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Jennifer Cermak, co-owner of Nani Nalu, stopped by the TCL studios with some advice for keeping your swimsuit in tip-top shape this summer.  For more information about Nani Nalu, click here.

Our "Perk Up Your Pad" series concludes with information on home energy audits. Crystal Manik with Xcel Energy gives John and Rebekah to details on their audit program, which checks out your house from roof to basement to find ways to save you money. Blower doors, thermal imaging, and good old-fashioned ladders and flashlights are combined to give you the best picture of your energy costs every month. So check it out and save some money!

Mike Frattallone stopped by TCL to help us keep our lawns lush.  He recommends watering early in the morning or late at night, and use at least one inch of water.  For mowing, don't cut the grass any shorter than 1/3rd of its total height.  Dull lawnmower blades can stress your grass and make your lawn need more up to 50% more water, so keep the blade sharp!  Fertilizer will help keep your grass strong but not weeds, and it will help your lawn retain water.

As people head outdoors this summer, the ever-present tick is a constant source of discomfort and disease. Dr. Craig Bowron, physician and writer for Minnpost.com stopped by the TCL Studios to give John and Rebekah a crash course in tick awareness and prevention.  To read Dr. Bowron's tick quiz, click here.

Planting a patio pot can be a great way to spice up a boring backyard. They are easy to make, easy to care for and...above all...easy to enjoy. Mike Frattallone from Frattallone's Ace Hardware stopped by to show John and Rebekah how to make a patio pot of their very own.

Steven Meerdink and Kevin Hansen have been working together for almost twenty years. They have both acted and directed together, and eventually founded their own theater company. Minneapolis Musical Theatre brings new or rarely performed musicals to Twin Cities audiences. Their latest musical, "The Robber Bridegroom", is also the show that brought them together two decades ago.  For more information on Minneapolis Musical Theatre, click here.

If you've ever wanted to host your own radio show, podcasting is an easy way to do it. A Plymouth family has turned a weekly podcast about the popular Webkinz stuffed animals into a family affair. We brought our cameras in to catch the recording of an episode of the "Webkinz Webcast".  Ben Higginbotham from Technology Evangelist stopped by to show how easy it is to set up your own podcast. With a computer, a microphone, an internet connection and a topic, you could be the next internet star!  For more information about the "Webkinz Webcast", click here.  For resources on starting your own podcast, click here.

HGTVs' Cy Winship revisits TCL with some modern ideas for your traditional outdoor spaces.  Cy encourages people to shop for bright, colorful pieces and to watch for clean, modern shapes and lines.  The authority on "cool," Cy also offers creative outdoor lighting solutions from Beyond the Surface.  Click here for even more creative lighting solutions. 

At the young age of 13, Matthew Sanford was involved in a car accident that paralyzed him from the chest down and took the lives of his father and sister.  Confined to a wheelchair for his adult life, Sanford has learned to live wholly in his body.  He founded Mind Body Solutions, a nonprofit organization, to reach out to others living with disabilities.  He also teaches yoga to both disabled and able-bodied students.  For more information on his organization, click here.

When her husband was diagnosed with cancer while she was pregnant with their first child, Karin Miller began writing poetry to deal with her fears about the disease. Luckily, her husband fully recovered, but the poetry was such a help to her that she put the call out to other people affected by cancer to send her their poetry. 1200 poems later, Karin published the first edition of the Cancer Poetry Project with 140 of the best entries. She recently re-released the book to giftstores as well as booksellers, and is working to establish a foundation to help those affected by the disease. For more information on the Cancer Poetry Project, click here.

Roman Cress was born in the Marshall Islands, but moved to Minneapolis when he was 10 months old. A runner since he was 11 years old, Roman thought he would represent the Marshall Islands at the Olympics in 2000 but a technicality kept him out of the games. He then injured himself and spent the next few years recovering.  Recently, the rules were changed and the Marshall Islands are participating in the Olympic Games for the first time. One of five representatives of the Marshall Islands, Roman received notice a few months ago that he would be allowed to represent his home country, and immediately began training. Though he admits that he is past his prime, he is honored to attend the games and is representing his country with pride.

Kettlebells were used in workouts one hundred years ago in Russia. Now, they're making a comeback in gyms and fitness centers across the country. Brad Nelson of Kinetic Edge Performance stopped by to show John and Rebekah how this old method can shape new muscle.  Click here to find out more.

Belly dancing is a popular exercise option for Minnesotans around the area. While recovering from a back injury, Aliyah Sahar rediscovered her love of dancing and used these techniques as an alternative to physical therapy. She came to our studios and taught a few lucky members of our studio audience how to shake their bellies with the best of them. For more information on Aliyah and her classes, click here.

Rather than heading off to the gym, Roseville dad Sheff Otis developed a workout program that is fun for the whole family. Using his children as "weights", he encourages health, fitness and family time. For more information on Sheff and his family, click here.

Tracie Jacobson, Animal Humane Society (AHS), and her pal Monty, a four month old labrador, visited TCL to chat about Saturdays' Walk for Animals.  Registration for the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning; the walk itself kicks off at 10:30 a.m.  Funds raised by the walk support the Animal Humane Society and pups like Monty, who is currently looking for a family.  For more information about the animals available through AHS, click here. 

It's the official martial art of the Israeli Special Forces and now you can use it to defend yourself!  Martial Arts America stopped by the TCL studios to show John and Rebekah some Krav Maga self-defense moves.  They will be holding a free self-defense seminar this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chaska Community Center, located at 1661 Park Ridge Drive in Chaska.  Call (952) 556-5000 for more information.  For more information on Krav Maga and Martial Arts America, click here.