I have a weakness for Dairy Queen Blizzards. I find it hard to resist the creamy, scrumptious treats, which can be troublesome because I walk by Dairy Queen in the downtown Minneapolis skyway at least once or twice a week during my lunch hour outings. I try to talk myself out of taking the skyway leading to the DQ, but usually my taste buds take over and I find myself standing in line ready to order. I start to get rational and tell myself, “It’s just ice cream. How bad can that be? I am just getting my daily calcium requirements.” So I order my favorite flavor (hot fudge-banana) and dig in. After inhaling the blizzard within a few minutes flat, I start to feel a little bit guilty and a tad gluttonous.

Well, I am happy to announce that Dairy Queen has finally launched the new Mini Blizzard. The roughly 6-ounce treat is about half the size of the small blizzard, but still full of flavor. You get just enough of your favorite treat to satisfy your craving, but you don’t overindulge. So now I don’t feel so guilty when I break down and run for the nearest Dairy Queen.   

Have you tried your favorite Blizzard flavor in the new Mini size?

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Jane Tomassetti

I remember when swimming in the lake was refreshing, cool—and carefree. I would float on an inflatable raft, sometimes for hours, on Mille Lacs Lake where our family cabin resides. I never paid attention to anything but enjoying the cool, clear water. Now as I decide to take a dip in the lake there is a new thing to consider that I never had to think about before—whether I am going to get swimmer’s itch or ‘duck itch,’ as my family calls it. 

Mille Lacs Lake has a new creature lurking beneath its surface. The lake has been infested by a microscopic parasite that passes between water fowl and snails. Although humans are not suitable hosts, the larvae still burrow into swimmers’ skin. But because these larvae cannot develop inside a human, they soon die and cause an allergic reaction to the toxins given off. The result? Red, itchy welts that can last for weeks.

There is really no prevention for swimmer’s itch. I have tried everything from rinsing off immediately with fresh water (we even rigged a fresh water shower on the beach), toweling off vigorously when exiting before the water has a chance to evaporate on your skin (they say the parasite doesn’t burrow into your skin until the water evaporates), to putting on thick, waterproof sun screen in hopes that the parasite would not be able to penetrate my skin through the greasy film. Nothing seems to work. I get ‘the itch’ almost every time I swim in Mille Lacs Lake.

So now when I think about taking a refreshing dip at my cabin, I think long and hard before taking the plunge. Is this swim really worth the two weeks of itching that is sure to follow? But the lure of the lake usually wins me over, and I end up jumping in. I guess I will just have to learn to live with the little buggers until someone comes up with a solution to this problem.  I just hope that is soon. 

- Jane Tomassetti

I recently visited Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We decided to stay at one of the Disney Resorts instead of staying at a hotel off of Disney grounds, and I am so glad we made this decision. We chose Disney’s beautiful Old Key West Resort. It evoked the feeling of Florida’s Old Key West with its pastel-colored Victorian villas decorated with ornate gingerbread accents. The grounds were lush and green with an abundance of tropical palm trees and colorful flowers. All surrounded with little waterways winding throughout. It was simply charming.

From the moment we stepped off our flight in Orlando we found that Disney was there to help us along the way. Their hospitality began even before we left home—they mailed us special Disney baggage tags so we would not have to worry about collecting our luggage once we arrived at the airport. Our bags would be delivered directly to our villa later that afternoon, which eliminated a considerable amount of stress from the already too-long travel day. All we had to do was board the Disney Express, lean back, relax and enjoy the passing Florida landscape.

When our Disney Express arrived at the Old Key West Resort we were greeted by polite and cheerful staff, checked in within minutes and on our way being chauffeured to our private villa, which was very nice by the way. The villa had two bedrooms each with their own private bathroom, a full kitchen and full living room. There was even a private veranda nestled amongst the palm trees just off the living room, providing us with a very relaxing space to enjoy.

A visit to Walt Disney World can be very hectic if you don’t take some time to plan things out ahead of time. I feel that staying at a Disney Resort made my time at Walt Disney World much more relaxing and enjoyable. Disney provides all your transportation to and from the many parks, so there are no worries about driving and where to park your car. You just board one of their air conditioned express busses, then just sit back and relax until you arrive at your designated park. Plus, having the option to return to your resort during the day for a much needed break was an enormous bonus (long days at the park without a break can equal a major breakdown for my six-year-old daughter). We enjoyed the ease of spending mornings at the park, afternoons by the pool and then returning to the park rested and re-energized in the late afternoon lasting all the way through the evening firework display.

I also enjoyed dining at the main restaurant in our resort. Of course we could not pass up the opportunity to dine at a restaurant named Olivia’s (our daughter’s first name). The staff was so nice to my daughter. They all signed a menu referring to her as “the boss” and made a big deal about her name being Olivia. Even though I know they do this for all the little girls named Olivia that frequent their restaurant, they made a special effort to make my daughter feel very special and important. She kept the laminated menu as one of her favorite souvenirs from the trip.

Next time I visit Walt Disney World I will definitely stay at one of the many wonderful resorts right on Disney grounds. And while I highly recommend the Old Key West Resort with its beautiful, tranquil grounds, there are so many resorts to choose from that next time I just might select another resort for a new experience.

Have you visited Disney World? What was your experience like?

-Jane Tomassetti

Source: Disney Hotels

Yesterday, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his hole to foreshadow six more weeks of winter. A few years ago, my reaction would have been “hrrrrumph!” The older I got, the more I grew to dislike winter. The cold, the snow, the mess and the long days—when will it ever end! I found myself wishing the winter months away dreaming of the coming of spring.

 However, now I have started to view winter through the eyes of my young daughter. Her enthusiasm for snowfalls bring me back to my childhood and get me thinking about how I use to love winter just as my daughter does. Instead of complaining when I wake up to a new blanket of snow, I see the excitement in my daughter’s eyes and it spreads to me. I now look forward to weekends spent outside enjoying the snow. As an adult I forgot just how much fun snow can be. We can go sledding on the local hill, maybe try our luck skating or just go out and make a snowman in the yard. There are limitless options for fun!

My daughter’s excitement for life (even during long, cold winter Minnesota days) made me realize there is a certain magic that we lose as we grow older. We look at everything differently and tend to see things only for what they actually are and not what they could be. We don’t take the time to stop and enjoy what is around us anymore. We move through life at extraordinary speed sometimes missing all the little, special things.  Maybe we should all try to bring some of that childhood magic back into our lives to lighten our hearts and brighten our smiles!

-Jane Tomasetti

Thanksgiving is upon us! It’s time to pile our plates high with turkey, yams and pumpkin pie.  But before we do, we asked ourselves, “What are you thankful for this year?”  Here’s how we replied…

Steph is thankful for her clarity and sanity.

Whitney is thankful for her family. “They can always make me laugh and have given me such unwavering support throughout this year.”

Trevor is most thankful for “my beautiful, healthy baby girl Luella. I am also thankful for how stinkin’ happy she is all the time!”

Joy is thankful that, “even though my family lives in three different states, we will all be together for Thanksgiving!”

Patricia is thankful for the trust our clients have placed in us during this challenging 2009.

Patrick is thankful that our agency was able to withstand the economic downturn and that our clients have generally weathered the storm very well.

Carol is so thankful for Makarei, her little granddaughter. “We get up at 4:30 in the morning to get ready for work and school.  On Saturdays she has piano lessons and choir practice.  She goes with me to Lay Organization and Missionary Society meetings and stays in a separate room dancing and singing.  Makarei is the joy of my life and I am so happy to have her in my life.”

Chad is thankful for his family.

Randy is thankful that his cousin Trent returned safely from Djibouti, Africa, after spending a 7-month tour of duty in the Marines.

Jenny is thankful for the small group she joined recently through her church. “We meet each Sunday night for a time of faith, fun and fellowship. It has already been such a gift and a wonderful way to start a new week. And our host is truly Rachael Ray Jr. so I leave each week with lunch for Monday!”

Jeron is thankful the economy has reminded him (and certainly many others) how much more valuable family, health and friendships are than material items.

Jane is very thankful to have a wonderful, big family that surrounds her with love and support. “I am also thankful that both Dan and I are employed and that our family is healthy and happy. And I am thankful to have been fortunate to have adopted such an amazing, loving dog to add to our family…we are so blessed to be able to share every moment of Lily’s life.”

What are you most thankful for this year?

We hope you enjoy your holiday with family, friends and those closest to you. Happy Thanksgiving from all of your friends at SCG!

Last week I was getting ready to leave for work. It was a hectic Monday morning. As usual, I was playing beat-the-clock trying to get out the door on time. I opened up the front door and stepped out on our front stoop, turned to the right and noticed a little, pink cage sitting there. It was quite cold out for an October morning, so the plastic walls of the cage were fogged up.  I picked up the cage and brought it back into the house. There was a note taped to the side of the cage that read, “Please take care of our pets as we no longer can afford them – you people care.” As the fog cleared, I peered into the top of the cage and four little eyes blinked back at me. There were two very cute mice nestled in their bed in the top portion of the cage. As the cage warmed up, they became more active and started to move around. My daughter Olivia was jumping up and down in the background screaming, “Can we keep them momma…can we?” She proceeded to name them Oreo (white with black spots) and Caramel (all brown). “Ohhhhhh, don’t name them, Olivia,” I said.  “I don’t know if we are going to keep them. Let’s look into who might have dropped them off a little more before making a decision.”

We asked around the neighborhood and no one seemed to know where the mice came from. Did the previous owners know me, or did they just drive around looking for a house that looked like they had kids (we had a girl’s bike outside among other effects). Why us? My husband said that everyone knows that I wouldn’t turn away an animal in need, making me a magnet for things like this.

So, at least for now, I am the lucky owner of two mice. I am currently looking for an alternative home for the little guys through friends and family or possibly a teacher who would like a class pet. So far I have come up empty-handed, but I will keep trying. Olivia is happy to have a little more time to spend with them but she is ok with giving them up. For now they are safe, warm and well cared for.

Even the smallest of creatures are being affected by the hard times.  Animal shelters across the Metro are dealing with an influx of dogs and other animals because of the recession and are encouraging people to adopt unwanted animals. If you are able to add a furry member to your family, visit your local animal shelter.

- Jane Tomassetti

I have been looking for another dog to add to our family. We currently have an 11-year-old Greyhound but would like to adopt a smaller, fluffy dog for my kindergarten-age daughter, Olivia. I have been visiting local pounds, attending Adopt-A-Pet meetings, and scouring Craigslist for the perfect little pup. I decided I did not want to purchase a dog from a pet store, but rather give an unwanted dog a new “forever” home.

It has been harder than I expected to find our new little family member. Most of the smaller dogs at the Adopt-A-Pet meets are senior dogs with issues that are not good for small children. When visiting the local pounds, I mostly see large dog breeds (they say the little dogs get snapped up right away). I have answered numerous ads through Craigslist but always seem to be too late.

I finally found a little girl Maltese/Terrier puppy that was being offered on Craigslist for a small re-homing fee. She has transformed our house into complete chaos…I forgot just how energetic a small puppy can be! She is very gentle and sweet with Olivia so that is a plus. She does have some territorial and barking issues, both of which we will have to address. But with a little training and patience she will become a wonderful pet for many years to come. Welcome home to our newest little girl, Lily Rose.

-Jane Tomassetti

Recently my husband and I decided to paint our stark and boring white living room walls a warmer, more welcoming color. So we headed off to Home Depot to get some color ideas. In one of the catalogs we found a beautiful living room that had an Italian feel to it. The walls were golden yellow which created a warm, sunny feel and we agreed that was the color we wanted. We proceeded to pick little square paint swatches from the display wall and tried to match them to the color in the picture (I don’t know why we didn’t just look up the color shown in the catalog?). We thought we had found the perfect match and purchased a couple gallons of paint.

That night, my husband rolled out the walls with the new paint, and the next morning the room looked warm and cozy. But as the morning progressed and the sun began to shine in, the room took on a whole different look. I almost choked on my coffee when I walked back into the living room. All of the sudden our Italian bistro looked like a school bus!

We thought the color would tone down a bit after another coat, but that didn’t happen. We went to Home Depot again, and this time we settled on a color that looked about three shades lighter. My husband rolled out the new, toned-down yellow paint. However, the next morning our school bus room turned into a big, bright lemon!

On the third try, we finally got the right color and ended up with a room that we both enjoy immensely. We learned a lesson, and an expensive one at that. The next time we decide to paint a room, we’ll purchase a small quart size can instead of two gallons and we’ll paint a few different areas, instead of the whole room!

-Jane Tomassetti

Have you ever seen the infomercials for those light green bags? The company claims they will make your produce last days longer if you store all fruits and vegetables inside them. Well, my husband and I were very skeptical, but my five-year-old daughter kept insisting we purchase these bags to keep her bananas yellow (she hates it when her bananas turn brownish after just a few days). According to the commercial for Green Bags, your bananas will stay yellow and fresh for at least two weeks.

So as a joke, my husband gave a pack of Green Bags to our daughter for Christmas. She was delighted. She wanted to try them on all the produce we purchased on the next shopping trip. To humor her, I placed everything into separate Green Bags. The bananas also were placed into one of the larger bags and left out on our counter top.

I was pleasantly surprised two weeks later when our bananas stayed perfectly yellow without any brown spots. About two weeks later I came upon the green beans that had fallen to the bottom of the drawer. Expecting slimy, rotting beans, I was shocked to find perfect beans. They looked just as fresh as the day I purchased them.

So now thanks to the persistence of a child, I am a believer. I take the extra time to put all my fresh produce in a Green Bag. It may take a bit longer to rinse and dry all my produce (the produce should be completely dry before placing into the Green Bag) but the payoff is worth it. Crisp, fresh produce for many, many days.

Link to: https://www.greenbags.com/?cid=402572

-Jane Tomassetti

Adopting a Greyhound is a wonderful thing. There are so many retired Greyhounds throughout the United States that need loving homes after they leave their lives on the race track. You will feel good knowing that you are helping stop the destruction of these magnificent animals which are often euthanized when their racing days end.

Greyhounds are beautiful, graceful, loving dogs and they possess superior intelligence. They are gentle, faithful, loyal, and just adore their families. They are not barkers by nature but will bark if excited or trying to tell you something. Greyhounds are very social animals and love being around people. They do not need more exercise than other breeds as most people think – a daily walk or a romp in a fenced-in yard is plenty. Greyhounds love to sleep on soft things like pillows or doggie beds and they sometimes sleep up to 18 hours a day! Greyhounds are commonly referred to as the 45 m.p.h. couch potato. They sometimes present minor challenges when getting acclimated to home life, but once they adjust they will become part of your family and one of the most delightful, sweet, and amusing pets you will ever own.

If you adopt a Greyhound I guarantee they will occupy a special place in your heart. Consider giving a Greyhound a deserving home. One look deep into their loving eyes and you will be hooked for a lifetime!

For more information on Greyhound adoption in Minnesota you can visit www.minnesotagreyhoundrescue.org or www.gpa-mn.org.

I have had the honor and pleasure of owning retired Greyhound Wade, our big boy now, for 8 wonderful years. Wade turned 11 years old on November 2. He has changed my life.

-Jane Tomassetti