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Recent content from Aimee Blanchette
5 trends in the new era of high school senior portraits
Hair and makeup Pimples, be gone! More seniors are hiring professional makeup artists to airbrush them to look as if they’ve stepped off the set…
The weirdest town names in Minnesota?
Yes, Climax, Minn., made the cut. So did Embarrass and Twig.
Map shows weirdest town names by state — see which in Minnesota made the list
Little Canadians reject list of America's most unusual town names.
Extreme senior portraits: Bemidji teen suits up as Spider-Man for epic photos
Jaxon Anderson weaved a web of awesomeness for his senior photo shoot.
Minnesota families share A+ rituals to ring in the new school year
For families across the state, the annual back-to-school ritual is much more than a set of new pencils and a shiny new lunchbox: It's a change in routine, a chance for a fresh start. "It's a much anticipated time of the year in this household," said Alissa Loren, a mother of three who lives in Ramsey. "I love the back-to-school feeling, and being able to go through it with my own kids brings me right back to my childhood." Whether your children are excitedly entering kindergarten or are seasoned school vets with a few years under their backpacks, celebrate the first day of school by adding one of these A-plus traditions, shared by local families, to your routines.
Obituary: Anne Patrick, Catholic feminist theologian, supported ordination of women
The Catholic Church says women cannot be ordained as priests, but Anne Patrick was never one to take “no” for an answer. Throughout her career…
Upscale Mpls. hotel offering $12,000 Vikings tailgating package
A luxury hotel package has all the tailgating essentials for Vikings games: a concierge, champagne and a limo.
Richfield man plays bridge with billionaire buddies Bill Gates and Warren Buffett
What's it like to play bridge with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett? A local man found out last week.
Is Ragnar's Harley ad on Craigslist a hoax? Nope, and owner says it's sold
Seller of the Ragnar-themed motorcycle says he originally bought it 18 years ago.
Would you buy an outfit along with milk, eggs? Hy-Vee is betting on it
The grocery store giant opened its second store with a clothing boutique just last week.
Catching a viral wave at 40 weeks pregnant
An active Minnesota mom coaxed her baby's arrival with a wakesurf session.
Baby on board! Video shows very pregnant Lino Lakes woman wakesurfing
An active Minnesota mom coaxed her baby's arrival with a wakesurf session that has been viewed more than 14,000 times on Instagram.
Memo to New York Times: We forgive you
Never mind those slights concerning grape salads (2014), honeycrisp apples (2015) and that dating debacle earlier (2013). Your "36 Hours in Minneapolis" is certainly helping us forget.
What hookup culture? Millennials are having less sex than their parents
Generation sexless: Millennials are having less sex than any generation in 60 years.
Maplewood's 'Jack the bike guy' helps kids with special needs
Maplewood bicycle repairman believes all children, no matter their abilities, should be able to ride a bike.
Twitter explodes with dad jokes for VP nominee Tim Kaine
The main response to vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine at the Democratic National Convention last night? He is everyone's dad.
Uber delivers free ice cream in honor of National Ice Cream Day
Uber has chosen to deliver locally made Jonny Pops frozen treats to Twin Cities dwellers as part of its #UberIceCream marketing ploy.
This wallpapered time-capsule home for sale in Golden Valley can be yours
If you ever wanted a house where the walls, ceiling, floors, curtains and furniture match perfectly, now's your chance.
Alligator caught roaming Brainerd-area bike path
Imagine coming across an alligator while enjoying a bike ride through the Brainerd lakes area
5 unintended consequences of playing 'Pokemon Go'
Minnesotans are gathering in hordes for this "Pokémon Go" thing. In case you've been living under a rock the past few days, yes, this is a thing.
All-consuming mobile game Pokemon Go invades Twin Cities
"Pokémon Go," the new augmented reality mobile game that sends people from their couches and out on the streets in hopes of capturing creatures in their neighborhoods, has become a global phenomenon since it launched last week.
State of reality shows: Which one is No. 1 in Minnesota?
Using Google Trends and no viewership data whatsoever, CableTV.com broke down the reality TV love state-by-state.
Minn. victims of sexual assault use social media to speak out
Thousands tell their story online with hopes of changing not just the conversation, but the culture.
Obituary: Robert Reardon gave new meaning to the golden age of flying
Long after the glory days of air travel disappeared, Robert Reardon exemplified just how glamorous flying could be. Passengers stopped wearing suits and fine dresses,…
You can have your cake and smash it, too, as St. Paul mom gleefully shows
Grown-ups have been hot on coloring for a while, and now they are smashing their faces into birthday cakes like 1-year-olds.
Expedia says Twin Cities has second-most courteous drivers in nation
But plenty of complaints can be found on Twitter.
Not your mother's workout: Amped-up Jazzercise incorporates kickboxing, hip-hop
While most people still associate the choreographed dance-based workout with leotards and leg warmers, there's none of that here.
Got dandelions? Local winery wants to turn them into wine
One of the most hated weeds among yard lovers has found a place in the wine cellar.
Minnesota-made 'Oregon Trail' is inducted into Video Game Hall of Fame
The Minnesota-made video game that kids loved to hate has been inducted into the hall of fame.
Minnesota has second-highest rate of working mothers in the nation
More than 80 percent of Minnesota mothers with children under 18 are in the labor force, and the Midwest leads the nation in that statistic.
Minnesota sisters' 'third-eye' sunglasses inspired by Prince are now for sale
Want a pair of specs a la Prince? Head to the W Minneapolis at the Foshay Tower.
Prince of pop, king of style
Prince was more than a musical virtuoso; he was a veritable style magnate. Onstage and off, his style transcended narrow gender constructs and pushed boundaries…
For many singles, it's a one-and-done dating scene
Busy schedules, a need for instant gratification and the ever-replenishing well of the Internet have made it harder than ever to get to a second date.
Aimee Blanchette: My Perfect Saturday
I was reluctant to relocate from south Minneapolis to the suburbs. I couldn’t see how leaving behind my favorite lakeside running trails, walkable coffee shops…
Prince hosting dance party tonight at Paisley Park
Minnesota's music icon is apparently feeling much better.
Bacon-wrapped hosta? Surprise, the perennial plant is edible
Could dinner really be as close as our backyards and alleyways? In Japan, hosta is often skinned, parboiled, chopped and served over rice with soy sauce.
Before you say 'I do' you might want to ask, 'How much?'
What recession? The average cost of weddings has reached an all-time high.
What visiting author found out about 'Girls and Sex' might shock you
The gap is widening between parents' assumptions and what is really happening.
Shirley Maxwell took pride in being 'a real rebel from way back'
Shirley Maxwell was known for her antiwar activism, civil rights advocacy and feminist beliefs, but she'll be remembered best for her tenacity and sense…
'Big Brother' auditions coming to Minneapolis
Want to compete for $500,000 and be on reality TV? CBS is coming in search of contestants.
Car dealer taps into his superpowers in Craigslist ads
It all started when Danny Hunter, a St. Paul auto dealer, walked into a Target store and saw a pair of adult-size Superman pajamas.
NFL star Larry Fitzgerald gives financial windfall to Minneapolis schools
The Minnesota native and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver "flash funded" the donation, which will cover dozens of requests from 20 Minneapolis schools.
Wayzata hockey player shoots, scores with hilarious postgame interview
A Wayzata High School hockey player is getting national attention for giving what many people consider one of the best postgame interviews of all time — and "everything like that."
Moms immortalize their breast milk into jewelry
Move over baby teeth keepsakes, placenta art and umbilical cord dreamcatchers. Mothers have found a new way to honor the milestones of their children's lives.
Mpls. native puts women's stories in focus with photos taken across globe
A photographer from Minnesota is harnessing visual storytelling to help women and girls around the world.
Tommy Hilfiger launches clothing line for disabled kids, and it's adorable
One in 20 children in the United States has a disability, and Tommy Hilfiger wants them to be able to wear the same clothes he creates for other kids.
Kate Hudson's secret to happiness: hard work
Everyone wants to know Kate Hudson's secrets for staying in shape inside and out. Except there is no secret, Hudson says. She appears Sunday at the Mall of America.
How not to text like a passive-aggressive Minnesotan
Minnesotans love to text. But between all of those hashtags and emojis, a new phenomenon has surfaced: passive-aggressive texting.
Feeling lonely? Some Minnesotans turn to snuggling with strangers
While cozying up to a stranger might sound weird and paying for it might even sound fishy, cuddle proponents say its benefits are vast.
What Target is doing to make shopping easier for people with special needs
Target said that by March 15 the majority of stores will have at least one Caroline's Cart, and many will have more, depending on guests' needs.
Want to get a promotion? Wear a bright shirt
Most office workers stick to a safe rotation of black suits and gray sweaters, but millennials say a dull wardrobe is ruining your chances for a promotion.
Principal scolds parents for wearing pajamas to escort kids at school
A principal's letter to parents asking them to stop wearing pajamas to school struck a nerve.
My child can't walk, but she sure can skate
Skating is part of the fabric of growing up in Minnesota, and I racked my brain trying to figure out how I would give my daughter this experience. Did I promise her the impossible?
Local beader designs necklaces for Hillary Clinton
A local woman's jewelry designs have grabbed the attention of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Officials warn: Don't flush your goldfish; bad things can happen
Wildlife officials have recovered giant goldfish, piranha, Amazonian catfish, koi and even a caiman — a reptile related to alligators — from Minnesota waterways.
Princeton man, 92, dies while playing cribbage at his favorite bar
Don Hamann usually had a deck of cards in his back pocket and a cribbage board in his back seat. So it came as no…
Rare appearance of ivory gull is a stirring event in Duluth
A bird that normally makes its home in the Arctic has made a rare and unexpected stopover in Duluth.
92-year-old's handmade Christmas stockings come filled with love
A 92-year-old Vikings super fan has sewn colorful stockings for more than 100 family members as a holiday tradition.
Need a little sparkle with your ugly Christmas sweater? Try a glitter beard
Need a little sparkle with your ugly Christmas sweater this season? Try a glitter beard.
After Lakeville accident, questions and doubt hang over 'Nerf wars'
Police are investigating whether the popular game was a factor in the accident that killed two Lakeville South High teens.
St. Louis Park nonprofit wants to give terminally ill kids a hospice home
A St. Louis Park nonprofit is working to create a hospice center where children can go to live while they die.
Meet baby Lo-Fi: Instagram inspires baby names
Henry, Violet and Eleanor are officially passe. The hottest new baby names are inspired by Instagram filters.
Bride goes to Wild game, eats burger, wins hockey hearts
Wild fans eat it up when groom dabs burger drippings from her chin – and it's caught on video.
From having triplets to losing 160 lbs., Minnesotans share moments of thanks
Thanksgiving isn't a Norman Rockwell painting for everyone, but that's what makes it the most American of holidays. These are a few Minnesotans' moments of Thanksgiving. Share yours.
Twin Cities agency gives teen moms boxes for newborns – just like in Finland
A new Twin Cities nonprofit is providing teen moms with starter kits to parenthood, including a cardboard box for their babies to sleep in.
Trick-or-treaters with allergies can look for the teal pumpkin
For some kids, what's scary about Halloween has less to do with the tricks and everything to do with the treats.
Getting there is part of the fun when visiting Mankato
If you're looking to squeeze in a family trip before the snow flies, catch the spectacular show of fall color with a trip to Mankato. Getting there is part of the fun.
Faux glow 101: How to get the perfect sunless tan
Elizabeth Dehn has tested nearly every self-tanning formula under the sun. Here are her picks for the best fake tan solutions for a perfect summer look.
Get cash and coffee for used maternity clothes
What to do with a pile of barely worn maternity clothes? Sure, you could sell them or donate them. Or, you could have someone come to your house and pay you to take your unwanted clothes.
Beer at work? Companies entice employees to the office with plenty of perks
Employees are being lured away from telecommuting by offices featuring food, fun and flexibility.
Mpls. woman raising 400 monarch butterflies in home
A Minneapolis woman left the security and salary of corporate America to raise hundreds of butterflies in her home.
Ring Cam, for rent at jewelry stores, will get video of popping question
Move over, Selfie Stick. There's a new tool in town to capture marriage proposals.
After dropping out, weatherman Jerrid Sebesta sees a bright future
219,050 VIEWS: After a decade of climbing the TV ranks, Jerrid Sebesta took a leap and traded fame for family.
Day trip: Stillwater is a holiday-inspired winter wonderland
With its ample shopping and dining, the Main Street of Stillwater seems as busy as any major downtown this time of year. But the hustle and bustle nestled into the bluffs of the St. Croix River doesn't feel harried.
Motherhood through the eyes of young children can be revelatory
For this Mother's Day, we went into the hearts, homes and minds of five local kids to find out how they see their moms. Grab a Kleenex.
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- Fact-checking the debate: Fibs and hyperbole
