As many of you know, Nick and I are preparing for our 18 day trip to Malaysia in November. How does that relate to today’s post, you ask? Well, when I was out on my lunch-time walk I happened to pass a boutique store that I hadn’t been in yet, Paper Patisserie (next to WA...
I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t thoroughly enamoured with photo shoots. Flashback to my Senior photos- 6 outfits, 5 hours, 4 hairstyles, 1 friend assisting me with outfit changes and over 200 proofs to choose from. Well, my latest picture escapade involved shooting photos...
Well, the U of M has done it again. If you thought the Honeycrisp was good, wait until you try Zestar! First, a little background on the U of M’s Fruit Breeding program: It dates back as far as 1878. According to an article on MPR.org, of the 15,000 trial breeds being grown out at...
So lately I’ve been wandering around town quite a bit (on foot, as you all know). Since there aren’t many chain stores within walking distance, mostly I end up in little boutiques. And the crazy thing is that I’ve become quite attached to these little boutiques. I would...
Nick and I saw this film over the summer and fell in love with it. This French film has subtitles but I noticed when watching it that I became so entranced with the film that I forgot they were there. It’s out on video now, so with the weather turning cooler, it’s a prime time...
So boutique hotels are the “in” thing now. Minneapolis is getting a slew of them, the most famous ones recently being The Chambers, The W Foshay and the Ivy. The key differentiator of boutique hotels is that they are intimate, luxurious and quirky- typically having only 3-100...
I had heard about the site Bag Borrow or Steal, but had never taken the time to check it out. Ladies, this is the frugal fashionista’s paradise! You can “borrow” jewelry, purses and accessories for a week or more at a time. These aren’t just any old purses though...
Hello all. I’m afraid I’m getting desperate. I’ve had a dream for the last year that I could be a curler by association and belong to the St. Paul Curling Club. I’m totally fascinated with curling, but don’t really desire to play myself. I really just want to...
If you’ve lived in Minnesota for long, you’ve probably heard of Andrew Zimmern. He’s most commonly known for the food column he writes for Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine. Or perhaps you heard him on the radio saying, “This is Andrew Zimmern for Lunds and...
25. Pit Toilets: By the 2000 Census, the number of Americans who lacked indoor plumbing was down to 0.6%. Even though that’s still an awful lot of Americans using an outhouse or pit toilet — 670,000 households or 1.3 million people — it’s a huge improvement from...
Oh my gosh. This site was made for me- I can’t believe I didn’t know about it until now! Let me introduce- SMARTY PIG.COM. This FREE site encourages saving for specific goals IN ADVANCE. All you do is tell them what you’re saving for and when you want to reach that goal...
Well, Nick is always coming up with new and exciting things for us to try. Triking is the latest. Nick went out tonight with an instructor and really enjoyed it and is now encouraging me to give it a go and see if it’s something we’d enjoy doing together for fun. I’m a...
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Farmer’s Market, but have you REALLY taken the time to check it out? Nick and I have made a tradition of heading down to Lowertown in St. Paul a few times a month. It’s absolutely one of my all-time favorite things to do on a sunny...
So, the Olympics are just around the corner. Several new products are debuting there that will be available to the public shortly after. Check out this great article in Fast Company that talks about the new arrivals. I’ve showcased a couple of my favorites. The first is Nike’s...
So, I came across this crazy contraption called the Pedal Pub and decided I must share it with you. This wild ride can be rented for $120-$140 an hour, depending on the time length you want to take it out. Up to 16 people can participate and you get to drink as you pedal. There are...
Nick and I spent a day at the zoo this weekend. It had been at least 10 years since I’d been there and it’s always interesting to compare an experience in the present to what you remember from long ago. The zoo just opened a 1.5 million dollar exhibit called Russia’s...
Okay all, I hope this isn’t too morbid to talk about, but today’s topic is related to funerals. I came across this amazing website called My Wonderful Life, which essentially lets you plan your funeral- everything from the headstone inscription to music to aftercare of your...
Hi all- After 10 hours of driving home yesterday I must comment on the fact that my body does not handle road trips like it used to. Who’d have thought that my body’s adaptability would decline so much between 25 and 28! A word to the young- enjoy it while you can! That being...
Nick and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to see Mount Rushmore, so I’ll be taking a blogging break for a few days. We also managed to land a cabin in Custer State Park, which is supposed to be booked 6 months in advance. Maybe someone decided to trade their vacation for a...
Nick and I ventured down to Grand and Snelling to try out the Afghani restaurant Khyber Pass. I’d seen lots of reviews about it and we were in the mood for something different. The service was wonderful- I believe we even had the owner come to our table to talk about the menu with...
These people are having fun at work- you can too! :)
In celebration of a recent milestone, Nick and I celebrated by taking a 3 hour private sailing lesson on White Bear Lake. Northern Breezes Sailing School offers delightful packages for either 2 or 3 hour private sails. Rates are between $200-$300 for these lengths and include a certified...
I am enamored with my latest eco find. This trendy little bag rolls up into a compact unit that can be stored in your purse or car. What blows my mind is that it’s waterproof, fashion-forward, and able to carry the weight of two supermarket plastic bags (a whopping 44 pounds)! Thank...
Expect the unexpected!
Fast Company recently featured this story titled: Why Americans are Going Abroad for Health Care. Over half a million Americans flew overseas last year to save up to 90% off of US rates on major surgeries. And yes, they paid out-of-network rates and still saved that much! This isn’t...
Well, I continue to explore new and crazy things. I worry that I’m going to develop a complex and you’ll all think I’m crazy. But I swear, this is one of the coolest things I’ve stumbled on in a LONG time. It’s called Network Spinal Analysis and builds off of...
I like to think of myself as a food snob after my time in the Target Deli. I mean, I do know my cheese! I also learned quite a bit about the restaurant scene. Therefore, I see it as my duty to share my latest and greatest restaurant finds. On Saturday night Nick and I shared dinner with...
So I got rid of my car! I know you’re probably thinking that I’m crazy right now, but I swear, carless living has been one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Here are some of the ups and downs that I’ve seen so far. Benefits: Bus Buddies: I...
Strange how nerve-wracking a first post can be–I feel like I need to have some grandiose introduction or a profound thought to share. Unfortunately, I have neither of those for you today, but I can promise one thing from my blog: AMUSING STORIES! Yes, it’s true. Strange...