Lifestyle

The Old Homestead

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The Old Homestead

Logan and I fell in love with our house on our first (and only) day of house hunting. We went home after viewing about six homes in total and made an offer that night. We wondered at the time if we were crazy for rushing things. I HATED our temporary apartment and we were so new to the cities, we hadn’t explored enough to commit to a particular neighborhood yet. But, this magical house tucked away on a hidden cul de sac in a close, but small, suburb hit all of our needs as well as many of our desires. Plus, it had a nostalgic quality about it that reminded us both of our grandparents’ homes. It had good juju. It just felt like home.

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Lifestyle

Ostara 2020: Celebration in Quarantine

by mountainstomidwest4 Comments on Ostara 2020: Celebration in Quarantine

Today is March 20, 2020 and it is day 5 of quarantine for Britt and me. Yesterday was the Spring Equinox, the day we celebrate Ostara, and the first day of Spring. It was a perfect Spring day to be home. This is a time of chaos in the world, but more than ever I would like to take a moment to focus on the balance that this time of year embodies, take stock in what I am thankful to have, and what exciting things we’ve been preparing for.

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Run

Securian Winter Run 2020: Post Surgery Back to the Basics

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Last year my big plans for the running season were dashed by a hernia repair surgery and the drop in motivation I had once that was scheduled. About six weeks after my surgery I started doing some short run/walks with Britt and transitioned those into longer runs of a few miles. I also started a new job around this time, which is conveniently located close to my running store. Right before the holidays I went and bought myself some new running shoes and committed to getting back into enough form to race the Securian Financial Winter Run 10k. (“Race” is here used extremely loosely… I am mostly content as a ‘middle-of-the-pack’ runner.)

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Lifestyle

Waking Up on the Far Side of the Hill

by mountainstomidwest5 Comments on Waking Up on the Far Side of the Hill

I am a vain person. 

Ever since the awkwardness of puberty has passed, I have been pretty comfortable in my own skin, confident in my personal appearance, and if I’m honest, a little cocky. Historically, the camera loved me and I loved the camera in return. It’s not that I placed all of my self-worth in something as trivial as physical appearance, I had (and still have) a healthy appreciation for my intellect, personality, talent, etc. Not perfect by any means, just generally awesome. But ever so slowly, something has been changing. It’s been such an incremental change, that I almost didn’t notice it happening.

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Eat

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

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Did you know that the Twin Cities has a vibrant and thriving theater and live music scene? It is definitely a point of pride here in the Cities. From intimate, historic music venues to enormous modern playhouses, there is something to satisfy every taste. Thankfully, musical theater is a love Logan and I both share. In fact, we first ‘bonded’ over our shared love for Jesus Christ Superstar during a house party. We were the only two nerds watching a musical while everyone else was doing tequila shots.

I never turn down a dorky photo op!
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Lifestyle

Under the Knife: A Lesson in Procrastination

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Over the past year, I finally made a point to take care of some basic adulting that I’ve been putting off, and by adulting I mean doctor appointments. During the move to Minnesota, and the year of finding a home and planning a wedding, we had enough on our plate that it was easy to put off finding a doctor. Afterwards, I no longer had any excuse, so I set up a string of physicals, blood tests, scans and everything that I shouldn’t have put off for over a year. Because I was taking care of business, I decided to finally talk to a doctor about fixing an issue I’ve had on the back burner since high school: a twenty year old hernia.

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Explore

Like a Virgin: Camping for the Very First Time

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Like a Virgin: Camping for the Very First Time

I am an ‘indoor’ girl. As much as I like to imagine myself as being one with nature, I have definitely been conditioned (or conditioned myself) to be more in tune with modern comforts and amenities like food delivery, air conditioning, and flushing toilets. So, when our good friends, Dan and Ruthann, broached the subject of a group camping trip last year, I was hesitant to say the least; though, Logan had been slowly priming that pump for years. “Maybe you would like camping…”

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Fun

Kayaking Adventures: The Maiden Voyage

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While it is currently 10 degrees outside, and the snow is knee-high, Logan and I can’t help but reflect on warmer times and our amazing summer. Here’s a look back at last spring, when the snow was gone, and we took our newly purchased kayaks on their maiden voyage…

It was late April, the ice was out, we had our gear, and it was 70+ degrees outside.
Let’s do this!
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Lifestyle

Home Garden – Take One: Raised Bed on a Budget

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I have always wanted to have a vegetable garden, but until our current house, I have always been a renter or lived in a condo. And since moving away for college, I have rarely stayed anywhere for more than a year.

Our current house is on a wooded lot with several large, old oak trees, which is lovely, but means shade. Lots and lots of shade.

There is one spot on the side of our house that gets more than six hours of sustained sun. Our first summer here, I planted a single Ghost Pepper plant straight into the ground which produced enough fruit for me to spice up all my food for a couple months and make about a year’s worth of pepper jam. This year, I thought I’d go further and build a raised bed so we could finally have a real garden.

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Eat

Octo Fish Bar

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Octo Fish Bar

Superb seafood in landlocked St. Paul!

We don’t often splurge on extravagant date nights, but every once in a while, a special occasion or celebration marks the perfect time for some Twin Cities seafood! The Octo Fish Bar, located in the Lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul, has literally been on our eating wish list since before we left Colorado, and it did not disappoint.

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