stamps are some of the things she usually finds.

“A bargain isn’t a bargain un-less you need it,” Thissen said.

Even if she is just stop-ping by herself on her way back from work, she enjoys the hunt. If she doesn’t find anything she wants to buy, she still has the experience to look back on.

“It’s the money you save, the treasures you find, and the people you meet,” Thissen said. “It’s just fun.”

The sellers also look at the sales as a chance to talk with the customers as much as sell them stuff. Like many ga-rage-salers, Thissen does both buying and selling. Every year, she tries to have a sale with her sister, Dorothy Dunn. They rummage through their houses

to put unneeded items out at a reduced price.

“Everyone loves a bargain,” Thissen said.

To Dunn and Thissen, it is the joy they give others that really makes the sales worth-while. They love seeing the joy on their shoppers’ faces when

they get something they’ve re-ally wanted for much cheaper than they would have if it were new. Plus, some years they use the profit from their sales to benefit charities like the American Cancer Society and the Arthritis Foundation.

If that isn’t enough, they also get stories to go with the items purchased. For example, one customer was a hunter that went to Montana every year with his friends. He managed to find an old canvas tent that would fit fifteen people at one of Thissen’s sales. There was also a customer who got a tuba for his kids for about a hundred dollars less than he normally would pay.

“It’s amazing the stories you hear,” Thissen said. “It’s very fun.”

Everyone, everything has a story

Stacy Becker of Faribault also enjoys the stories. Usually twice a year, Becker has sales with her friend Renee Wilson >>>

Michelle Gaydeski of Northfield has organized a

neighborhood garage sale that has grown each year.Community minded


>>> and anyone else who wishes to contribute.

“We get so much stuff,” Becker said. “Neighbors drive by laughing at the stuff flowing out of our garage.”

Thanks to her low prices and the different items she gets to sell, she has plenty of customers that come back year after year. She now knows some of her customers’ circumstances and stories. She finds out about their kids and some of the things she’s sold them that continue to work for them.

“Saving tons of money is the greatest joy,” Becker said. “That’s why we’re so busy.” One of her favorite and biggest sales was a Chrysler LeBaron convertible. It was sold to a couple from Iowa who had just come up to Min-nesota to visit some friends.

There also was a woman who Becker remembers was just “tickled pink” that she got a valuable antique at such a good

price.“If it’s something they collect,

they’re going to enjoy it 10 times more since they didn’t pay the full price,” Becker said.

Becker is very easy going on her prices. Most of her clothes go for about 50 cents. She also lets the shoppers haggle a bit, since it’s more about the people being happy and her house be-ing cleared out a little.

“It’s fun to see people and watch people grab this or that,” Becker said. “If is reasonably priced, it will be gone. It’s great to get a good reputation.”

Community saleMichelle Gaydeski of North-

field has many people contribut-ing to the sale in her neighbor-hood, but in a different manner. Every year, she sends out a notice to her community about a neighborhood garage sale. Each household that wants to partici-pate holds its own sale, with a preview for their neighbors the

night before.Gaydeski started with her

own sales. When she lived in Iowa, she lived in a house that had been turned into apart-ments before they moved in. When she and her husband moved in, they remodeled and had cabinets, doors and sinks for sale. She remembers that the community was a little economi-cally depressed and a woman came up to her wanting one of the doors. It turns out she couldn’t afford the door, but needed it since her current door was so warped garter snakes kept coming in beneath the door.

“I told her ‘take it, you need it,’” Gaydeski said.

The community idea hap-pened after she moved to Min-nesota. By combining everyone’s garage sales at the same time, she said it not only gives shop-pers more to choose from, but gives the neighborhood a chance

to get out and talk.“It brings the neighborhood

together,” Gaydeski said. “It’s about reconnecting with people and meeting the new neigh-bors.”

Now, the neighborhood garage sale in her community is so popular that Gaydeski doesn’t even need to advertise any more. Customers return year after year, and the neighborhood gets a chance to get rid of their stuff and donate the leftovers after-wards. In fact, Gaydeski intends to donate all the money she earns to 5th Bridge, a volunteer organization.

For most of these women, it’s not about the money. It’s more about the people and the experi-ence. Money is only a perk.

“It’s mainly just for fun,” Gaydeski said. G

— Briana Gehring is a free-lance writer for Girlfriends. She can be reached at 507-444-2378.

>>> Selling strategies from the “Garage Sale Goddesses” >>>


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Start early By pricing things you

may want to sell as you find them, you cut down on time later on. “During the winter, I mark things and put them in a tote,” Becker said. Direct

Making a sign and blowing up a few balloons can do wonders for your garage sale attendance. Signs that label each turn also help.

Price wiselyHaving prices that re-

quire coin returns means you have to have the change available. Also if it’s too much, the custom-ers will move on.

Keep it “full” lookingIf people think you’ve

sold out most of your stuff, they won’t stop. Move your stuff to the

front to create the illusion of fully-stocked.

“There’s nothing more frustrating than people who slow down or stop, then just drive by,” Gaydeski said.

Organize Shoppers don’t want to

dig for their treasures and

often times they won’t.

Clean itIf it’s dirty and looks

trashy, it won’t sell. Add-ing soap and water may equal a sale.

BundleBy putting nice things

together with little things

you want to get rid of, they sell better.

Beware false advertisingBe careful what you

mark for free. If it’s junk, it won’t be taken. If it’s mis-leading, you may end up with upset customers.

“I once had empty DVD cases and a customer thought I was giving away movies for free,” Gaydeski said. “She was very upset that she had gone through all the boxes.”

Take timeWith all the work that

you put into the garage sale, it doesn’t make sense to have it only one day. By having your garage sale two or three days, you tend to get more people with different schedules coming in and more gets sold. G

Selling strategies

Bon Appetit


By AMY ROEMHILDTPhoto by JERRY SMITH

There’s only one thing better than the pride

Lina Vuleta of Waseca puts into her work. Her creations taste even better than they look.

Owner/operator of the State Street Bistro, Vuleta caters delicious meals for weddings and parties. Her busy schedule reflects demand for her reason-ably priced, gourmet dinners. As good as the meals are, State Street Bistro can be said to save the best for last.

Ah, the cake. An expert baker and culinary artist, Vu-leta works with her husband, Predrag, to prepare cakes and pastries that are mouth-watering works of art. She develops recipes, bakes and he decorates. Together, they create tasty sculptures that have earned them a shining reputation.

The success the Waseca business enjoys today came

through determination and long hours. Vuleta admits that she’s learned a lot about baking and decorating cakes since she opened the State Street Bistro more than five years ago.

Vuleta is a native Croatian and Predrag is from Bosnia. It’s been 11 hears since they moved with their two daugh-ters to Waseca from their home in Germany.

“I’ve always been a good cook, but the only formal training I’ve taken was to be a hairdresser,” Vuleta shared.

Trial and errorCompletely self taught, Lina

and Predrag worked for 48 consecutive hours to initiate their method of making wed-ding cakes.

“We had a computer and some books,” Vuleta said. “We kept trying different things until we were happy with it.”

Vuleta says she spent the first two years in business learning and proving herself as a baker, caterer and business

owner. Now well-established with a full calendar, she works an occasional eight-hour day, but most of her days are 12-16 hours long. She bakes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and works most weekends.

“I grew up with this busi-ness, and now I know what I’m doing,” she said.

Today, most of Vuleta’s trials end in anything but error. She spends part of each day figur-ing out new tastes, textures and flavor combinations for her own unique recipes.

“I don’t try to save money on ingredients,” she said. “Every-thing I use is real and every-thing is from scratch. If I make an orange-flavored cake, the taste comes from real oranges.”

Vuleta develops specially flavored cakes for brides, and offers a tasting session once she has perfected it to make sure the bride will be happy. Like any artist, she enjoys see-ing how beautiful the cakes be-come when Predrag completes the decorating.

“He has golden hands,” Vu-leta says of her husband’s cake decorating skills.

Two years ago, the Waseca couple agreed to make a three-foot cake replica of the Capital Building to celebrate Minne-sota’s 150 years of statehood. It went on display in front of the State House of Representa-tives Chambers before being devoured by lawmakers.

“We were very proud of that cake, and prouder yet to be the ones asked to make it,” she said. That cake, along with many other samples, can be viewed by visiting www.bistrocakes.com.

Vuleta says she loves her work. But even more, she enjoys making her customers happy.

“There are lots of things I like about my job,” Vuleta said. “But when we deliver a wedding cake and I get to watch the bride’s face when she sees it for the first time, that’s when I am really happy about what I do.” G

Baking cakes is the icing on Waseca caterer’s job

Lina Vuleta has spent countless hours in

the kitchen perfecting the cakes made at the State Street Bistro in

Waseca. Vuleta and her husband make cakes

for all occasions.


about:WineIt’s a little intimidating when someone

calls you an “expert” in anything, espe-cially when you just consider yourself a

“student.”That is a bit of how I felt reading the intro-

duction to my wine column in the last issue of Girlfriends.

I enjoy wine — learning about it, talking about it, teaching others about it and most of all, drinking it.

And, I suppose that after about 12 years of being fascinated with wine, I may know more about it than most people I meet. But an ex-pert? Not yet. Let’s stick with the “wine friend” title, OK?

I’m often asked how I got started learning about wine. In 1994, my father asked what I would like for Christmas. He had often shared good bottles of wine with me, so I asked him to help me learn more about wine.

He gave me a subscription to Wine Spectator magazine, a copy of the current “Wine Buying Guide” and a case of assorted wines — mostly Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlots.

And while I don’t remember the names of any wines in that case, I know I started with sweeter, white wines and wanted nothing to do with the big, bold Cabs that now take up the most space in my wine collection.

In talking with people over the years, it seems like there is a very natural progression of

learning to love wine. Nearly everyone who en-joys wine began by sipping a fruity wine cooler or a White Zinfandel.

It is a natural progression to then fall in love with a sweet German Riesling — a favorite of mine was the Piesporter Michelsberg — or a light Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris depending on what country makes the wine).

Then as wine becomes something that you enjoy with meals rather than just a summer deck drink, most people will discover a won-derful, buttery California Chardonnay or a mel-low Merlot. This is when most people become curious to learn a lot more about wine.

But the real transition happens when you are introduced to that first beautiful Cabernet Sau-vignon. Not a run of the mill Cab or a trendy blend with a crazy name, but a true Napa or Bordeaux Cab that absolutely blows away every preconceived notion about what red wine tastes like.

I clearly remember my “first.” It was a 1994 Duckhorn that I bought for $24 at a wine sale. I had no idea what I was buying, but I was told that it was a great deal.

So I bought it and opened it that evening. And fell in love with wine.

I spent the next 10 years buying a lot of red wine — mostly Cab, Merlot and Zinfandel. I turned my nose up at fruity white wines and would only drink red. >>>

Photo by Tom Caya “About: Wine” columnist Mary Beth Hagen has recently launched a wine endeavor called “Make Wines Mine,” which is a business dedicated to matching people with the best wine experience possible. Read her column about differ-ent wine-related topics in each issue of Girlfriends.

Northfield’s ‘wine friend’ says there is a natural progression in learning to love wine

215 2nd Ave NE • WasecaCall: 507-835-8301

www.gloriabutler.net

Gloria ButlerAgent

Convenient home delivery is available for just $20 a year!

To subscribe, visit www.girlfriends.mn

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where local women turn

Faribault • Northfield • Owatonna • St. Peter • Waseca

March/April

2010


318 Central Ave. N, Suite 6 | Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 334-3988 | www.cheesecave.net

Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-5:30pm, Thur-Sat 10am-8pm, Sunday Closed

We are the Factory Outlet for Faribault Dairy’s International Award Winning cheeses and so much more!

We carry over 40 different cheeses from all over the World; Spain, France, Britain, Australia and yes, even Wisconsin!

Stop in and taste each and every cheese. We want you to have a culinary experience with our cheeses. We’ll make suggestions about other foods and wines to pair them with that will tickle your palate!

Everything we carry is gourmet quality.Come in for a taste and stay for the experience.

Golf, cheese and great wineBring in your golf scorecard, purchase a glass of wine and you’ll get to keep the

Cheese Cave wine glass for FREE.Limit one per customer. Expires June 30, 2010

than an Artisan Cheese Shop

We are so much more...

Visit us for the Experience...

>>> The next big stepMy first trip to the Napa Val-

ley area took place on a rainy December weekend in 2000 and visiting a variety of winer-ies piqued my interest in trying a broader selection of wines and to learn more about the myriad grapes that make those wines. I tried Sauvignon Blancs, Petite Syrahs and Pinot Noirs that helped develop an apprecia-tion for many different types of wine.

As I’ve talked with people through the years about my

wine journey, I’ve found that almost everyone takes a similar path in learning to enjoy wine. They start with sweet white wines, progress to more “food appropriate wines,” discover great reds, then simply try a variety of wines to learn more with each new bottle opened.

And that is why I still consid-er myself a student — the more I learn about wine, the more I discover how many more bottles are out there to try.

So I’ll keep learning, one bottle at a time. G

Tips: Wines to try along your ‘Personal Path’ u If you prefer a Riesling or Pinot Grigio • Try a Piesporter Michelsberg Kabinett for a fun alternative to a simple Ries-ling.• If you’ve fallen for Pinot Grigio, taste the Benesserre from the Carneros region of Napa Valley to tempt your taste buds.

u If Pinot Noir is high on your list of favorites, try these options ...• If you haven’t discovered Oregon Pinot Noirs, check out your local wine shop for something from the Willamette Valley for an earthy taste of the Northwest.• Many people have ignored Merlot after the movie “Sideways” attempted to give it a bad name. But this mellow wine can be a real surprise. Try a merlot from Hogue Winery in Washington for a consistently yummy wine with your summer grill menu.

u Does Chardonnay make you happy? • Taste what oak does or doesn’t do. • Cambria “Katherine’s Vineyard” Chardonnay is a great, slightly oaky Califor-nia example.• Kim Crawford un-oaked Chardonnay can give you a new opinion of this grape.

u For the Cabernet Sauvignon fan, you might love a variety of Cab blends ...• Try the Stephen Vincent “Crimson” for a Syrah/Cabernet blend that is a great value.• Ask your wine store friend for a true “Bordeaux Blend” from France and expe-rience why many wine lovers fill their cellars with the best of these wines.

u Ready to try some crisp Sauvignon Blanc for the summer? Try these great values ... • Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc is a true summer sparkler.• Simi Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma is a great transition wine for Chardonnay lovers.

u If you know Zinfandel is a bold red wine, you can’t go wrong with these ... • The Bogle Old Vine Zin or the Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel are consistent favorites• For something a little more bold, try the Murphy Goode “Liar’s Dice” or the Dry Creek “Heritage” Zinfandel.

u South American Malbecs are great wine values right now ...• Gascon is an Argentina winery making a fantastic, smooth Malbec for a great price.• If you like Malbec, try a Carmenere blend from Chile for something new.

Remember that the most important thing is to find what YOU like!

Since Richard’s Restaurant & Pub opened in St. Peter a little over two years ago, Em-

ily Streeter has been providing patrons with delectable dishes that have not only become favorites in St. Peter, but also in the region.

In the past month, her Thai Barbecue Country Style Ribs have become a favorite at Richard’s.

“This dish has been a top seller since we added it to our spring menu more than a month ago,” she said. “They are pretty simple to make. People can definitely make them at home.”

• On the Web: www.richardsstpeter.com


RIBS1. Mix together all of the dry season-ings and rub down the ribs, let rest 30 minutes to bloom the spices.2. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat, add oil and sear the ribs until golden brown on each side. 3. Place the seared ribs in an oven proof casserole dish, add diced onion and add water ¾ the way up the ribs.4. Bake the ribs at 350 degrees for 3 hours until tender.

RICE 1. Rinse the rice in a colander very well until the rinsing water runs clear.2. Place the Rice, water, coconut milk and salt in a medium size sauce pan over high heat. 3. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, stir once and cover. 4. Let simmer on low heat 25 minutes.

SLAW1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.

Thai Barbecue

Country Style Ribs

Ing

re

die

nt

s:

Dir

ec

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:You can find the popular Thai Barbecue Country Style Ribs at Richard’s Restaurant & Pub in St. Peter (507-934-4988).

Girlfriends photos by Jerry Smith

From the Kitchen

RIBS• (8) 6-7 ounce Country Style Ribs• 2 Tablespoons salt• 2 teaspoons pepper• 2 Tablespoons Herbs d’ Provence• 1 Tablespoon paprika• 1 Tablespoon sugar• 2 Bay Leaves• 1 onion (large) diced• 4 Tablespoon oil

RICE• 1 cup short grain Japanese-style rice• ½ cup water• ¾ cup coconut milk• 2 teaspoons salt

SLAW• 1 carrot (julienned finely)• ¼ pound sugar snap peas (julienned finely)• 2 Tablespoon soy sauce• 2 teaspoons brown sugar• 1 Tablespoon water• 2 Tablespoon Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce

BARBEQUE SAUCE• 1 cup barbeque sauce (use your favorite brand)• 1 cup Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce

Keeping the brain active as we age helps ward off dementiaPop quiz: true or false?

1. Memory loss is a natu-ral part of the aging process.

2. Once memory “goes,” nothing can bring it back.

3. There is nothing you can do to slow the aging of your brain.

How did you do? All three true? Two out of three? Try none out of three. The brain is like a muscle. “Use it or lose it” is the operative phrase. And age has very little to do with it.

According to Madison (Wis.) native Marge Engel-man in Aerobics of the Mind (1996: Attainment Company), “Researchers estimate that the normal brain has a quadrillion connections between the brain cells, more than all the phone calls made in the United States in the past decade.”

There’s some drop off as we age, but not enough to be mathematically significant if we keep the brain active and in shape. The more connections, the more our brains (as seen through wondrous tools like

MRIs) look like dense thickets. By contrast, the MRIs of

those whose brains don’t stay active, or are affected by diseases and alien substances (including alcohol), look like a sparse woods.

The point: Do everything you can to make sure your brain resembles that thick forest.

That’s easier said than done, of course. Many people over 50 – and especially over 70 – be-come their mind’s own worst enemies. They believe getting old means doing less, thinking less, challenging less and creat-ing less.

On our fridge is a cartoon that explains my dad: a picture of an older guy trying to open a can by pounding it on the

counter. The caption reads: “The less it appears you have to do, the less you’ll have to do.”

My dad, who’s in otherwise good mental and physical health at 68, often pretends he can’t do something. Partly, it’s to bug me, I suspect, and partly to get out of doing something.

Aging doesn’t = dementiaThese days, the fear of liter-

ally “losing” our minds is wide-spread. In reality, however, the various forms of dementia out there (Alzheimer’s is only one of them) are still statistically rare. According to a Harvard track-ing study, dementia currently affects about one American in 100.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that age is defi-nitely a factor. Currently, it’s estimated that dementia will affect 10 percent of Americans over the age of 65 – roughly half over the age of 85.

Those stats are subject to change, however. For your own mental health, and for that of

your parents, whose care may be an increasingly pressing con-cern for you as they age, don’t give in to the myths of aging.

• Stay active physically – walk, exercise, keep the sup-ply of blood (and oxygen) to the brain at a high level.

• Eat healthy – more fresh fruit and veggies, less processed sugars and fats; more water, less caffeine and booze.

• Challenge yourself men-tally.

• Do brain stimulating activities – Sudoku, crossword puzzles, playing cards and games with a little complexity.

People say you’re only as old as you think you are. They’re right. So forget about acting your age. Act your smarts instead. G

— Kari Berit (KariBerit.com) is the author of “The Unexpected Caregiver: How Boomers Can Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent.” She delivers in-formative and humorous keynotes about care giving and aging.

KARI BERIT

(w/dad)

Unexpected Caregiver


Connect to the real you - look as beautiful as you feel

www.owatonnaclinic.com www.almedcenter.org

Albert Lea Medical Center

Owatonna Clinic and Albert Lea Medical Center welcome Dr. Yao, with a fellowship in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery from Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City, NY.Dr. Yao offers “head-to-toe” cosmetic and reconstructive plastic

surgery of all kinds. He sees patients at Owatonna Clinic and Albert Lea Medical Center.

For a consultation please call:507.451.1120 - Owatonna 507.379.2130 - Albert Lea


Helping HandsMassage Therapist network helps keep Owatonna relaxed

By BRIANA GEHRING Photos by BRIANA GEHRING

& JERRY SMITH

They start at your head, working and stretching the muscles in your neck

and face. Next come the legs and arms,

with hands moving firmly to

warm the muscles and release tension.

Then it’s onto the back. The two massage therapists work in har-mony making relaxing patterns.

As soon as one move is complet-ed, it is repeated by another set of hands, only to be repeated again and again.

The session continues. More

legs, more arms, hot towels and then, all too soon, your hour is up and your muscles feel at one with the table. In fact, you feel so re-laxed that you’re not sure whether you can actually move.

That is tandem massage. Massage therapist networkTandem massage is one of the

specialties of a group of four >>>

>>> massage therapists who live and work around Owa-tonna. The certified massage therapists work together to give their clients what they need. They support each other, answer each other’s questions, refer clients to one another, work group events and do tandem massages.

“When they begin to snore, we know we’re doing re-ally well,” said Vicki Ankrum, massage therapist and owner of Westbridge Hair Stylists in Owatonna.

Diane Racek is one of the four massage therapists in the network. After years in another career, Racek received a sug-gestion that really made sense to her. She had always enjoyed giving back massages and that gentle push was just what she

needed to move forward.“I’ve always been a person

who likes to help others,”

Racek said. “It’s just natural.” Racek went back to school

for massage therapy and now

she has her own business. She also has space at Westbridge, where she works with Ankrum, doing events and tandem massage. Some of the types of massage she uses are hot and cold stone therapy, deep tissue, trigger-point and pregnancy massage.

Ankrum is also somewhat new to the massage business. For 35 years, she enjoyed help-ing people as a hair stylist. But the chemicals took their toll. Although she still loved her job, she developed an allergy to hair dye. She decided a good alternative would be massage therapy, so she went to River-land Community College in Albert Lea and learned massage therapy.

“I totally enjoy helping people and I’m not allergic to


Vicki Ankrum (from left), Diane Racek, Sandy Beene and Tim Turner say Owatonna and the surrounding area is in good hands with their massage therapist network.

“When they begin to snore, we know we’re doing really well.” — Vicki Ankrum, Owatonna massage therapist

Vicki Ankrum and Diane Racek perform a tandem massage, which they say is one of their specialties.


At your fingertipsIf you’re interested in planning a massage party or individual events, you can call any one of the four massage therapists.

• Tim Turner (952-200-4649)

• Sandy Beene at McGregor Chiropractic (507-455-0199)

• Vicki Ankrum at Westbridge Hair Stylist (507-455-1580)

• Diane Racek at Westbridge or 507-363-1141

408 Central Ave E.Medford, MN

507-214-KIDSMon-Fri: 6am-6pm

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>>> lotion or people so I thought it would be a good choice,” Ankrum said. “It was a challenge, but I’m so glad I did it.”

Ankrum’s techniques overlap with Racek’s a little. Relaxation, trigger-point, cupping, reflexology and dry brushing are a few of the techniques she uses.

“It makes you feel really good when you help some-

body feel better,” Ankrum said.

Tim Turner is the third member of the group. Turner actually started out going to school for physical therapy. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in kinesiology with a concen-tration in physical therapy. During that time, he came to the realization that he would never be working for himself as a physical therapist. That’s when he decided that a good way to combine his previous schooling with his desire to help people and be his own boss was to become a mas-sage therapist.

Turner went back to school for massage therapy, graduated and started his own business: “T Squared Massage and Body Works.” Turner usually works out of Northfield at “Monarch: The Enchanted Garden,” but also accepts appointments outside of the office. Turner’s spe-cialty is myofascial release, but he also uses some of the same techniques as Ankrum and Racek.

“I help them (my clients) live well so they don’t get into a jam and need to come and see me,” Turner said.

Sandy Beene knew what she wanted to do right away. She loved giving massages to her family and friends and finally she was persuaded that she could make a career out of it.

“When they told me I could be a professional, I was like ‘Yes!’ It was an exciting day for me,” Beene said.

Beene attended the Arizona School of Massage Therapy in Tempe, Ariz. After gradua-tion, she moved to Owatonna and is now a certified mas-sage therapist and chiroprac-tic assistant with McGregor Chiropractic.

Beene’s techniques include: deep tissue, trigger-point, injury, structural and sports. She also does a Russian lymphatic technique that is only taught two places in the world, her school being one of them.

“I wanted to do something in the medical field,” Beene said. “This way I help people

“A lot (of people) are fearful about letting go, but the greatest thing is to let it happen and flush it out.”

— Diane Racek, Owatonna massage therapist


Call 507-646-1478 for your appointment.

It’s women caring for women at Women’s Health Center of Northfield Hospital & Clinics. Our OB/GYN specialistis see women of all ages in Northfield, Lonsdale, Farmington and Lakeville. They deliver babies and per-form surgeries at Northfield Hospital.

This unique practice provides you an opportunity to get supportive and com-prehensive care from clinicians who un-derstand your time of life and under-stand how to best meet your needs.

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>>> achieve goals and help them on a daily basis.”

Forming the networkThe group of massage

therapists got together thanks to Racek’s exploring. She met Turner at the American Mas-sage Therapy Association and started talking with him and asking him questions.

Racek also started getting massages from different people around town. The group that formed is more about having support and a professional person to call on if they need an extra set of hands.

“It’s a group that can get together, ask questions and not feel uncomfortable,” Racek said. “We can trust one another.”

One of the things the group truly believes is the customer

has to come first. Each client has different needs and differ-ent likes and dislikes. They are asked about their health, stress

level and their day. “The first few sessions are

the clients getting used to the therapists and the therapists

seeing how the muscles react,” Racek said.

The session is all about you. It’s about your stress level, your day and your comfort. Once the massage therapists enter the room, the only thing they’re thinking about is the patient. That may mean the session starts with some questions.

When the session actually starts, the massage therapist can actually feel your tension, your stress and your emotions. Each therapist has had clients cry or even laugh on the table.

“A lot are fearful about letting go, but the greatest thing is to let it happen and flush it out,” Racek said. “We’re therapists, we know what’s going on.”

The experience is all about healing. It lets the patient know their body so they can know if something is wrong. >>>

Vicki Ankrum and Tim Turner perform a tandem massage on partner Sandy Beene. While the four massage therapists give each other mas-sages to practice, they also trade massages to release stress.

“It’s amazing how much massage helps with fibromyalgia.” — Sandy Beene, Owatonna massage therapist


Don’t miss a story

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1-800-804-3361www.amyswainhearingcenters.comAudiologists have the education and

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Free hearing aid consultation from a Doctorate level audiologist.

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>>> If someone is emotional, the therapist tries to calm him/her with different techniques. If there is pain, the massage works to relieve that pain.

“Massage is a way to know your body and feel if something is not normal,” Turner said. “Because we live so much in our mind, we can limp along for a long time before we break down.”

The four MTs have fixed head-aches, allowed people to relax

at a deeper level and have eased the pain of fibromyalgia. They also provide a comforting touch to those suffering from terminal

disease. Some of them have had cancer patients that just need to feel human contact.

“It’s amaz-ing how much massage helps with fibromyal-gia,” Beene said. “Some clients come in with pain everywhere. They leave feel-ing better, to a

point where they can manage the pain.” >>>

from the publishers ofmagazine | 2010 Vol. 1

Team om mWe’re in this together.

where local women turn

Regional events

Family-friendly fun

Tips and trips

Teachable moments

Useful listings and more!

Pick up your FREE copy

where you findGirlfriendsNew isssue this July!

For advertising information contact Nicole Howard at 507-645-1135 or [email protected].

A regional guide for mothers of children through age 12.

“We give them exactly what they need to achieve their goals and get us on the same level.”

— Sandy Beene, Owatonna massage therapist


150 St. Andrews Court, Suite 510 Mankato • 507.386.1699WWW.CHERRYCREEKCABINETWORKS.COM • MN General Contractor #20585428

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Welcoming atmospherePart of the healing is the at-

mosphere. In order for people to relax, there must be a good atmosphere. That means the appropriate music and lighting, plus a bed that is comfortable and sometimes heated. The rooms and lo-tions are also scentless for those who are allergic to the scent.

“We give them exactly what they need to achieve their goals and get us on the same level,”

Beene said. The group also tries to bring

that atmosphere to the events it works. The MTs do parties,

such as mother-daughter days, girl’s night out, bachelor parties and other events.

“We all bring something to the table,” Turner said. “We all have different approaches to massage.” G

— Briana

Gehring is a staff writer for

Girlfriends magazine. She can be reached at 507-444-2378.

“We all bring something to the table. We all have different approaches to massage.”

— Tim Turner, Northfield/Owatonna massage therapist

We Time | Golf

GolfNo matter which study about women and golf you look at,

the one fact about women and partici-pation in the game remains the same.

While women make up more than half of the U.S. population, less than 25 percent of total golfers are women.

Area golf clubs recognize that trend and are doing more to attract women to the game.

“I have not only seen changes in the number of women golfing, but also when they are golfing,” said Mike Luckcraft, general manager and direc-tor of golf at Northfield Golf Club. “Our women’s day is on Wednesday at the club, and I have seen fewer women golfing in the morning session and more in the afternoons.

“There are simply more women working now and also more women taking part in work-related events.”

Luckcraft’s observations about women participating in more execu-tive golf leagues and in work-related events is substantiated by a Sports & Leisure Research Group study that surveyed 1,000 career women about golf as a tool for networking and doing business. Of the women surveyed, 73 percent agreed that golf helped them develop new relationships and to network. And, 22 percent of executive women golfers have closed business on the golf course.

But that’s not the only focus on women at Northfield Golf Club, according to Luckcraft. With more clinics, leagues, programs and events geared toward women, NGC has taken a proactive role in getting more women involved in the game.

“We definitely try to encourage new women to participate in the game of

golf,” Luckcraft said. “Golf has been a male-dominated sport from a partici-pation standpoint and we are trying to do women-specific things to change that.”

Northfield Golf Club isn’t the only club with an eye on attracting more women to the game. Waseca Lakeside Club professional Jeff Richards says his club has a full complement of activities and leagues for women.

“We’ll see 100 women on Ladies Day, and that has increased since I started,” said Richards, who is in his 18th year at Lakeside Club. “We’re doing all we can to appeal to both genders.”

For those women who want to experi-ence the game of golf, Girlfriends has provided a listing of the golf courses in the region. Call or visit these clubs online to get started. >>>


4Lessons, anyone?

Sue Bremer likes to keep things in per-spective when it comes to teaching golf.

“Women are different than men and want different things from golf lessons,” said Bremer, who has been a LPGA teaching professional since 1986. “I pride myself on teaching each person as an individual.”

As both a golf course manager and a teaching pro for more than 30 years, Bremer has seen a lot of changes both in the number of women who are now golf-ing and in what they are looking for in lessons. Cur-rently, the ratio of women to men tak-ing lessons from her is 65-35, and she doesn’t mind that in the least.

“In general, women’s strengths are different from those of men and I recognize that when I’m giving les-sons,” said Bremer, a Cannon Falls native who now lives in the Twin Cities but teaches and coaches junior varsity golf in the town where she grew up. “I try to relate a swing to some-thing they have previously done because not all of the women I teach have been in athletics. For instance, some of the older women I have relate their swings and body movements to waltzing, which is something they know.”

Bremer also believes that the better you know a person and their tendencies, the easier it is to help them with their game.

“That certainly helps,” Bremer said. “You see more women who want to learn to play golf for work-related reasons.

“Whereas men have been involved in golfing events for work for a long time now, women want to be a part of that as well. You see a lot more women in executive golf leagues.” G

— For personalized golf lessons from Sue Bremer, call 612-724-6623.

Girlfriends photo by Jerry Smith Sue Bremer giving golf les-sons at Gopher Hills.


CoursesAccording to the Minne-

sota Golf Association, there are 18 golf courses in the region where Girlfriends magazine publishes. Now it’s up to you which one you want to play.

Cannon Falls

• Cannon Golf ClubPublic/18 holes507-263-3126cannongolfclub.com

• Gopher Hills Golf CoursePublic/18 & 9 holes507-263-2507gopherhills.com

• Summit Golf ClubPublic/18 & 9 holes507-263-4648cannongolfclub.com

Faribault

• Faribault Golf ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-334-5559faribaultgolf.com

• Legacy Golf ClubPublic/18 holes507-332-7177legacygolf.net

Janesville

• Prairie Ridge Golf CoursePublic/9 holes507-234-5505prairieridgegolf.com

Kenyon

• Kenyon Country ClubSemi-private/9 holes507-789-6307

Le Sueur

• Le Sueur Country ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-665-2291lesueurcountryclub.com

Montgomery

• Montgomery Golf ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-364-5602montgomerygolfclub.com

Northfield

• Northfield Golf ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-645-4026northfieldgolfclub.com

• Willingers Golf ClubPublic/18 holes

952-652-2500willingersgc.com

Owatonna

• Brooktree Golf CoursePublic/18 holes507-444-2467www.ci.owatonna.mn.us

• Havana Hills Golf ClubPublic/9 holes507-451-2577

• Owatonna Country ClubPrivate/18 holes507-451-6120owatonnacc.com

St. Peter

• Shoreland Country ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-931-4400shorelandcc.com

Waseca

• Waseca Lakeside ClubSemi-private/18 holes507-835-2574wasecagolf.com

Watertown

• B’s on the River’s EdgePublic/9 holes952-955-2223bontheriver.com

• Timber Creek Golf CourseSemi-private/18 holes952-955-3600timbercreekgolf.com

— For a listing of all Minnesota golf courses, visit www.mngolf.org

Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ) affects more women; tough to diagnose


Suffering in silence

The temporomandibular joint is located just in front of each ear, where the lower jawbone connects to the skull.

By AZNA A. AMIRAPhotos by JERRY SMITH

We all know that stress can be a pain

in the neck. But what if it’s also a pain

in the ear, the head, and also spreads to the shoulders?

Pain in these places can emanate from a juncture in your jaw known as the tem-poromandibular joint, where

the maxilla (upper jaw) meets the mandible (lower jaw).

It’s a complex mix of bone, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and teeth, where stress-related bad habits like gum chewing, nail biting, jaw clenching or opening extra wide for that Big Mac can result in a pain-ful disorder known as TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint

Syndrome). Symptoms of TMJ can come on gradually, or quite suddenly, and may radiate. TMJ may masquer-ade as a migraine, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, or manifest as a personal-ity change. Sometimes, it’s a symptom of some other primary problem. All of this makes it difficult to diagnose and tough to treat.

While TMJ affects about

60 million people nationally, women are afflicted twice as often as men, according to the National Institute of Den-tal and Craniofacial Research (part of the National Insti-tutes of Health).

Many sufferers — often af-ter bearing with annoying or downright disruptive symp-toms for years before finding relief — are misdiagnosed and remain untreated. >>>


TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome) is a poten-

tially painful ailment with an array of symptoms and multiple causes.

But because the disorder tran-scends the boundaries between a number of health care disciplines, there is also a spectrum of rem-edies available.

Experts strongly recommend using the most conservative, reversible treatments possible. Studies show these to be the most effective. Conservative treatments do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw or joint, or involve sur-gery. Plus, reversible treatments do not cause permanent changes in the structures or position of the jaw or teeth.

An evaluation by a family doc-tor or dentist, including a medical history and a physical exam, is necessary to determine whether the problems are caused solely by the TMJ. This may include a com-plete oral, head and neck exam, a neurological exam, and basic X-rays, CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging, as needed.

Patients may then choose from a number of treatment options, singly or in combination.

Conservative Treatments• Self Care Practices may in-

clude eating soft foods, applying ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw movements, learning techniques for relaxing and reducing stress, and doing exercises to help increase jaw movement.

• Vibrational Medicine Techniques such as chiropractic, CranioSacral, and acupuncture assist the body in returning to its homeostatic state by manual manipulations of affected tissues and joints.

• Corrective Dental Therapies from your dentist or orthodontist may improve your bite by balanc-ing the surfaces of the teeth,

replacing missing teeth, replacing needed fillings or crowns or installing braces. Since bruxism (grinding the teeth — usually while asleep), which affects close to 15 percent of the population, is a significant contributor to TMJ, your dentist may offer a splint or bite plate that prevents tooth grinding and resulting muscle tension.

• Pain Medications. Though some over-the-counter pain medications don’t usually provide much relief, there is some evidence that Aleve (naproxen) is helpful if combined with exercises designed to stretch jaw muscles. Muscle relaxers are sometimes prescribed, but only short-term, as they can be habit forming. Corticosteroid drugs injected into the joint space may provide relief for significant pain and joint inflammation, and Botox is now available, though not FDA approved, for TMJ use.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy includes access to psychologists and other mental health counselors trained to help people reduce their stress.

Irreversible Treatments• Surgery should be avoided

if at all possible, as there have been no long-term clinical trials to study the safety and effective-ness of such procedures as arthroplasty (disk repositioning), discectomy (removal of disk and parts of surrounding tissue), and jaw implants.

Arthrocentesis, or irrigation of the joint to flush out inflamed fluids, is a brief, minimally inva-sive outpatient procedure. It is immediately effective, if appropri-ately prescribed.

— Source: National Insti-tute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

TMJ 101Treating the pain

Though causes of TMJ vary widely, they fall into three basic groupings: those arising either from disease or injury, from structural anomalies in the jaw or teeth, or from general wear and tear.

“I’d had this clicking in my jaw since I was 13 years old,” said Rachelle Caldwell, a 35-year-old waitress and mother of two from Morristown. “So, here I’ve had it all my life and I thought, oh, that’s just a clicking jaw,

something I will have to just learn to live with.”

Then Caldwell began to have headaches, which she also tried to ignore. But the headaches grew worse and she began having earaches as well. Still, Caldwell remained stoic, until friends convinced her to seek help. She consulted her family doctor, who conducted a CAT scan, but that was just the beginning.

Her family doctor sent her to a dentist, who sent her to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who sent her to a chiropractor.

“The chiropractor did a manual treatment on me that very day, which felt much better,” Caldwell said. “He referred me then to a physical therapist that specialized in TMJ. It was the chiropractor and the physical therapist that helped me the most. It was a long learning curve.”

While 50 percent of patients present with earaches, the other half usually begin their treatment odyssey with

a trip to the dentist. It worked that way for Lisa Mertins of Waseca. Mer-tins, too, is an admitted jaw-clencher who suffered in silence for years with a painful jaw and headaches. Five years ago, her dentist suggested she wear a mouth guard at night to protect her teeth. Two years ago, she went back because the constant stress on her teeth had caused her front teeth to chip.

“At this point, I wanted to fix the problem,” she said.

Mertins was sent to an orthodontist and fitted with braces to realign her teeth. When they were removed two years later she was amazed.

“I noticed a difference instantly,” Mertins said. “I was no longer waking up in extreme pain.”

But the Registered Sales Assistant with United Prairie Financial Network in Owatonna and mother of a 9-year-old has noticed the “slight wear” on her retainer and con-cludes that she may always have to battle her tendency to clench her jaw. >>>

Rachelle Caldwell of Morris-town said that a chiroprac-tor and a physical therapist helped her the most.

Lisa Mertins of Waseca suffered in silence for years before she sought help from her orthodontist.


Q: What can I do for jaw pain?A: Do you suffer from pain when opening or closing your mouth? Do you ever find

yourself clenching your jaw or experiencing frequent headaches? Or maybe you wake up and find it difficult to open your jaw because it’s so stiff. These are all symptoms of spotting tempromandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Many people are unaware that physi-cal therapy can help relieve TMJ disorder.

Q: What can a physical therapist do to help with your jaw problems?• Assess head, neck, TMJ joint, and facial bones for tension or poor alignment.• Educate on the ways to reduce grinding or clenching of the teeth.• Teach healthy eating habits to reduce stress of the jaw.• Teach stretches to relax the muscles surrounding the jaw.• Teach ways to support your neck during sleep.

• Provide manual therapy and other modalties like iontophoresis for inflammation reductions.

• Use ultrasound to relax muscles of the head and neck to promote good posture for jaw, head and teeth.

The next time you’re suffering from jaw pain, call In Touch Physical Therapy. Our staff has trained under the residency program at the University of Minnesota in TMJ disorders and can help reduce your jaw pain.

In Touch Physical Therapy 123 W Broadway StOwatonna, MN 55060507-451-7888www.intouchpt.com

Physical therapy can reduce jaw pain and frequent headaches caused by TMJ

Anne Lamb, PT

Q: Can braces be a tool in correcting TMJ issues?A: This is a very good question because so many people suffer from TMJ

problems. By definition, problem with the jaw joints are known as TMD – Tem-poromandibular Disorder.

There are various types of symptoms. Sometimes sounds like pops or clicks come from the jaw joint. Other problems are more serious and may result in the jaw getting locked open or closed. Oftentimes, pain is involved as well.

The causes of these problems can be complex and difficult to diagnose. Trauma to the head can cause injury to the tendons and ligaments of the jaw joint. Psychological stress can lead to tense jaw muscles. Even something as simple as excessive gum chewing can lead to TMD.

The one root cause of TMD that an orthodontist can fix is that of a bad bite. Sometimes if the upper and lower teeth do not fit together properly — a bad bite — the jaw joints cannot articulate properly. A bad bite leads to all sorts of problems like popping, clicking, pain and dysfunction.

If a bad bite is the cause of the TMD, braces can be a good solution. When cor-rected, these problems typically subside, creating a much better life for the person who was suffering.

Consultations are free, so if you have problems we may be able to help or point you in the right direction.

King Orthodontics • www.KingBraces.com1575 20th St. NW • Faribault • 507-332-0022125 28th St. NE • Owatonna • 507-446-9000

A bad bite leads to popping, clicking, pain and dysfunction of the jaw

Dr. Darrin King, Orthodontist

Different symptoms, same pain

Leah Worke’s symptoms fell into the wear-and-tear category.

“It had been going on for three or four years and it hurt if I yawned, or sang, or bit down on a big sandwich,” Worke said. “It locked, and there was this loud popping.”

Worke said that while quite painful, she tried to ignore it because it only lasted a few seconds.

“It would only happen about 12 times a month,” she said. “Not enough to cause too much concern.”

But during a 6-month dental check-up, she was questioned her about her symptoms. The dentist determined that the disk in her joint was wearing out.

“He said that I’d have to have surgery eventually to replace it,” Worke said.

But surgery is a big step, and a big decision Worke is not yet

ready to make. “Maybe I’ll have it done

eventually, but I’ll just have to live with it for now,” she said.

Less is moreWorke’s case

is relatively rare, as few cases of TMJ require surgery. Accord-ing to the Na-tional Institute of Health, only a small percent-age of people with TMJ develop signifi-cant, long-term symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms disappear with time.

The good news is that even serious symp-toms can be eased with ice packs, massage or other simple remedies. Surgery is recom-

mended only in rare cases and as a last resort.

The mantra handed down from TMJ researchers is that the best treatment is the least treatment, and experts agree

that a patient’s best weapon is the willingness to shoulder responsibility for his/her own recovery.

After initial treatment, Caldwell’s therapy con-sisted primarily of learning to change her reac-tions to stress.

“I had to look at my habits,” Caldwell said. “I’m a tooth

grinder and a jaw-clencher. I was biting my nails and chew-ing gummy candy and crunch food — which I learned were

my reactions to stress. Recovery has meant riding herd on those habits and learning better ways to de-stress.

A year after her diagnosis, Caldwell says that the pain and jaw clicking are gone. But recovery has been a struggle, she says.

“Those were my favorite treats,” she said.

A “Joint” effortSince its appearance in the

1980s, TMJ has become the focal point of a multi-disci-plinary approach to medicine that teams traditional, allo-pathic medicine and integra-tive medicine, which includes chiropractic, physical therapy, cranio-sacral therapy and acu-puncture.

Southern Minnesotans are lucky in that the region has pioneered this integrative ap-proach to healing. Research has shown these therapies to be especially effective in >>>

Leah Worke of Waseca said her jaw has been hurting for four years, especially when she yawns and bites down.


Q: What causes TMJ pain?A: The temporomandibular joints (TMJs), much like any joint in the body, can be

injured due to trauma, arthritis or overuse. Traumatic injuries are those where a direct blow to the jaw can result in dislocation of the jaw, fracture of the jaw or deep bruising of the internal joint structures.

The TMJ is also not immune to developing arthritis, which has the same effect in the jaw as in other joints, including pain, swelling and limited mobility.

Overuse or sprain/strain injuries can be acute or chronic and are the most frequent causes of jaw pain. Some common causes include chronic jaw clenching or grinding habits, and abnormal chewing mechanics due to painful or missing teeth.

In addition to causing pain in the jaw, TMJ injuries can also cause pain in the face, head, teeth, ears or neck. Other symptoms may in-clude feeling the ears are congested, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), jaw clicking, intermittent jaw locking in an open or closed position, or feeling that your teeth are not aligning normally when biting down.

Physical therapy treatment will use modalities such as ultrasound or iontophoresis to reduce pain and inflammation. Manual therapy and joint mobilization techniques with help decrease muscle spasms, increase range of motion and improve TMJ alignment. The physical therapists at Back in Action Rehab, LLC also will teach specific exercises to help improve jaw function and reduce stressful oral habits.

Back in Action Rehab, LLP200 Eighth Ave NW • Faribault, MN 55021507-334-5627

Physical therapy can help alleviate the pain caused by TMJ, increase range of motion

Dawn Gillick, PT

>>> TMJ atment as they assist the body’s own regenerative abilities and enhance patient awareness, thus aiding early detection and spurring self-care.

But how are patients with man-ageable or temporary symptoms triaged from those needing more radical treatment?

“The first thing I would do is put together a team,” said Dr. Gary Carlson, a family physician at Allina Medical Clinic in Northfield. Adult patients may be referred to a team that includes dentists, physical therapists and psychologists.

Some patients are referred for acupuncture treatment, which works by releasing muscle tension in painful “trigger points,” increas-ing healthy blood flow to the area, and balancing the body’s endor-phins, or natural painkillers.

According to Chinese medicine, said Dr. Carlson — himself an acupuncturist — this re-balanc-ing of the body’s “chi” or life-force changes the pain signals generated by inflammation in the jaw area. The nerves signal less pain, so there is less pain perceived.

The chiropractic approach works by realigning the spine, adjusting the joint articulation, and massaging the muscles used to move the jaw to ease inflammation and tension, says Dr. Laura Hulsebus, a St. Peter chiropractor.

Dr. Hulsebus is also one of the growing number of chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists who use CranioSacral Therapy to treat TMJ.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch technique that normal-izes the environment in which the central nervous system functions. Cerebrospinal fluid circulates through the brain and spinal cord via the expanding and contract-ing motions of the membrane that contains them. Therapists can sense and correct occlusions in this system such as those caused by TMJ.

“It enhances the body’s ability to rebalance itself,” said Sigrid Londo, a massage therapist and certified CRT specialist. G

— Azna A. Amira is a freelance journalist from Northfield who contrib-utes to Girlfriends and 35C magazines.

Dr. Gary Carlson, a family physician at Allina Medical Clinic in Northfield, uses acupuncture as a way of treating TMJ in his patients.

The temporomandibular joint is located just in front of

each ear, where the lower jawbone connects to the skull.

This “ball and socket” joint al-lows the jaw to move up and down, from side to side, and in complex circular motions, allowing us to eat, swallow and speak.

Its function can be affected by disease, injury, wear and tear, or congenital structural abnormali-ties.

All these events can lead to potentially significant pain and difficulty in opening and closing the jaw.

Both the “ball” (the condyle, or end of the jawbone) and the “sock-et” (the articular fossa) formed by

the surrounding temporal bone) can be affected.

Or the small piece of cartilage that acts as padding between these bones (the disk) can be damaged or displaced due to constant use or other conditions.

When these components are damaged, causing the once smooth and lubricated joint to lose flexibility and range of motion, the result can be problems opening and closing the jaw, eating, speak-ing and other facial movements.

Symptoms include varying degrees of pain, and popping or grinding noises.

— Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

How it all works

Inspired

Rural Faribault mom finds success running summer camp


By Amy RoemhildtPhoto by Jerry Smith

Some parents send their kids to summer camps,

and some keep them at home. Jane Bartho of rural Faribault decided to do both.

Home with her children for the summer and tired of run-ning them to different camps, she decided to hold her own camp at home last summer. At-tended by her own children and those in the neighborhood, they gathered one day a week last summer at the Bartho home to invent their own adventures and explore interests.

They had nature camp and sports camp. They cooked together, built a carnival and constructed crafts. They read to each other, played, and worked on art projects. They put on a puppet show for their parents. Older children helped the younger ones, and they learned to build community in their neighborhood.

Summer of 2009 was her first – and very successful – attempt at summer camp. It was a hit with the kids, and even more

so with neighborhood parents. This year, Bartho is expanding her program to St. Dominic School in Northfield, where she works as secretary.

The “Summer Saints” will meet every Thursday for struc-tured summer camp activities that start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. To accommodate the schedules of working parents, children will be welcomed as early as 7:30 a.m. and can stay until 5 p.m. A variety of activi-ties will challenge children to explore their interests, learn and have fun.

Bartho calls on her back-ground, education and expe-rience as a social worker to provide therapeutic exercises for the children in her care. Arts and crafts are one of her favorite modes, and popular with the children.

“I enjoy trying to engage children to make them feel good about themselves,” she said. “Art is a great way to do that — be-cause there is no right or wrong. The focus of art is the process, and it can be used to build self esteem.”

Bartho recognizes how well

her skills fit her role as summer camp leader, as unplanned as the position might be.

“With my training in social work, it’s just in me to help people,” she said.

Career changeWhen Bartho’s three chil-

dren were toddlers, she left the demands of her job as a social worker to be a stay-at-home mom and licensed daycare provider. Summers were fun, but with additional children in her care, she found it nearly impossible to chauffeur her own children around to various sum-mer camps and activities.

Then In 2008, Bartho’s children were older and she felt comfortable returning to the workforce. She didn’t feel it best for her family that she return to a position with the intensity of her previous career, so when St. Dominic School in Northfield needed a secretary, she saw the job as a good fit. She accepted the position and was surprised to find herself, for the first time, free to spend the summer with her children.

“That first summer I was

available and I think I overdosed my kids on camps,” she said. “We went to everything I could find, and by the end of the sum-mer we were all tired of racing around.”

That’s when she got the idea to do a camp at home. Her kids loved the idea, and it quickly became popular in the neigh-borhood.

But there are only so many children she could accommo-date. So when the opportunity came to lead a camp for St. Dominic, she agreed.

The planning of program details are still underway for the “Summer Saints” camp program, but dates have been determined. Camp will begin July 1, and be offered every Thursday through August 26. Lunches are includ-ed. Cost is set at $30 per day.

Students are not required to attend every day, and may come to as many — or as few — as they like. This allows boys and girls to explore interests and select activities they like. G

— For more information, contact Jane Bartho at 507-645-8136.

Jane Bartho (center), watches as her chil-dren (from left) Erik, 12; Rachael, 13; and Elizabeth, 7 work on crafts Bartho intro-duced to the children during a neighborhood summer camp she ran at her home in rural Faribault.

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