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Nancy, The Elf Who Has THE BEST Favorite Christmas Cookie

Nancy’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“Sitting in my parents’ living room with a fire in the fireplace with the whole family the year I got married.”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“Tennis bracelet from Ward. Smokey the Bear, a saddle for my horse and a dancing doll from my parents.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“Both, of course!”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“Rosettes filled with chocolate chip mint ice cream and drizzled with chocolate.”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Giving.”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“Yes.”

Artificial or real tree?

“Artificial.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“Red, green and multi.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“After Thanksgiving.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“One.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Filled.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“One to two.”

Do you still send out cards?

“No.”

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Sandy, The Elf Whose Best Gifts Are Having Her Children Home

Sandy’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is the holiday tradition you look most forward to?

“Christmas Eve church services and dinner with the family after. Candles fire and Christmas music after gifts.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“Our then 4 year old granddaughter was asked what was the thing she liked most about Christmas. She answered: Just being here with you.”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“My best gifts are simply having our girls home with their families.”

What do you wish for this Christmas?

“That we would take the time to experience His presence amongst the presents.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“A twinkle and a wink… you decide.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“Cookies – Mexican Wedding Cakes. Dish – Our Christmas Eve dinner: CoqAuVin Rosettes.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“Joy To The World.”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“White Christmas – I love the songs!”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Love choosing and giving.”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“Usually… Wait! Do I have a budget?”

Artificial or real tree?

“Artificial inside, but real on our front porch.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“Varies on which room. Silver and glass in the dining room. Gold and cinnamon tones in the living room. Red, white and green in the family room.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“After Thanksgiving.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“Three – living room, dining room and family room.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Decoration.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“Four… Work gathering for Greg and I, family gathering and Bible Study Group gathering.”

Do you still send out cards?

“Yes, most years.”

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Sue, The Elf Who Knows No Christmas Budget

Sue’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is the holiday tradition you look most forward to?

“Little kids opening presents.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“As kids, everyone having mumps over Christmas.”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“Snowmobile helmet and gloves. (spouse bought the exact same gifts)”

What do you wish for this Christmas?

“Caribbean vacation.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“Duh.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“Swedish gingerbreads.”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“Rudolph.”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Giving – definitely.”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“What’s a budget?”

Artificial or real tree?

“Artificial.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“Multi.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“2 weeks prior to Christmas.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“One.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Filled.”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“Nothing.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“One is enough, plus family get together.”

Do you still send out cards?

“Yes.”

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Cara, The Elf Who Attends THE MOST Christmas Gatherings

Cara’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received? 

“My dog, Lady Elinor, aka Ellie. I have always wanted a West Highland white terrier and my now husband (then boyfriend) surprised me with her for Christmas 7 years ago.” 

What do you wish for this Christmas? 

“A happy and healthy Christmas season for all.”

Have you been naughty or nice? 

“Somewhere in between.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“Sandbakkel cookies.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“I love Christmas songs! Top 5: Baby It’s Cold Outside • All I Want for Christmas Is You • O Holy Night • Silent Night • Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Both!”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“I wish. [insert money flying away emoji]”

Artificial or real tree?

“Artificial – 4 foot tree on an end table.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“Weekend after Thanksgiving. Record set up time for tree and decorations – 25 minutes!”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“My stockings are hung on the chimney with care and filled with snacks!”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“As a kid, I left Diet Coke and my mom’s favorite cookies.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“6 – Nick and I, my parents, Nick’s family, Nick’s extended family, extended-extended family (the outlaws) Nick’s brother’s mother-in-law’s, and friendsmas.”

Do you still send out cards?

“Yes! This year we are sending out a funny card.”

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Stephanie, The Elf That Sends Out Way Too Many Christmas Cards

Stephanie’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

“I’d have to say the Christmas jammies I get for our three kids every year. The tradition started out as a way to get them coordinated Christmas Eve night at bedtime for cute pictures Christmas morning. Yes, they were often hideous, but in a cute way. Now, they aren’t all Christmas-matchy, but they are always comfy and cozy. I hope to continue this tradition forever.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“Some of my favorite childhood memories were traveling to my grandma’s house in Browerville, MN, or to my aunt and uncle’s house, in either Circle Pines or Little Falls, MN, and to my grandparents’ house in St. Louis Park, MN. I remember being worried that Santa wouldn’t find us so far away from home, but he always did! I also loved the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible (even though it seemed to take forever as a little kid) and the singing and instruments my mom’s side of the family always incorporated into our gatherings.”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“Matt got me my first camera the first year we were dating and I fell in love with photography after that. Also, my bag from Duluth Pack last year was pretty awesome and I’ve used it every day since.”

What do you wish for this Christmas?

“I’d wish for everyone to genuinely love someone and to feel loved by someone. Love is such a powerful emotion and it’s such a gift to give and receive. Sappy, I know.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“I try to be nice, but I will admit I do have a little naughty streak in me.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“I love the full, traditional turkey dinner complete with stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole and wine, with a real tablecloth and pretty cloth napkins.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“This is hard – there are so many good ones! Favorite traditional Christmas song: What Child Is This? Especially Josh Groban’s version. Christmas song I physically cannot stop myself from dancing and singing to: Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You. Christmas song that gets stuck in my head all year long: It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“Elf is my absolute favorite Christmas movie, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a very close second. There are so many fantastic quotes from the movie Elf!”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“I love to give and I spend a lot of time trying to get thoughtful gifts for people on my list, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t like to receive too. Matt is a really, really good gift giver.”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“I know I overspend for everyone on my list. That’s part of the fun, right?”

Artificial or real tree?

“I do appreciate a real tree, but the artificial trees are hard to beat. I am not a good tree waterer.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“I like to switch it up every year. This year it’s white lights with red accents.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“I try to always put our trees up Thanksgiving weekend. I like to finish one holiday before I start on the next one.”

How many trees do you put up?

“Two at home – one upstairs and one downstairs – and usually two at the office.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“I like them bursting with awesomeness!”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“When the kids were little, we’d leave the traditional milk and cookies, with a little reindeer food every once in a while. Now that they’re all teenagers, the big guy gets nothing.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“A couple at least: one for work, one with my side of the family, sometimes one with Matt’s family, sometimes with friends… It really depends on the year.”

Do you still send out cards?

“Of course! It’s one of my favorite things to do at Christmastime! I usually send out over 200 cards with a double sided letter. I know that’s over the top, but there’s so much to say! It’s the one time of year we always check in with many of our old neighbors, distant relatives, far away friends and loved ones, even some of our parents’ friends. I love getting cards and letters from friends and family too. I pin them up around our windows, so we can admire them into January.”

 

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Lisa, The Elf That Got Engaged at Bentleyville

Lisa’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is the holiday tradition you look most forward to?

“Spending Christmas morning at home with my family.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“Getting engaged at Bentleyville! Putting up my grandma’s Christmas village and the tree with her every year when I was little.”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“My brother and I got an Original Nintendo when we were kids from Santa – lots of Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt and Tetris were played!”

What do you wish for this Christmas?

“The good health of my family.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“Mostly nice.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“Lutefisk! Ha! Just kidding – yuck! Wild rice hot dish and cheesy potatoes.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“White Christmas, Elf and Christmas Vacation.”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Giving, but receiving is fun too!”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“Umm… budget? My husband would say no…”

Artificial or real tree?

“Usually real, but artificial this year.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“Mostly red and gold.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“The weekend after Thanksgiving.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“One for now, hope to have two in the future.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Filled!”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“Cookies and milk.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“Lots! 6 or 7 maybe.”

Do you still send out cards?

“Yes – usually handmade, but photo cards with a little one the past two years.”

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Dr. Levi, The Elf Who Got Stuck in the Airport

Dr. Levi’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is the holiday tradition you look most forward to?

“Christmas Eve dinner.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

“As a young kid, flying to my grandparents, getting stuck in the airport all day, having a great Christmas together and it all being worth it in the end.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“Nice.”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“The cookies with the Hershey’s kiss in the middle.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“White Christmas.”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“Sometimes”

Artificial or real tree?

“Real.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“Red and green.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“After Thanksgiving.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“One.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Filled.”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“Milk and cookies.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“3.”

Do you still send out cards?

“No, but maybe next year.”

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Deb, The ALWAYS Nice Elf

Deb’s Holiday Questionnaire:

What is the holiday tradition you look most forward to? 

“I love to shop for gifts and decorating, especially with vintage things from my parents.”

What is your favorite Christmas memory? 

“We had so many family members that gathered at my Grandma’s house, that us kids would all line up on the stairs to eat dinner!”

What was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you’ve received?

“As a kid, the Thing Maker. Goop went into a metal cast and heated to make rubber bugs, flowers, etc. Mom and Dad went for coffee at the neighbors and we were not to play with it until they got home. We did and my sister burnt her hand on the heating tray!”

What do you wish for this Christmas?

“Time with family and safe travels for my son.”

Have you been naughty or nice?

“Nice – ALWAYS!”

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or dish?

“We do porchetta on Christmas Eve.”

What is your favorite Christmas song?

“Too many favorites!”

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

“Miracle on 34th Street.”

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts more?

“Love shopping and giving, but getting is fun too!”

Do you stay within your Christmas budget?

“Usually not.”

Artificial or real tree?

“Fake.”

What color decorations do you use? (red/green, multi, white/red, etc)

“All different.”

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

“Thanksgiving weekend.”

How many trees do you put up at your house?

“One.”

Do your stockings get filled or are they only for decoration?

“Filled.”

What do you/did you leave for Santa?

“Cookies and milk, plus carrots for the reindeer.”

How many Christmas gatherings do you attend each year?

“2+”

Do you still send out cards?

“Yes.”

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The Top 5 Reasons To Choose Our Office for Your Invisalign Treatment

You see ads for Invisalign providers all over social media and television. So why choose Pike Lake Dental Center for your Invisalign treatment? We’ve compiled the top 5 reasons why we believe we are your best choice for Invisalign treatment. Here are our top 5 reasons in no particular order:

Comfort and familiarity. Because we are Invisalign providers at Pike Lake Dental Center, you are able to find out if Invisalign is right for you in the comfort of an office environment you are already familiar with. You don’t have to meet anyone new or establish with an office you haven’t visited before. Our waiting room is bright and friendly. Our parking lot is close and convenient. You know what to expect when you walk through our doors and we hope you look forward to coming in to see us.

The consultation is free. That’s right – an Invisalign consultation at our office is free. You’re under no financial obligation to start treatment and you won’t be subjected to a high pressure sales pitch. At your consultation, we take some pictures and take digital impression of your teeth. Then we send your information off to Invisalign in a secure digital format. We have you come back to our office in a few days to go over the results we receive back from Invisalign and explain your entire case to you. Part of the presentation includes an animated display of each aligner and how your teeth will move during treatment. It doesn’t hurt to get information and, best of all, it doesn’t cost you anything either.

Experienced staff. Dr. Matt, Stacey, Lisa and Nancy will be there to guide you through the entire Invisalign process, along with the added support of our hygiene department and our front desk team. Not only are we experienced providing our patients with amazing Invisalign results, a couple of our staff members have gone through Invisalign treatment themselves. With that valuable inside knowledge, we have an even better understanding of what being an Invisalign patient is like and can help make the process as comfortable and easy as possible for you. From each member of our office team, you’ll have the support you need to help guide you through your entire Invisalign journey, including financing options.

It doesn’t matter what age you are. If you’re interested in straighter teeth, we will find out if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you desire. You don’t have to be in your teens or twenties to get Invisalign. In fact, a lot of our cases are patients who have already had orthodontia in their youth and have experienced drifting of their teeth in their thirties, forties or later. We’ve even had a few senior citizens interested in Invisalign. No matter what age you are, you’re never too old to improve your smile.

 

Fantastic results. Our Invisalign case results are historically awesome, although a lot of the credit needs to go to our patients. Because the Invisalign aligners are removable, you, as a patient in treatment, hold much of the power of keeping your case on track. We help your treatment results track on schedule with frequent check-ins, lots of positive encouragement and adjustments as needed. From the start of your case to your final Invisalign appointment, we are here to make your Invisalign investment a success!

To get started, call our office at (218) 729-7270 to set up your Invisalign consultation. It’s quick (only about 30 minutes or less), painless and free.

 

Written and submitted by Stephanie Jugovich, Staff Member at Pike Lake Dental Center

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Lisa’s Quip Toothbrush Subscription Review

Recently, while watching TV with my husband, I saw an ad for this cute little electric toothbrush with an equally cute little name – quip. As a dental professional and a strong advocate for electric toothbrushes, I quickly decided that I must try this quip brush!

 

Off to www.getquip.com I went to find out more. After a few minutes of exploring the easy to navigate website, I learned the theory behind this brush. quip was developed to help simplify oral health care and solve the problems that are typically ignored when it comes to oral health.

quip’s premise is that the things have a larger impact on an individual’s oral health than using a fancy, often times more pricey, electric toothbrush:

  1. Brushing too hard. Often times, with a manual toothbrush we tend to “scrub” our teeth, which can lead to problems such as gum recession or tooth wear. quip uses a nice, mild sonic vibration that along with slow, short stokes of the brush head on all surfaces of the teeth provides an effective, gentle cleaning experience.
  2. Not brushing long enough. Two full minutes is the recommended length of brushing time. quip has a built in timer in its motor. The timer gives a noticeable pulse after each 30 seconds, indicating when to move to another quadrant in the mouth.
  3. Not replacing brush often enough. Tooth brushes or brush heads should be replaced every 3 months. Um, yeah…. I’m definitely guilty on that one. This is the thing that I may be most excited about with this brush. quip gives you an option to use a subscription service to have your brush head refills and a new replacement AAA battery (along with optional anti-cavity toothpaste for an additional fee) to be shipped to you every 3 months at an affordable cost. The subscriptions start at $5 per refill.
  4. Not brushing at least 2 times daily. Brushing should be done at least once in the morning and once before bedtime. Throw a little flossing in there too for good measure.
  5. Not visiting your dentist. A professional dental hygiene visit it recommended at least every 6 months – sometimes more frequently, depending on each person’s unique situation.

Now here’s what we all want to know – How much does it cost? In each starter set, you get a quip brush, a multi-use cover/storage mount, and an anti-cavity toothpaste. The adult starter set with a plastic handled brush that come in blue or green, is $25, and the adult starter set for the brush with a metal handle that is available in silver, copper, slate or gold, runs $40. Then comes the refill option, which is, indeed, optional. Like I had said before, $5 gets you a new, replacement AAA battery and a new brush head every 3 months. For an additional $5, you can add on the quip brand anti-cavity toothpaste as well. The refills also ship for free.

The pretty copper metal just called to me, so a few clicks later it was set to be shipped to my door and I had it about a week later! Check out my video to see my take on my new quip brush electric toothbrush!

Written and submitted by Lisa Mangan, Licensed Dental Assistant at Pike Lake Dental Center

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