The Benefit is Coming Up!

We're expecting a great turnout to Steph's benefit next week!!

SAT. APRIL 13th

Town's Edge - Staples, MN

Spaghetti Supper: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Silent Auction: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

DJ Zakkson: 8:00pm - midnight

Verndale Sun Article

Click on the image to open a PDF of the article.

Sebeka-Menahga Review Messenger Article

Click on the images below to read the article.

We need Silent Auction Items

We gladly welcome any and all donated items, however if you're looking for ideas, see below. Currently we are in need of some higher dollar items, such as tickets to professional sports events, certificates for free stays at hotels/resorts, free air travel or iPads.
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Contact Stephanie Beste to donate an item for the Silent Auction. Cell: 651-497-8147 / Email: stephaniefoote@yahoo.com

Please drop off your Silent Auction donation(s) at Mid-Central Bank in Staples. The address is 128 West 2nd Ave. / old Hwy 10 (across from Ace Hardware and Burger King). Ask for Mary Kobliska. All donations must be clearly marked with the donor's name, item description and value.

If the item(s) can be shipped (gift certificates, for example), please send them to:

Stephanie Beste

1421 Chandler Ave. N.

Glencoe, MN 55336

All donations must be clearly marked with the donor's name, item description and value.

If you are not able to drop off or ship your donated item, please contact Stephanie Beste.

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IDEAS FOR SILENT AUCTION ITEMS:

Gift Certificates

• Restaurants (fast food and sit-down)
• Gas Stations
• Grocery Stores
• Movie Theatres
• Bowling
• Arcade
• Hair Salons
• Massage / Spa
• Tanning
• Hotel / Resort
• Kids Book Clubs
• Fitness Clubs
• Netflix
• One year free wireless internet
• One year free cable / satellite
• Wadena Film Festival
• One year newspaper subscription
• Golf course

Handmade Items

• Jewelry
• Quilts
• Kids toys

Home Parties

• Thirty-One (We have plenty of these donations.)
• Scentsy
• Party Lite
• Lia Sophia
• Silpada
• Pampered Chef
• Tastefully Simple (We have plenty of these donations.)
• Celebrating Home
• Tupperware
• At Home 
• Mary Kay
• Avon
• ViSalus

Services

• Babysitting services
• Housekeeping services
• Mowing services
• Guitar lessons
• Snow removal
• Golf lessons 
• Swimming lessons
• Photography session
• Tutor sessions
• Sandbox for Big Boys (2 hours of fun with the Heavy Equipment department at CLC)

Gift Baskets

• Wine Lovers: 2-3 bottles wine, wine bottle opener, book about wine
• Chocolate Lovers: fine chocolates, hot chocolate
• Coffee Lovers: small pkgs of unique coffees, flavored creamer (powder), travel mug, gift cert. to Starbucks
• Cooks: apron, cookbook, trivet, utinsels
• Family Night: family movie, popcorn, pizza delivery gift cert, movie theatre candy, card game or board game
• Let’s Get Physical: free weights, exercise DVD, pedometer, yoga mat
• Girls Night In: Magic Mike DVD, Baileys, sweet/salty snacks
• Boys Night In: Poker chips, Top Gun, bad whiskey (ha!)
• Twilight: Twilight books, movies, posters
• Bieber Lovers: CDs, posters, concert on DVD
• Beer Lovers: At home brewing kit
• Sewing Lovers: patterns, fabric, good pair of scissors
• Dog Lovers: treats, toys, gift cert for local groomer and/or kennel, auto-waterer
• Scrapbook Lovers: scrapbook, paper, stickers, scissors
• Life’s a Beach: beach towels, flip flops, frisbee, sand castle pails 

Entertainment

• Theater tickets
• Bowling tickets
• MN sports – Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, Gophers
• Nascar tickets
• Tickets to local car races
• Season tickets to local high school sports
• Tickets to local plays
• Tickets to pig races in Leader
• Tickets to MMA / Boxing
• Paint ball
• Laser tag
• Go cart

Big Ticket Items

• Free cruise
• Free flight
• Free hotel / resort 
• Hot air balloon ride
• Skydiving
• Meat – ½ cow or ½ pig
• Monthly wine club
• iPad
• iPod
• Kindle Fire

Collectibles – signed by local celebrity

• Twins (past and present: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, etc.)
• Bob Dylan
• Brock Lesnar
• Kris Humphries
• Lynx: Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus
• Jeremiah James Korfe – Sweet Home Alabama – Eagle Bend
• Diecast race car
• Signed books by local authors

Other

• Framed photographs by local photographers
• Purses
• Kids summer camp
• Year’s worth of greeting cards 
• Potted plants
• Keurig Coffee Maker

Staples World Article

Go Red for Women Day

Yesterday was National "Go Red" day. The American Heart Association started this campaign in 2003, encouraging everyone to wear something red on February 1st each year, to raise awareness of heart disease, the #1 cause of death in women. February is "heart health month".

Below: This is Stephanie and her friends and co-workers, celebrating Go Red for Women Day.

This website has a lot of valuable information about heart disease: www.goredforwomen.org

Facts:

• Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.

• 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.

• Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen.

• The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women vs. men, and are often misunderstood.

• While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.

Causes:

Heart disease affects the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. Numerous problems can result from this, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.

But it doesn’t end there. Heart disease can take many other forms as well:

• Heart failure or congestive heart failure, which means that the heart is still working, but it isn’t pumping blood as well as it should, or getting enough oxygen.

• Arrhythmia or an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which means the heart is either beating too fast, too slow or irregularly. This can affect how well the heart is functioning and whether or not the heart is able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

• Heart valve problems can lead to the heart not opening enough to allow proper blood flow. Sometimes the heart valves don’t close and blood leaks through, or the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse into the upper chamber, causing blood to flow backward through them.

Prevention:

• Don’t smoke
• Manage your blood sugar
• Get your blood pressure under control
• Lower your cholesterol
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy

Tools:
Family Tree
The tendency to develop heart disease tends to run in the family - BUT you can take steps to prevent it by making healthy lifestyle choices! Print this Family Tree Flyer. Fill it out and give a copy of it to your healthcare provider. This will help you determine if you are at higher risk, so that you can determine if you need to make changes to your eating and exercise habits.

Heart Health Guide

• Signs of a heart attack and stroke in women
• Cholesterol: what the levels mean and what you can do you lower your cholesterol
• Diabetes: who is at higher risk, and tips to manage diabetes
• High Blood Pressure: what the levels mean and what you can do to lower your blood pressure
• Body Mass Index (BMI): how to calculate your BMI 
• Tips for Healthy Eating and Staying Active
• Smoking: tips for quitting

Browerville Blade article

Olive Garden is donating ALL of the food!

Olive Garden of Baxter, MN is donating ALL of the food for the spaghetti supper!  

Jamie Gauld, Service Manager, says of their donation, "Steph is such an inspiration of perseverance. I'm so glad I could help her!!"

To thank them, please eat at the Olive Garden in Baxter.  This is a HUGE donation for the benefit, and will allow us to give more money to Stephanie.

Who doesn't love Olive Garden's salad and bread sticks?! YUM!

7399 Garrison Road 

Baxter, MN  56425

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Wadena Pioneer Journal article

Thank you to Wadena Pioneer Journal for covering Stephanie's story!

Wadena Pioneer Journal article

I love unexpected mail!

Today I received a piece of mail that totally made my day!

Lisa from Camp S'more Campground writes:
"Steph and Jesse camped with us last year. After learning of Steph's situation our daughter started following her Caringbridge site and most recently saw there was going to be a benefit for Steph.

Enclosed are a couple of camping gift certificates for your silent auction."

Wow, thank you to Camp S'more Campground for your generous and unexpected donation!

Readers, please visit www.CampSmoreMN.com or call 320-732-2517 to make your 2013 camping reservations.

Become a Donor

If you follow Steph's Caringbridge site, or if you're friends with her on Facebook, you may have read that she recently found out that her donor's family has sent her a letter and picture of the donor. In her note, she asks us to register to become an organ donor. That got me to thinking...am I registered? Have I taken all of the steps to ensure my organs can be donated?

I visited the website www.OrganDonor.gov. There I found out how to become an organ and tissue donor. It's fast, easy and free! It only took about 30 seconds.

Note! If you wish to donate your organs, but do not take the following steps, your family will be asked to make the decision for you. Make your wishes known now.

1. Join the Donor Registry.

• Register Online Here: Select your state. Enter your name, address, and state ID. 
• Or, call 1-888-5-DONATE to get registered.

2. Add it to your ID.
Make sure you indicate that you want to be an organ donor when you apply for or renew your driver's license or state ID card.

3. Tell everyone in your life.
Tell your family, friends, doctor and faith leader that you would like your organs and tissue donated.

4. Write it down.
Include your donation decision in your advance directives, will, and living will.

What's your New Year's Resolution?

A new year. A chance to start fresh. A time to reflect and a time to set goals. What do you want to accomplish this year? How do you want to live? What changes do you want to make?

As you look ahead into 2013, I encourage you to do all things with love. Wave at your neighbor. Smile at the store clerk. Do chores without complaining. Be kind to someone you do not like. Introduce yourself to someone new. Apologize. Sacrifice your time and money. Get to know people you pre-judge. Admit when you are wrong. Listen more and talk less. Volunteer. Act selflessly.