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More than MOA: Our Twin Cities Shop Guide

Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m a shopaholic. Ok, not really, but there are few things in this world that get me more excited than a good day spent shopping in cute boutiques and local shops. I love a good bargain and knowing that I’m shopping small really does make my empty wallet feel a little more fulfilled at the end of the day. When I’m in a new city is no exception. I love checking out the local flair in the form of boutiques, antique shops, and the like. So it only felt right that I pop into a few local gems while I was visiting Minnesota this last January. Allow me to be the first to tell you that...

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Traveling: a Guide to Spontaneity

The greatest piece of advice I have received is to drop all possible responsibilities and just GO. Alright, maybe the greatest piece was actually somewhere along the very tangible lines of how to save money or properly wash a cast iron skillet, but considering whimsy and grandeur, driving away from all that is mind-boggling has been my favorite. Having a space for spontaneity is important. It is pushing aside the work and papers and television and media scrolling that occupy so much of our already-overwhelmed brains and choosing to choose what is impulsive and unplanned and straight up fun. This little line of advice may be one that has particularly resonated because of the love I already have for adventures...

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So Much to Offer: Our MLPS Food Guide

When most people hear “Minneapolis”, they think one thing: cold. Having spent the majority of my life growing up in the Twin Cities area, I can confirm that, while cold, Minneapolis has so much more to offer than just bitter freezing temperatures and vowel-induced accents. In fact, even though I’ve spent much of the last six years of my life trying to adventure outside of the Minnesota “bubble”, I continue coming back to the cities as perhaps one of my favorite places to visit. Minnesota remains one of the most active states in the US per capita and if walking/biking on any one of the gorgeous state trails doesn’t float your boat, one of our more than 10,000 lakes surely will....

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Our Chicago City Guide

I've called Chicago home for a little while now, and I believe everyone who visits this city walks away a little better than when they arrived. When I first moved to Chicago, I came solely because I was drawn to the city lifestyle and the opportunities that stood on its busy blocks. The longer I've lived here, though, the more I've realized Chicago is so much more than just another urban hub. With a little something for everyone and something new to see everyday, Chicago is a place that has captured my heart. Whether you’re taking the train in for a day trip or heading out for a weekend getaway, I've compiled (as difficult as it was) just ten things I think...

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Small Business Saturday: Our Small Business Story

Hi there! Joelle McNamara, Founder of Badala here! 👋🏻   I wanted to take some time on this Small Business Saturday to re-live some of Badala's early days, reflect on how we got to where we are, and share a bit of our story with you.  I didn't start this company with loads of capital. I started with a box of cupcake mix and an egg. I heard about people in the world who were starving, so I did the only thing 17-year-old me could think to do; I started doing bake sales to raise money at my high school. It was with that money that we purchased our first work materials, to make our very first product: a bracelet that was made in the homes of the first...

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