Home Services

Tis the Season to Tidy Up and Give Back

Very Organized by Valerie shares simple ways to declutter, cut holiday chaos, and spread a little joy through giving back Article by Kendra Johnson As we head into the holiday season, taking the time to declutter and organize your home can do more for your mental health and stress levels than you may realize. It can also be a huge boost to your local nonprofits. But finding the time and willpower to clean out parts of your home isn’t always easy, and deciding what stays and what goes can be...

Life + Culture

The Store on the Shore That Does So Much More

How Claudia Lacy turned a lakeside cabin into a place of giving Article by Jen Fortner | Photography by Kate Ann Photography This season brings out philanthropic energy in all of us. Giving typically spikes this time of year, and there is better awareness of how we can work to meet the needs of our family, friends, and neighbors. For Claudia Lacy, director of The Langdon, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, there is no such season. Their season is 365 days a year.  The Langdon opened...

Life + Culture

Life Minded

Let's Talk Turkey Article by Jen Fortner I had a childhood friend who always went out for Chinese food on Thanksgiving Day. My twelve-year-old brain couldn’t imagine restaurants being open that day, and I really couldn’t imagine not having what I considered ‘real Thanksgiving food.’ I found their tradition wildly exotic. They were British, and the fact that they were eating cream cheese wontons on Thanksgiving while having witty banter in charming accents was an embarrassment of riches...

Professional Services

From Humble Beginnings to Heartfelt Impact

The Story of Andrea Cruz-Babcock and The Art of Cleaning Article by Sarah Knieff | Photography by Kate Ann Photography When Andrea Cruz-Babcock arrived in the United States in 1999, she came with a dream shared by many: the hope of building a better life. But her journey didn’t follow a straight path, nor was it handed to her. Instead, Andrea carved her own way: one that started in a tiny shed in Mexico and led to the creation of The Art of Cleaning, a standout cleaning service in Minnesota...