savvy july 2013

JULY 2013

After becoming a widow at age 31, Kristen Brown found the courage to turn grief into happiness

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3savvy.mn | JULY 2013

20

in this issue 07.13in every issue

4 editor’s note9 local fi nds

cover story12 the unplanned journey After becoming a widow at age 31,

Kristen K. Brown found the courage to turn grief into happiness –

and share it with others.

fashion 5 trends Try a modern vibe with a fashion-forward fi nish for your

summer wardrobe.

8 beauty lounge Check out these fi ve summer essentials for

every Twin Cities woman.

love & life16 dreams come true Bring your bucket list to life.

22 blogger bravery Blair Shackle turns job loss and other chal-

lenges into inspiring tales for all to read and learn from.

24 the wild side Tammy Thies founded the Wildcat Sanctuary

and is on a mission to help save animals’ lives all over the country.

28 savvy sun signs Teri Parsley Starnes, a professional astrologer

living in Minneapolis, tells readers what to expect from the stars

this month.

30 explore your intuition Jodi Livon, author, intuitive reader and

resident psychic at Twin Cities Live, answers your questions about

intuition.

just u18 all about chris Chris Egert of Twin Cities Live talks with Savvy

about his new gig as the show’s co-host.

20 adventurous outing Switch up your weekend by diving into

new ventures.

nosh26 adventurous eating Take a tour through the Twin Cities’ exotic

meats scene. You have your pick of everything from kangaroo to

guinea pig.

savvy’s missionSavvy Magazine aims to educate and inspire a community of Twin Cities-area women who share personal stories and real-world information on how to feel, live and look the best they can. Through original reporting, local events and journalistic integrity, Savvy is the source for how to be healthy, happy, fashionable and connected.

correctionsSavvy Magazine strives to publish accurate information in every edition. When necessary, we will correct and acknowledge errors.

Did you spot an error? Contact Editor in Chief Britt Johnsen at [email protected] or 952-345-6387.

feedbackDo you have any story ideas? Did anything inspire or enrage you? Contact us at [email protected] or 952-345-6387.

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PUBLISHERJennifer Sorenson

EDITOR IN CHIEFBritt Johnsen

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSNicole Bullock | Lindsay Gergen

CIRCULATION MANAGER Ruby Winings

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mollee Francisco | Sara GlassmanKristin Holtz | Jodi Livon | Liv Lane

Amy Rea | Teri Parsley StarnesAllison Roorda | Amy Stubblefi eld

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYSteve Lucas Photography

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Carrie Rood

WEB Steve Delmont

SAVVY.MN EDITORIAL BOARDBritt Johnsen | Jennifer Sorenson

Becky Poss | Jennifer EversonKay Guidarelli | Judy Holmquist

Wendy Kleiser | Kelcie McKenneyJanelle Meier | Lanae PaaverudBecky Porspakka | Karen Wolf

Savvy.mn Magazine is published monthly by Southwest Newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of Southwest Newspapers, 952-445-3333, P.O. Box 8, Shakopee, Minn. 55379.

CONTACTS: CONTENT:Britt Johnsen, 952-345-6387 or [email protected]

ADVERTISING: 952-345-6477 or [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION AND ADDRESS CHANGE:Ruby Winings, 952-345-6682 or [email protected]

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

The women of Savvy this month cross some rocky terrain. This is our Bravery Issue, and for this month’s edition we thought we’d

touch on a variety of topics within the theme of courage.

Kristen Brown is a bright light, and has always been, despite the dark circumstances she has faced. At age 31, with a new baby and plans to build a family and a life with her husband, she suddenly became a widow when her husband died of a heart attack. To make matters worse, she faced incredible work stress during her grieving period. But instead of succumbing to life’s difficulties, she started her own business as a life coach and became an author. The entrepreneur now inspires other women, speaks and makes TV appearances. It’s amazing the courage and strength she found even in the most challenging of circumstances. Read her story on page 12.

Blogger Blair Shackle also found her brave side by facing challenging times with her pen. In 2011 she lost her job, and she didn’t know what she was going to do. So she launched her blog. She wrote honestly about everything from job loss to bullying to miscarriage, and in the process found her voice. “We have an opportunity to say ‘yes’ to what the universe guides us to do. I said no for a long, long time. Now, every small ‘yes’ feels like an act of bravery,” she tells Liv Lane on page 22.

Tammy Thies is brave in another way. Thies, a former advertising professional, founded The Wildcat Sanctuary in 1999 as a place for wild cats to live out their lives after being rescued from illegal exotic pet trade or other captive situations. I can’t imagine that’s an easy place to go to work each day. Read all about her work and her cause – and look at the beautiful pictures of the big Sanctuary cats – on page 24.

We all have those things that we think about or dream of – the things that we hope will happen or perhaps that we’re determined will happen. For example, some people make it their mission to travel

internationally or to start their own busi-ness. Some others have more novel pursuits, like going skydiving or learning a foreign language. What’s on your bucket list? Learn how to make your bucket list dreams come true on page 16.

I’m curious: What makes you feel cou-rageous? Share your story on our Facebook page, or feel free to get in touch with me. We are always looking for compelling tales and stories about lessons learned. I’d love to hear from you.

As always, thank you for reading. Savvy is an awesome, engaged community of women, and it’s an honor to share a space with you.

Until next time,

Britt JohnsenEditor in Chief

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fashion | beauty lounge

Hey, good looking. There’s no reason that staying so pretty should be a chore.

That’s where Blush Beauty Room can help you.

The Minneapolis beauty lounge and boutique was opened by owner Jori Tentis and general manager Kelly Fosburgh earlier this year. The duo worked together for years at the Bare Minerals at Mall of America before opening up their own shop.

They carry a nice selection of the Bare Escentuals products and also stocked lesser-known brands that they adore along with reasonably priced jewelry and accessories.

In the sleek girly space, they can show you how to use products one-on-one or host bachelorette parties and girls’ nights out.

“Have fun with color. Whether it’s acces-sories or makeup, you can’t go wrong with the brights and pastels,” Tentis says.

Here are her five summer essentials:

BronzerEvery skin tone can use a little defini-

tion. “Wake up, boost and brighten skin,” Tentis says. She suggests applying it on all of the “high planes” of the face, meaning the forehead, cheekbones, nose and chin. Pop “Double Duty” Bronzer, $26; The Balm “Betty Lou Manizer” highlighting bronzer, $24; and bareMinerals “Skinny Dip” bronzer, $24.

MoistureEven in the summer, your skin needs

moisture. Use this spray before you put on makeup to hydrate and foster smoother application. Then after, a spritz will set your makeup. Tentis recommends keeping it in the refrigerator so it’s really chilly and refreshing. Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist, $22.

Trend accessoriesA lightweight, colorful patterned

scarf can add a splash of trendy bright colors and patterns. She sug-gests adding a scarf to your jeans or tying it to your purse or wearing it as a beach cover-up. Don’t forget to stock up on multiple pairs of sun-glasses in fun shapes and retro styles like those at Blush Beauty Room.

Scarf, $20 and sun-glasses, $12.

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lations for the face and body. “Face [ tanner] is lighter weight

because the face will tan naturally and the ingredients won’t clog your pours,” Tentis says. As for the body formulation: “It’s the sun without the rays,” she says. She adds that the bareMinerals formulation is comprised of natural ingredients and gives you an olive brown tone instead of orange. bareMinerals Faux Tan Face, $24 and Faux Tan Body, $26.

Statement jewelrySummer is the time to wear less clothing

and more jewelry. Tentis suggests wearing statement earrings or a necklace, but not both at the same time. “You don’t want them to compete,” she said. She’s a big fan of a beaded collar necklace, long earrings and a sparkly ring. “It’s easy to dress up a work outfit for a night out,” she says. Collar necklace, $25; sterling silver ring, $20; and dangle earrings, $50.

Blush Beauty Room 2004 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls., blushbeautyroom.com.

Sara Glassman is a freelance writer based in the Twin Cities. Send feedback to [email protected].

SummerEssentials BY SARA GLASSMAN


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4. LABELLE BOUTIQUEHave a wedding to attend this summer? If so, check out the Bali black & white dress along with the Good Morning necklace.8160 County Rd. 42, Suite 400, Savage952-440-2955; boutiquesavage.com.

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Kristen Brown has written two bestsell-ing books. She’s spoken before audiences of thousands about stress management. In March, she even crawled into bed with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan for a national television segment on sleep.

As good as it all seems, this life isn’t anything like the one she and her husband had planned.

No, they were going to have three kids, a couple of dogs and live on a hobby farm.

But sometimes, plans go awry.For Brown, it happened in a hotel

room in September 2007, hours after her sister’s wedding.

Her husband, Todd, a healthy, athletic 30-year-old, went to bed and never woke up. Sometime during the night, he suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep, leaving behind a wife and 10-month-old daughter, beloved dog, a mortgage and decades of dashed dreams.

“When he died, not only did he die but our entire plan for our whole future (died, too),” Brown says. “I have to recreate it from scratch, and that’s scary.”

But Brown has managed to craft a new life for her and her daughter, now 6, thanks to opening herself up to an unpredictable journey. She’s channeled her grief into something positive as an author, speaker, coach and founder of the Happy Hour Effect.

“She’s always been a fearless person, somebody who’s not afraid to try new things,” says best friend since elementary school, Sarah de Leon. “(But now), after Todd died, she doesn’t give up on anything.

“She’s not afraid to pursue change. She’s not afraid to fail,” de Leon adds. “That’s so inspiring for the rest of us.”

After becoming a widow at age 31, Kristen K. Brown found the courage to turn grief into happiness – and share it with others By Kristin Holtz

LIFE WAS GOOD, UNTIL IT WASN’T

Brown and her husband grew up in a small farm-ing community in western Minnesota. While they knew of each other, they didn’t officially meet until after college, while both were home on Christmas break.

Brown, a self-admitted control freak and on-the-go busybody, fell for the laid back, fun-loving Todd Brown. A sports fanatic, who spent his week-end golfing or at softball tourna-ments, Todd was everybody’s buddy, Brown says.

They married in December 2004 – a Christmas wedding – and, two years later, welcomed their daughter, Brooke.

Life was going according to the plan.But on Sept. 9, 2007, when Todd didn’t wake

up, life completely changed instantly. Brown went numb. It was like a fog had descended. In all her planning for the future, not once had she pictured raising a daughter on her own.

The despair seemed overwhelming, says Brown, who would call Todd’s voicemail just to hear his voice. On top of everything, two weeks after Todd’s death, Brown got a new, challenging boss, a workaholic who expected her to be available 24/7 and travel at whim. It was an additional stress she wasn’t prepared to handle.

Brown lived in a daze, as though she was viewing life through a rain-stained camera lens. Always a light sleeper, she now tossed and turned all night haunted by what-ifs. When she did pull herself from bed, she spent her days making inquiries into Todd’s insurance policy. She lost 20 pounds and would lie on her bedroom floor sobbing. Her parents moved in to help care for Brooke.

“I honestly don’t remember anything that was hap-pening, which is kind of a shame because my daughter was so young,” Brown says.

Then, six months after Todd’s death, a friend invited Brown to surf camp in Costa Rica. While sitting on the

Af b i id 31 K i K B f d h

journeythe unplanned


beach, watching the waves crash on shore, Brown says “something shifted inside of me.” She realized she wanted to do some-thing bigger and grander than just get by. She wanted to thrive.

“I don’t know if it was the power of the ocean or being out of my comfort zone, but I sensed something rising within me, and I knew I would survive this,” she writes in her 2011 memoir, The Best Worst Thing.

HEALING

After that trip, Brown knew she needed something to help her escape “the prison of grief ” that had been weighing her down for months. She attempted therapy and even attended widow support groups, though the other women were much older. She also filled pages of notebooks with raw emotions, pages that would eventually find their way into a bestselling memoir, The Best Worst Thing.

Brown also read every self-help book she could find about death, health, stress, grief and the meaning of life. Over time she began to realize that her grief, unhappiness and even physical ailments – including her yo-yoing weight and work-induced panic attacks – were driven by stress.

So in September 2009, Brown quit her job and launched a company called the Happy Hour Effect as a way to coach others on how to find a work-life balance and achieve their goals.

Her first endeavor was a stress-relief health supplement she developed and sold to GNC. She promoted her supplement and stress-management company during Oscars week in Los Angeles. She began speaking for events and company meetings and has since expanded to include an online televi-

sion show and a second book, The Happy Hour Effect: 12 Secrets to Minimize Stress & Maximize Life, published last November.

The unexpected tragedy of becoming a widow at age 31 changed her life in every way. Today, Brown has found happiness again. She’s doing something she loves and helping others’ find their passion, too.

Others have noticed the change in her, as well. Before Todd’s death, independent-minded Brown was more focused on her own world and keeping life on a prescribed track, says her mother, Cindy Larson. Today, she’s more caring and warm, willing to ask for help and constantly looking for opportunities to give to others, too. “This experience has turned her into a better person,” Larson says.

Looking back, Brown realizes it was her daughter who pulled her from the fog. She didn’t want Brooke to look back at her childhood and remember her mother as sad or depressed, but only as “an amazing, fun, brave mom.”

“If I didn’t have her, I would probably be on some island somewhere lost,” Brown says. “There were days in the beginning that if I didn’t have her to wake up for the in the mornings, I would never have gotten out of bed. She did save me.”

MEMORIES ON THE JOURNEY

Six years after Todd’s death, Brown and her daughter, Brooke, still talk about him daily. Brooke, an artistic first-grader who wants to write books like her mom, not only includes her father in family portraits (complete with angel wings), but knows he

loved sandwiches and was a great dancer.“She knows the intimate details about

who he was as a person, beyond the picture that hangs in a frame in her room,” Brown says. “I’m proud that we have been able to keep that memory alive.”

It’s not always easy on Brown, though. Little things, like songs on the radio, can induce tears. Even looking at Brooke – pale, blonde with naturally curly hair – brings back a flood of memories. “Sometimes I look at her and she’s doing the same facial expressions [as Todd],” Brown says. “She’s his spitting image. Identical. It’s always a little bittersweet.”

It’s also hard to watch friends hit family milestones. She hopes to remarry and have more children. Brown strives to keep moving forward, setting new goals and focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead -- not the dreams that died with her husband.

“Don’t let anybody tell you there are certain stages, like the stages of grief, or the stages after a divorce or when you go through a bankruptcy. You just have to honor how you feel, experience it but not hold on to it,” Brown says. “Feel what you’re feeling but keeping moving forward; don’t get stuck. Be willing to experiment. Be open to change.

“Bravery isn’t about facing or overcom-ing your fears,” she adds. “I think bravery is about being open to tackling whatever comes and not being afraid of the journey.”

Even if it’s not the journey you planned.

Kristin Holtz is a Twin Cities-based freelance writer. Send feedback to [email protected].

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love & life | bucket list

We all have goals and dreams. Some of us even have bucket lists — a checklist of experi-

ences we’d love to have, or feats we’d love to accomplish at some point in our lives. But many of us aren’t sure where to start when it comes to realizing those aspirations.

As it turns out, bucket lists are impor-tant. They keep our priorities in check, give us goals to strive for, and remind us that our dreams are within reach. Some scientific researchers even believe that people live longer when they have specific goals they hope to achieve.

Oh, and did we mention they just make our lives more fun?

Savvy asked two local experts—Laura Erdman-Luntz, life coach and yoga instructor, and Michelle Stimpson, mentor and owner of LifeShine Coaching—to share their tried-and-true advice for turn-ing your bucket list into a reality.

Set goals big and small, and then really write them down

It’s good to have a healthy balance of goals on your list. Think of things that can be done in a weekend and things that might take years to complete, or those that won’t cost a dime and those that might take a significant investment.

Then, once you’ve taken some time to plot out your goals, reaffirm them by writing them down. We mean really writ-ing them down – old school, with a pen and paper, because typing them out just isn’t the same. Erdman-Luntz stresses this crucial step: “Writing it down makes it real,” she says. “There is a connection between handwriting something, not just typing it, and having it come to fruition.”

According to Erdman-Luntz, writ-ing a list also aids you in calculating the motions you’ll take leading up to your goal. Plus, putting the list somewhere that you can see it keeps you focused and excited about what’s to come.

Break big goals into smaller, more attainable ones, so you can start now

Do you dream of running a marathon, but can’t even remember the last time you ran a mile? If a marathon is on your hori-zon, start with a training plan for a shorter



race. It’s a great metaphor for your bucket list: Take baby steps, literally and figuratively.

These incremental check points make your ultimate end goals seem less daunt-ing. It’s easier to get started when you’re only tackling a small piece of your final goal, especially because putting things off is a huge obstacle for many people when it comes to realizing their dreams.

“We say, ‘Oh, I’ll get to that someday,’” Stimpson says. “And I love the saying that ‘someday’ isn’t a day of the week. There is no reason to put off living life.”

In short, your bucket list isn’t a place to sweat the small stuff; it’s a place to connect with what really excites you. Start right away and tackle it piece by piece. The rest will fall into place.

Visualize it coming true

In addition to making your bucket list “real” by penning it on paper, both coaches encourage clients to create vision boards that help them visualize the path to their goal. Every person’s vision board is unique; it might be plastered with images of marathon finishers or a map of a state parks road trip. It doesn’t matter what your goals are, just find a way to imagine them with images.

“It’s easy for all of us to stay trapped in our head,” Stimpson says. “A vision board is a visual representation of things that excite you, and a way to connect with those feelings.”

Make a “bucket list savings account”

Not all goals require a significant mon-etary investment, but some that involve commitments like travel or a career change might. Erdman-Luntz has a special savings account at her bank dedicated to her bucket list, and she started by putting aside just five dollars a month. As your bucket list savings add up, not only will you be closer to your

dream financially, but you’ll be able to better visualize it coming true.

Then, get creative when it comes to your objectives. Want to travel to Thailand? Maybe your boss will let you telecommute while you’re away, cutting back on hours missed or vacation time spent. Whatever your goal may be, “envision yourself doing it,” Erdman-Luntz says, “because the only limitation is your mind.”

Give yourself permission

Beyond money, time and other resources, the biggest and hardest-to-overcome obstacle standing in your way is oftentimes yourself.

“If there is something we really want that we don’t have yet,” Erdman-Luntz says, “there’s a belief inside of us somewhere that says we cannot have it.”

And in Stimpson’s experience, this chal-lenge is especially prevalent with women. “We’re socialized to be caregivers. We’re really good at knowing what others around us need and lose sight of what we want or what we need,” she says.

The pressures to stay busy, and to equate being busy with being happy, trip up many women in pursuit of achieving their dreams. But it’s not only okay to think about your dreams, Stimpson says, it’s imperative. As you start to reflect on your priorities, take into consideration what you can say “no” to that will enable to you to say “yes” to a new, joyful opportunity.

Share it

To add to the pressure to “stay busy,” women also struggle with the belief that we must take on all challenges by ourselves — and technology doesn’t help. Staying connected 24/7 is a surefire sign that you may not be putting yourself first, and giving yourself permission to unplug is paramount.

Fear of Missing Out

The “Fear of Missing Out” is such a common challenge for people these days, it even has its own acronym: FOMO. Almost all of us have felt it at one point or another: We see people socializing or having fun without us and feel like we’re missing out. Maybe you think about other places you could be or things you could be doing when you’re already out and about.

It doesn’t help that our friends are Instagramming every party they attend, checking in at every hip restaurant they visit or Tweeting every milestone they reach. In our ultra-connected world, it’s easy to fall into FOMO. This epidemic is deeply affecting us, even resulting in changes in mood, anxiety and depression.

So how do you balance striving towards a major goal or bucket list item when it may mean you are “missing out” on something else? Bucket lists are great because, as Erdman-Luntz says, “they are a great way to keep you focused and aligned with what’s important to you.”

So don’t get bummed if you can’t reach your goal right away. After all, it’s likely that in our intercon-nected world, you’re not the only friend feeling FOMO! And the most meaningful part about a bucket list is finding joy in the steps you take to achieve your dreams — and the ones that have already come true. If you’re experiencing FOMO, it might be time to reflect and reprioritize.

“Find gratitude for who you are—what you’re doing, your friends, your home, your job, and all of the things that are really going well in your life,” Erdman-Luntz says. “It’s not about being happy when you get to do these things, it’s about being happy and you get to do these things.”

--Amy Stubblefield


There are a few reasons that sharing your bucket list might benefit you. First, it helps you stay accountable. “When you put it out there and talk about it with others, it makes it more real,” Stimpson says.

At the same time, if your goal is to start your own business, meeting people, networking and asking for advice is one of the best ways to get the ball rolling. It helps you attract a support system that will stick with you as you strive toward your goal.

For Stimpson, as she began to discuss her ambition to start her own business, she felt that support system form around her. “It’s almost like the world opened up to me, to allow all of the pieces to come into play so that it could happen,” she says.

Conversely, Erdman-Luntz reminds us that not everyone will be supportive. “Some people will say it ’s awesome. Other people will tell you to be realistic, responsible, practical,” Erdman-Luntz says. “They’re coming from their own fears, because deep down they’re not living up to their full capabilities.” The point is not to let anything, or anyone, distract you from achieving your dreams.

Have fun

Not all of your goals have to be seri-ous, big-time life changers. Your list is meant to bring joy into your life, plain and simple.

Both coaches practice what they preach when it comes to living their lists: One of Erdman-Luntz’s self-proclaimed “goofy” bucket list items is being an extra in a feature film. As for Stimpson, who has a knack for landing front-row seats to concerts, it’s a goal of hers to upgrade her 11th-row tickets to stage-side at an upcoming Rolling Stones concert; naturally, “sit f ront row at a Stones show” has been on her bucket list for a long time.

Knowing their track record, they both have a pretty good shot at realizing their dreams – as long as they visualize success, give themselves permission and have a great time on the journey.

Amy Stubblefi eld is a Twin Cities-based freelance writer. Send feedback to [email protected].

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Since 2008, KSTP’s “Twin Cities Live” has been highlighting Minneapolis and St. Paul’s food, fashion and fun. Now, Chris Egert has the opportunity to join in the process as the new co-host for “Twin Cities Live.”

Egert, a native of South Dakota origi-nally, has been in journalism for 17 years and worked previously as a news anchor for KSTP’s weekend news program. He attended Huron University, which focused on broadcast journalism.

“The director of the program — her experience was television. So, it kind of went that way,” said Egert.

Before settling down in the Twin Cities, Egert and his family lived in Seattle, where he was an anchor for the morning news. After five years in Seattle, Egert chose to move back to the Twin Cities last year when his father became ill.

“So we moved back so I could help take care of him,” he said. “I was very lucky to get a job here in the timeline we were work-ing under because these jobs don’t usually happen very often.”

Egert, his wife and their two children now live in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. He’s looking forward to his new posi-tion within KSTP as the co-host for “Twin Cities Live” with Elizabeth Ries.

Savvy sat recently down with him on the set of “Twin Cities Live” to talk about his new position and his hopes for the coming months and years.

When this job opened up, what made you want to come to “Twin Cities Live?”

It was kind of a weird thing, because they asked me to fill in a few times because the original co-host [ John Hanson] had left the show. They were having people from the newsroom fill in. I did it on my days off and I was happy to fill in; it seemed like it’d be fun. And it just kind of started clicking. People were secretly pulling me aside in the hallway

and saying, “Hey, have you ever thought about doing Twin Cities Live?” Honestly, I never really gave it much of a thought because I’ve been doing news for so long. So, it kind of evolved, and I started filling in a little more. Once the idea was introduced, I started thinking about it more. It seemed like it would be a fun change of pace.

What is something unique that you feel you bring to “Twin Cities Live?”

I think what I bring to “Twin Cities Live” is a father and a parent’s perspective. We have a couple people on staff that are parents, but for the most part it’s a pretty young staff, and I’m one of the older people on the staff — all of 39. So, I think that’s one of the biggest things I bring to it that they haven’t had before. I think a lot of our audience [is made up of ] parents. And I’ve been very fortunate in my 17 years of doing news to have traveled all around the world, to have been exposed to many different cities. I’m not saying I’m worldly, but I’ve had a lot of exposure to places, and I think that helps add a little more depth.

What are some of the challenging parts about your new job?

The beauty segments are a little bit of a challenge. I have a beautiful wife at home, but for the most part, I don’t really get involved in what she’s putting under her eyes. So we’re trying to find how I can be involved in those, if I need to be involved at all. Maybe my co-host Elizabeth, who’s a little more versed in these kinds of things, should do those interviews because I really don’t add a whole lot to those. I’m working on the fashion part of it.

The biggest thing for me that’s been a challenge has been to let go of that news anchor persona that I’ve had to project for so long, and just be a real person. Most people that know me think that this show is a much better format. That’s not to say that

the news anchor wasn’t part of me, too. I just think it’s a lot more loose and fun. So, I’m getting used to that — when the camera’s on that I can actually smile a little bit, goof around and stuff.

What’s your favorite part of the job so far?The food. There is always food here.

There is food around this show constantly, whether we’re eating it on the air, whether it’s off the air, there’s food around in our office. It is like food, food, food. I don’t want to take too much advantage of the food, so I’m trying to learn to take small bites. The first couple times I was filling in, I was just eating. So you got to remember that.

I’m hoping, once we get going a little bit more, to be able to get out and put some more fun segments together. Just kind of listen to people and find out what things they want us to do and be able to provide that for them.

Allison Roorda writes for Savvy Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].

BY ALLISON ROORDA

just u | chris egert

new ventures

CHRIS EGERT TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW GIG AS TWIN CITIES LIVE CO-HOST.

As the new co-host of “Twin Cities Live,” Chris Egert says the beauty segments might be a challenge for him. “I have a beautiful wife at home, but for the most part, I don’t really get involved in what she’s putting under her eyes,” he says.

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While a night of dinner and a show can be fun for a weekend, some outings take more courage – and more adrenaline.

Here are some adventurous ways to get out of the house and test your limits. But be warned: you’ll need to check your fear of heights at the door.

ROCK CLIMBINGVertical Endeavors in Minneapolis

boasts 10,500 feet of climbing walls, all indoors, including 25 auto belays — which take up slack in the rope as you climb and slowly lets you down when you let go — and three bouldering caves. It’s also a great place to get started, with courses that range from beginners’ classes to safety orientations to sports climbing lessons.

“We do programs from training for people who want to be certified instructors, and we also do basic safety classes,” says Aleah Niemczyk, marketing coordinator at Vertical Endeavors. “[Vertical Endeavors] also takes people outdoors.”

She says the indoor rock-climbing facil-ity also plays host for a variety of events, like birthday parties, field trips for schools and Boy or Girl Scouts. Vertical Endeavors offers family adventures, too, with classes for kids starting at age 14.

She says the most important thing to learn is how to act in the gym. A lot of the fears most people have about rock climb-ing — like falling or the rope failing — can be prevented just by following proper safety instructions.

“Kids are going to be a little bit afraid,” Niemczyk says. “They end up, especially when they get about halfway up, they look around and say ‘I can’t go any higher.’”

For people who are just getting started or interested in getting started rock climb-ing, Niemczyk suggested beginning with a basic safety class, where they would learn to tie proper knots and learn to climb with a partner. After that, a punch card would get them into the gym a few extra times. Rock climbing can be a workout for the entire body, especially the upper body.

“It ’s something different,” she says. “There are definitely sport climbers out there. It’s sort of that unique activity that everybody will remember.”

PAINTBALLINGFor an activity that boasts some realism

with it, try visiting one of Action Packed Paintball Games’ locations. With two out-door fields in Jordan and Rogers and two indoor fields in Maple Plain and Minne-apolis, the paintball company also provides equipment like masks and paintball guns.

With paintball games, people can sign up for reservation play if they have a group of eight or more players. The company also serves walk-on play, where people come by during regular hours and play against whoever is there.

For both indoor and outdoor courses, owner Jim Emmerich says paintball can be available at any time during the year to anyone who wants to explore the game.

“You don’t have to be in great shape to play. You can be fat, skinny. You can be a guy, a gal,” he says. “It’s so much fun, it’s unbelievable.”

BALLOONINGA fear of heights can prevent a lot of

people from trying out new things, but Ed Chapman says a hot air balloon is the perfect thing to circumvent that.

Chapman, chief aeronaut and operator of Balloon Ascensions Unlimited outside Jordan, was a fighter pilot with the Marines before he fell in love with hot air ballooning. One of his squad members owned a hot air balloon and used it to give people bird’s eye views of Annapolis and Washington, D.C., in Maryland.

Chapman has been ballooning for 37 years now and holds 20 world records. He has flown balloons all over the world, includ-ing in the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Russia and England.

With Balloon Ascensions Unlimited, Chapman now gives hot air balloon rides to people almost all year round. He’s had

test your limitsjust u | weekend adventures

Take your weekend to new heights with these adventurous ideas.

By Allison Roorda

Fear of heights works differently in a balloon, Ed Chapman says. “In every other situation, you’re standing on something that’s attached to the earth, whether you’re up on a ladder, on a rooftop. In the balloon, you’re suspended from above, and apparently that makes the difference and tricks the brain.”

A climber scales a wall at the New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride 2012 at Vertical Endeavors. (Photo courtesy Vertical Endeavors)


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about one-fifth of his passengers tell him beforehand that they’re afraid of heights. He’s discovered a unique solution to that.

“We talk for a few minutes and I explain why they have the tumbling sensation,” he says. “In every other situa-tion, you’re standing on something that’s attached to the earth, whether you’re up on a ladder, on a rooftop. In the balloon, you’re suspended from above, and appar-ently that makes the difference and tricks the brain.”

Chapman says while he’s seen some trepidation from people getting into the basket of his hot air balloon, it goes away once they get up in the air. At that point, Chapman says he sees his favorite part of taking people up in the balloon.

“Even though every flight is differ-ent, it never gets boring,” he says. “And to see firsthand in somebody else what I experience the first time I got in a hot air balloon. They’re smiling, they’re eyes are wide open. To see that in other people — for me it’s a lot of fun.”


just u | weekend adventures


Two years ago, Blair Shackle would have laughed at the thought of starting a blog. “I was a very private person,” she said.

“I kept everything inside.” That is, until she lost her job - and, with

it, her sense of security and purpose in the world. In late 2011, when the entertainment website where she worked as managing editor shut its doors, “I was in this black hole,” Shackle said. “I thought my life was over. I had no direction.”

Eventually, Shackle decided the only way out of her sadness was to walk through it, rather than away from it – and leverage her love of writing as a way to heal and grow. Tired of being so guarded, she took a coura-geous step: starting a blog where she could post her writing in hopes that sharing her journey might help others face their own struggles.

In January 2012, she launched her blog (blairshackle.com/blog) with an honest post about facing the unknown after job loss - and finding blessings in that challenge. She wrote, “I hope I can inspire others to believe that you can follow your heart and get everything you’ve dreamed of (happiness, a bazillion hours of vacation time, flexibility,

fulfillment, endless ice cream, and all those other wonderful things that make life worth living!)…because that is exactly what I plan on doing.”

Shackle does, in fact, now freelance and blog from her St. Louis Park home. And she loves her flexible schedule. Her blog has become a trusty companion through many ups and downs, providing a platform to write authentically and face life’s challenges with a full heart and clear mind.

When she opted to write about the deep emotional wounds caused by severe bully-ing she endured during high school, “I felt lighter, instantly,” she said. Her honesty about the subject attracted media coverage and gratitude from readers. “If it reached even one person, to help him or her make a difference and stand up (against bullying), I did my job,” she said.

Shackle has also found solace in writing about suffering a miscarriage last summer. At first, she tried to “stuff the sadness” as she had in the past. “I had all this grief inside me,” she said, aware that she’d never dealt emotionally with other losses in her life. “And it became too much to hold.” So, she opened up and shared that grief with her readers – and the growth that followed.

In addition to sharing her darkest moments, Shackle also shares accounts of triumphantly facing her fears. Terrified of traveling alone, she decided to book a solo trip to New Mexico and Arizona, and chronicled her journey. The trip was such a positive experience that Shackle has since embarked on many more adventures sans her husband or friends - from the Black Hills to the Rocky Mountains.

So, what’s Shackle’s next courageous act? Writing a book about spirituality for young adults - and trusting that she’ll find the perfect publisher.

“I want people to know it’s a choice,” said Shackle. “We have an opportunity to say ‘yes’ to what the universe guides us to do. I said no for a long, long time. Now, every small ‘yes’ feels like an act of bravery.”

Liv Lane calls herself a Human Sparkler, devoted to helping women defi ne and ignite their inner sparks – the traits, talents and passions that light them up from the inside out. She has mentored hundreds of bloggers around the world, and profi les an inspiring local blogger in each addition of Savvy. Find her online at LivLane.com.

Blogger finds courage, clarity and success in her writing journey

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love & life | bloggers

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NNorthern Minnesota is hardly the place you’d expect to find jaguars, cougars and tigers. But more than 100 large and small cats have found their home at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minn. Tammy Thies founded The Wildcat Sanctuary in 1999 as a place for wild cats to live out their lives after being rescued from illegal exotic pet trade or other captive situations.

“We have over 100 cats that come from all different walks of life and different species,” Thies said.

The Wildcat Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill big cat rescue that provides a place for cats of all kinds, from lions to bobcats to lynxes. The Sanctuary focuses on bringing light to and ending the captive wildlife crisis, in which exotic animals like big cats are captured and kept as pets illegally. Thies says she would love for a time to come when the Sanctuary is not needed at all.

The Wildcat Sanctuary is not open to the public, but it does accept volunteers and interns in programs. Volunteers can help by putting up fencing, renovating structures or helping to clean the prep room or tool shed. Interns can work at The Wildcat Sanctuary in three different programs: animal care interns help

provide care for rescued felines while main-taining strict safety protocols, marketing and education interns help educate the public about the captive wildlife crisis as well as rais-ing funds for the Sanctuary, and development associate interns correspond with donors and keep them informed about what The Wildcat Sanctuary is doing.

Savvy asked Thies about her work with The Wildcat Sanctuary and her passion for helping these cats find a home and a place, even in this snowy state.

What’s your background and how did you get started in this?

I have a background in advertising. One of the photo shoots I was on had big cats, and like most people I was smitten and really real-ized that the trainer didn’t have the license he needed or the credentials. I had a background that didn’t lend itself to vet or anything like that. But I started doing research and finding a need for this.

Who is your role model?Tippi Hedren; she was in [Alfred Hitch-

cock’s] “The Birds,” and she started a sanctuary for retired entertainment animals. I met her in 1999. She really inspired me that we needed to change the laws and provide sanctuary for these animals.

What do you love most about what you do?

The biggest thing is we’re making a differ-ence in the lives of animals and humans. We want to prevent future animals from needing sanctuaries. To know we’re creating less tigers who live in basements. We’re actually here just for the animals. We do accept volunteers for events for people to keep animals in the heart not the home. They need time just to be wild at heart.

Describe your best day at work.Sometimes it’s as simple as a donor call-

ing you and saying how much they appreciate what you do. Another day it could be watching the cougars — like one who’s come in just under the weather, finally run across the enclo-sure and lay in the sun. To see them finally at peace is pretty amazing.

How would you define success?Our definition would be to put ourselves

out of business. That sanctuaries would no longer be needed, and these animals can live in the wild and not as pets.


Tammy Thies found her passion in rescuing big cats and has dedicated her life to that mission.

BY ALLISON ROORDA

Wild SideLiving on the

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I have never been a particularly adven-turous eater. In my youth, I was so notorious for ordering chicken that my grandma – who had already written me off as a culinary lost cause – nearly fell out of her chair when I finally developed a taste for steak.

Travel helped to open up my picky palate a bit. Curiosity overrode my picki-ness, enticing me to try things like blood pudding in Ireland, yucca root in Venezu-ela and guava in Mexico.

But it was a safari in Namibia that provided the best opportunity to taste some truly exotic foods. There was no chicken on the menu there. Many of the same creatures we were so eagerly photographing during the day were often on our plates at night. Oryx reminded me of roast beef. Spring-bok and kudu were a lot like venison. And guinea fowl – well, that was as close to chicken as we could find.

One doesn’t have to crisscross the globe to get their fill of the exotic, though. There are plenty of opportunities to try some out-of-the-ordinary meats right here in the Twin Cities – from camel burgers at the east African-themed Safari Express in the Midtown Global Market, to yak served three ways (dumpling, stir fry or roasted) at St. Paul’s Everest on Grand, to the traditional Andean dish cuy (guinea pig) at Chino Latino in Uptown.

In downtown Minneapolis, Hell’s Kitchen put kangaroo on their menu in mid-

April. The dish, topped with a blackberry barbecue sauce and served with cheddar polenta and a pickled vegetable salad, sold out the very same night. It continued to sell out in the weeks that followed.

“We’re blown away,” co-owner Cynthia Gerdes says. “We’ve never had anything like this before.”

Gerdes says they weren’t attention-seeking when they added kangaroo to their lineup. They were simply attracted to its tasty lean red meat. Hell’s Kitchen serves the kangaroo much like steak. “It looks like a filet,” she says. “We sear it very lightly. It’s so low in fat, we have to

be careful not to overcook it.” The result is a dish that is akin to a “slightly sweeter steak,” Gerdes says.

In Northeast, it’s all about craft beer and sausage at New Bohemia. “We keep it pretty simple,” says General Manager Eric Cameron. Simple, but not necessarily easy. The menu includes an “adventurous” sec-tion full of exotic sausage flavors including alligator, pheasant and wild boar. “You can turn anything you want into a sausage,” Cameron says.

There is one exotic sausage that rou-tinely trumps the rest, though.

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Twin Cities offers all kinds of obscure meats, from guinea pig to rattle-snake to kangaroo.

Exoticnosh | adventurous eating

Hell’s Kitchen serves kangaroo much like steak. “It looks like a fi let,” says co-owner Cynthia Gerdes. “We sear it very lightly. It’s so low in fat, we have to be careful not to overcook it.”


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rattlesnake and rabbit sausage,” Cam-eron says. His staff loves to watch the reactions that follow when diners spy that particular item.

Those bold enough to order up the rattlesnake and rabbit sausage (which also includes jalapenos) are treated to a complex flavor profile. “We see people chewing more with that sausage,” he says. “The brain is trying to find some-thing to compare it to. It doesn’t taste like chicken,” he explained.

For those that want to try their own hand at preparing exotic meats, Spe-cialty Meats and Gourmet in Hudson, Wis., has just about anything one could ever ask for, from alpaca and frog to llama and turtle.

“They call me the meat detective,” says owner Steve Loppnow.

The majority of Loppnow’s busi-ness comes from restaurants looking for exotic meats to add to their menus. Chefs from around the country know that Loppnow is the guy to call, even with the most exotic of requests.

“There’s really nobody else that does what we do,” he said. Right now, Loppnow is on the hunt for nutria (a large rodent), lion, zebra and horse.

Customers can try before they buy, too. Once a month, Specialty Meats and Gourmet hosts tasting classes serving everything from wild boar to rabbit salad.

But only for the adventurous eaters – those who are willing to try anything, even if it doesn’t taste like chicken.

Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for South-west Newspapers, which publishes Savvy Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].

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savvy sun signsARIESMARCH 21 - APRIL 19Take a break when forward momentum stalls out. With many planets transiting through water signs, you are asked to reflect and listen more. It’s OK to kick back and enjoy the summer. When you notice strong emotion, find healthy ways to release the tension. Spend time at home and with family, even if rela-tionships are a little rocky. July 4 may bring up issues at home. But if you are persistent, you find solutions. Don’t be surprised if everyone is having a hard time communicating. When Mercury stations direct on July 20, you can begin clearing this up. The last week of July calls for courage and daring.

TAURUSAPRIL 20 - MAY 20Home is your sanctuary. You also enjoy indulging your tastes for beautiful things. Just watch out for overspending, especially during the last week of July. You enjoy the summer break on July 4, but also feel a project or obligation weighing on you. Perhaps the time off will help you make important decisions about your work. Be patient this month, as emotion-laden communication can be hard to understand. When Mercury stations direct on July 20, you begin to sort out what is real. At the Full Moon on July 22, your gift of calm steadiness is appreciated. Rocky relationships smooth out a bit by the end of the month.

LEOJULY 23 - AUGUST 22Just when you thought you could have a light-hearted summer, hidden emo-tions surface in your relationships. These kind of experiences ebb and flow all month but may be particularly strong around July 8 at the New Moon in Cancer. Don’t be afraid to be gener-ous with your time and creativity. You can help others through difficulty and you learn more about your own gifts. When Uranus turns direct on July 17, you want to break free. The Full Moon on July 22 brings new understanding about your value to others if you rein in your ego and listen. You feel energized and alive by the end of the month. Accept the joy that surrounds you.

VIRGOAUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22Work isn’t everything, although you might be tempted to think it is. Use the summer season to find the other things that give your life meaning and enjoyment. You are able to find a steady balance between productivity and personal satisfaction. Knowing this balance helps you when tensions erupt from time to time this month. Release yourself from expectations of perfection and accept things as they are. The past three weeks have included funny and not so funny communication mix-ups. On July 20, you get to turn those mix-ups around. The inspiration you feel when Venus enters Virgo two days later at the Full Moon helps infuse your life with beauty and connection.

CANCERJUNE 22 - JULY 22Life feels like a yo-yo. With so much emphasis on all the water signs, one day could be smooth sailing and the next everyone could be in crisis. You may feel the urge to solve other people’s problems. Watch out for over commit-ting. The days around July 4 require you to be cool headed. While Mercury is retrograding through Cancer, trust that things will work out in due time. At the New Moon on July 8, take stock of your life and set an intention for a dream or goal. You are feeling both ambi-tious and connected to others. After Mercury turns direct on July 20, use your innate management skills to sort out confusion and misunderstandings.

GEMINIMAY 21 - JUNE 21Does anyone speak your language? Communication issues abound. Don’t expect people to be logical about their feelings. The source of confusion comes from a deeper emotional level. You’ve just had an exciting year and might feel a letdown when life slows a bit. Take it in stride. Opinions are high around July 4. Try to enjoy the discussion. Surprises come your way on July 17 when Uranus, the planet of revolution, stations direct. Be adaptable; after all you are good at it. You’ll be happier at the end of the month when people start saying what they really mean. Try to be realistic about expectations in relationship, espe-cially during the last week of July.

love & life | astrology


PISCESFEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20You are feeling sensitive but sup-ported. Who’s got your back? Draw upon these relationships to help you maintain your boundaries. Although it may be difficult to do so, you can keep an open heart and say no at the same time. Surprises at the July 4 holiday set the stage to recommit to an important goal when Saturn turns direct on July 7. These goals could very well impact your work in the world. This month ask yourself what you really want to com-municate. Don’t forget you have needs too. The end of the month is a blend of inspiration mixed with possible stress. Practice self-care.

SAGITTARIUSNOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21

Have you been browsing travel sites on the Internet? You are tempted to escape complex relationship issues right now. The urge to get away is not entirely bad. You tend to learn a lot from new perspectives. The trigger for you is emotional complexity. What do others want from you? With Mercury moving retrograde, communication is difficult too. Mars transits at the end of the month may spark conflict. The most important question may be, how do we argue honestly? Heated discus-sions may occur in your family, but show up for those you love; they will appreciate it. After the Sun moves into Leo on July 22, you get relief and begin to have more fun.

LIBRASEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23The prime directive this month is to use emotional awareness to connect with others. Your sense of fairness may be challenged however, as people with greater needs require your patience and compassion. Family ties are important even though you may feel that com-munication within your family could be better. Deal with these issues if they come up around July 4 so you can relax and enjoy yourself. July 17 may be a triggering day for you. You are itching to make big changes. Another bump in the road comes on July 20 when Mercury stations direct. Your gift for diplomacy comes in handy the last week of July when emotions may be high.

AQUARIUSJANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18This month feels like a crash course in emotional awareness. Although the number of misunderstandings you’ve seen recently is perplexing, these ulti-mately serve to teach us the importance of resolving old wounds. What you are learning will have a lasting effect on your communities. Around July 4 you see the need for change in your life. This holiday about freedom makes you really want your own. Feelings of being trapped are strong at the New Moon on July 8. But the Full Moon in Aquarius on July 22 will feel like your own independence day. Even though it is tempting to avoid emotional encounters, stick with it for people you love.

CAPRICORNDECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19Life has been a mixture of intensity and vitality for you lately. However, you still may need a healthier balance between work and home. The New Moon on July 8 is a perfect opportunity for you to begin this shift into balance. You have great strength in pursuing your goals, so take it easy on yourself when you feel like you aren’t making progress. Since communication is challenging this month due to a retrograde of Mercury, find new ways to listen. People may need to get their feelings out before you can get closer. This dynamic plays into the days around the July 4 holiday. Energy and desire to make change happens the last week of the month.

SCORPIOOCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22You are in your element this month. That doesn’t mean it will always be easy to deal with your feelings, but it does mean you are uniquely qualified to bring understanding and healing to the situation. Listen to your dreams, feel-ings, and intuition. When Saturn turns direct on July 7, life seems very serious, but be happy about what you are learn-ing. After July 17, you will be called on to use these new skills at moments of stress and release. Sometimes we need to let emotional scenarios play out in order to change the pattern. The Full Moon on July 22 is insightful. The last week of July is exhilarating and transformative.

love & life | astrology

Teri Parsley Starnes is a professional astrologer living in Minneapolis. Her monthly horoscope is written exclusively for Savvy readers. Learn more about Starnes’ business, Starsdance Astrology, at starsdanceastrology.com.

Read more in astrology online at savvy.mn


Jodi Livon is an author, resident psychic at Twin Cities Live, and she’s an intuitive coach for the business sector. She also offers readings for individuals. Her website is TheIntuitiveCoach.com.

ExploreYOUR INTUITION

with Jodi Livon

love & life | explore your intuition

J odi Livon, author of The Happy Medium , intuit ive coach and resident psychic at Twin Cities

Live, says everyone is intuitive.Each month readers ask Livon about

their questions around intuition and all things supernatural. In this month’s edition, readers ask about aging, when tragedy strikes, and access to spiritual information.

As we age, particularly as we near the end our life, are we able to see and hear spirits that are around us? Are they spirits of relationships that have passed on before us, or spirits that are connected to the environment or area that you are living in?

As we near the close of our life, our higher soul works hard to tie up karmically related loose ends. These actions alone raise our vibration and make us more aware of our senses. We are then better able to feel spirits. This includes spirits with no connection to us but who have emotional ties to the space we are in such as a home or hospital. Our loved ones in spirit wish to help ease our fears. Ask someone who works in a nursing home if those close to death often report seeing loved ones in the room with them. Some carry on full conversations.

When tragedy strikes, such as Sept. 11,

and many people die, do their spirits hand around in the area of the incident? Is a place like the Sept. 11 memorial overwhelming for someone who is a medium?

Typically when people die in groups, they flow swiftly into the light together. This same bright light is accompanied by a divine presence and is extended to those who die alone as well. The majority move swiftly into it. There are those, however, who may not completely comprehend that they are “dead” so remain for a time, silently on this side of the veil. This confusion may occur because their death was caused by accident or murder. And yes, the high level of electrical emotional energy in places like ground zero are tremendously overwhelming. Mediums feel emotion in high gear and those who are untrained or unaware of how to protect themselves respond full blast. This is why learning and exercising boundaries is so essential. Working mediums must have a heart that can love beyond reason and stay open when it would be less complicated to close it.

Do you ever have someone in for a reading but your don’t get any information from your guides or theirs? Why would that be?

I often joke that I can read a rock and sense what bug was recently sitting on it. Though I have not experienced drawing a proverbial blank during a reading I

have come up against my share of those with their emotional and spiritual doors jammed shut. In those cases, no matter what psychic pictures appear, and no matter what spirit from the other side may be providing phenomenal healing context, that closed door says it all. There is a vast difference between being a skeptic with an open mind and a skeptic closed to all possibilities. People who have made a choice to turn away from their inner truth out of fear of facing their own demons are not at all connected with their higher selves; they are exhausting to work with on an intuitive level. I refer to them as being head blind.

Send your questions for Jodi Livon to Savvy Editor in Chief Britt Johnsen and your question may appear in an upcoming edition of the magazine. Livon can’t answer every question but she’s grateful to receive all of them. Johnsen is at [email protected] or (952) 345-6387.


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