How to be Single on Valentine’s Day This one goes out to all of my girlies who will not have a Valentine this year. Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and for the first time in a long time, I won’t have a Valentine. But guess what? I kind of love it! How to be single this Valentine’s day: I remember when I was in high school (and even parts of last year) thinking that a guy would bring me happiness. But over the past year, I’ve really come to realize that I want to be happy with myself and love …

Ladies, this issue comes at the most appropriate time: it is all about renewing and redoing. As we move into this holiday season, I again remind us all to be kind—to others, but to ourselves as well. It does not take time to smile at the lady in line at the grocery store when the lines are grossly long. If you do happen to see the man with the lonely eyes, go ahead and grab his hand. Assume the best in others; assume they are doing the best they can do at that moment. I am so excited for what …

My beautiful ladies, today I chose not to listen to yet another chapter of my strategic management audiobook while I chugged along on the treadmill, and yes I did say chug—that’s what today felt like. Instead, I decided I would run while listening to my music on shuffle, no playlist. I know; getting crazy, right? My lovely friends, I am not sure why, but the song that came on caught me completely off guard. I’m so glad no one else was with me, as I was a hot mess that last mile. The tears streamed down my face, and they …

The other day, an amazing thing happened to me. A memory from exactly one year ago popped up on my phone. It was a picture of me during my freshman year of college, but with a notably puffy face and red eyes. I had been going through a miserable time. The caption read, “I hate it here, I want to come home.” The picture brought back a flood of emotions and reminded me of how overwhelmed I was back then. For so long, I had tried to hide that I wasn’t having the “typical college experience.” And at that moment, …

As we move into fall (and dare I say the beginning stages of the holiday season), I challenge myself and all of my readers to be courageous. Now what on earth does that mean? I had a young child ask me, “What is courage, and how do I get it?” I had to ponder that question a bit. What I came up with, and what I have come to learn personally, is that courage is not a quality we are born with. It is a quality that is developed and honed. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as …

“You can gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Ladies, this quote describes many of the women in this issue. I am so honored to know their stories. This was supposed to be our Fall into Fun issue, but all these extraordinary women’s stories made it impossible to publish anything other than a Courageous …

“God Wink!” is a commonly used phrase in the Theisen household (My mom has funny little phrases she uses, and this is one of the rare occasions that one of them stuck.) A “God Wink” occurs when something happens and in hindsight, you’re left with the feeling that somehow God got involved and made it happen. Over the summer I had my own “God Wink” moments. Ever since I was in eighth grade, I wanted to be a dentist. My Grandpa Joe was a highly accomplished dentist in the Eau Claire area for over forty years and watching him made …

Here we are again ladies, enjoying another beautiful Wisconsin summer. I feel so lucky to live in a state with so much to offer. I love how summer brings less rigid schedules and a more relaxed calendar. Long gone are the days of heavily scheduled calendar filled with summer activities for the kids. Now, I’m just doing my best to keep track of where and with whom they are enjoying their summer days. The journey continues in faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance. DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE BELOW TO READ MORE! [in this issue] (14) Ten to Toss and Ten to …

As I write, outside these office walls four loads of unfolded laundry, unmade beds, a sink full of dishes that never wash themselves, and a yard looking like something straight out of a horror film beckon me. Let’s not even discuss the garage. A friend stopped by the other day and happened upon my garage; she nearly furnished her entire cabin with the contents of our overstuff ed garage. I’ll just call my current situation controlled chaos.” Throughout the years I have often heard, “Jen, I don’t know how you do it all.” Well, ladies, I’m not doing it all. …

I am surrounded by eleven, 15 year-old, young girls. They are all fast asleep. It is only 6 AM and the camp bugle will not sound for another hour. I am happy to get to work as a counselor at a summer camp on the beautiful, Long Lake in New Auburn, Wisconsin. Last night the campers and I stayed up late talking about how their first year of high school went and how they are all excited to become sophomores in high school. They had me belly laughing at their stories. Their innocence moves and inspires me. And so, this …