Winter Fun 2015

January 27, 2015 1 Comment

winter st. paul Minnesota

All things considered, I think it’s been a pretty fun and eventful winter so far! I’m 100% happy with being in MN for the season. (I’ll get back to you around March). I’m equally thankful we don’t live on the east coast right now! So Minnesota isn’t really so bad. In fact, MN is the best kept secret in the US. This article pretty much sums up what we already know.

Anyway, we’ve been out and about these last couple weekends exploring MN and WI and have many adventures to share.

Fishing

Joe won an all-inclusive, luxury one night stay at his company fish house on Lake Mille Lacs last Friday, so we figured we better use it or lose it 🙂

ice fishing Minnesota

Just for fun, Leah, Uncategorized

Celebrate

January 16, 2015 3 Comments

Be Nice Header Image

Detour Ahead

I think this post is actually my New Year’s Resolution coming together. I like to take my time with these things. 🙂 “Celebrate” is definitely my word for 2015.

Let’s take a step back for a second. We live in such a crazy world at a crazy pace that we rarely celebrate our accomplishments along the way. Who has the time to stop and celebrate? If you’re like me, you’re probably your own biggest critic. I don’t take time to sit back and look at all the things that have gone right. Always looking forward, I find myself cruising right through the good stuff.

My initial thoughts around my New Year’s Resolutions were this: To not be so hard on myself and others. To give myself a little grace. And by extension, others around me. I think that resolution has expanded a little bit…

Home Entertainment

Sun Room

January 14, 2015 2 Comments

new room love header image

Surf, Sand and Sun

Two out of three ain’t so bad for a Minnesota winter. We’re still pretty sad that Steve and Shila Bear moved out, but on the bright side, there’s a new room in Joe’s house. What was once a porch addition, because a four-season bedroom. Now it’s restored to a four-season porch! Or “sun room” as we’ve been affectionately calling it.

sun room photo

Come take a peek inside!

sun room renovation

Holidays, Home Entertainment, Just for fun

Up Northmas

December 23, 2014 1 Comment

Walking in a winter wonderland

Winter Wonderland

Wow, what an excellent weekend we had away from everything. Joe’s family treated us to a few days up north at a cabin. We really enjoyed ourselves! Thanks again for such a great time 🙂 We’ll remember it forever. And we practically were the only people there!

The Rooms

upnorthmas cabin Nisswa Minnesota

We were digging the lofted ceiling and fireplace. So homey! Everything was beautiful.

bedroom cabin Nisswa MN

Uncategorized

Plastic Wrapping Windows

November 20, 2014 1 Comment

tape 'n' tensile header image

It’s Tensile Time

No, not tinsel. (Although it’s almost tinsel season too!)TENSILE. That’s my new word of the week. It’s a measurement of how tense or resistant to stretching a thing is.

We needed some high-tensile sheathing tape for last weekend’s project. It’s basically really strong tape that can hold a lot of weight before breaking. This particular tape can withstand 28.3 pounds per inch. Pretty impressive for tape! It must have went to the gym. If you want to get all sciency, read more about it.

Cooking, Just for fun, Leah

Good Things Come in 3’s (Part 3 of 3)

October 1, 2014 2 Comments

Zucchini Banana Bread 3 Ways

I had a baking party not long ago and whipped up a bunch of bread. Ever since I tested my hand baking bread, I’ve wanted to expand my bread skills. I had a few types I wanted to try and just about enough zucchini for an army, thanks to my parents’ compulsive garden giving. I manage to wind up with a bag of vegetables after every visit. Thanks guys! But what to do with them all?

Just for fun, Life Hack, Outdoors, Thrifty

Fall Funsies

September 8, 2014 2 Comments

falling for you

(Almost)

Holy smokes- it’s only 2 weeks away! Are you ready for the cool down this week? It’s sure feeling fall to us. And that’s 100% ok. I’m a summer baby, converted fall aficionado. Loving the crisp air.

fall decor

I’m ok with fall, but are they selling Halloween costumes already? I draw the line here.

I don’t have any grand updates, but just some day-to-day stuff that I’ll fire off.

Updates

For instance, did you know it was Joe’s 5 year anniversary at work awhile ago?

Fixes, Holidays, Just for fun, Outdoors

Labor Day Weekend

September 3, 2014 1 Comment

lake life is the good life

Laboring Days

Did you have a restful weekend? As much as Joe tried (or I tried to coax him) to relax, he found ways to work. We snuck away to my grandparents’ cabin in Wisconsin for a couple days and soaked up the summer/fall goodness.

Activities included the mandatory games of Phase 10, walking around the lake, boating, giant garage sale in the city of Siren, Shell Lake Days, and plenty of stories and laughs. But by Sunday afternoon, we were right back to fixing up the yard and boat.

Just for fun, Outdoors, Water

S’more Summer Ventures

August 27, 2014 No Comments

summer

Hold on!

It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

These days, we’re trying to get the most out of each summer night. We’re on the lake 2-3x/week and squeezing in any and every outdoor activity possible.

Although I love summer, I love fall just as much and can’t hold back my excitement for all things autumn. Look, the foreign exchange students are already back in my building! Saint Paul Prep School is now in session.

foreign exchange students

I got the first day of school jitters this morning just seeing them 🙂

Back to summer…

Landscaping, Outdoors, Plants, Water

YardWork

August 20, 2014 1 Comment

backyard cleanup

Putting the Yard to Work

At last! You may remember that we put in irrigation a couple months back. And we did reseed the back lawn as well. But that’s about it. It already looks better, but was in a pretty sad state. We always brainstorm such great plans for the back, but they never seem to come to fruition. The back is primarily the hangout for bonfires, hammock nights, and the bunnies’ playground. Yard work is now underway! (I know, I know. Summer’s almost over. shhhh. Don’t tell the lawn.)

backyard clean up

Leah and Joe: Home DIY Projects & Crafts

Winter Fun 2015

Fishing

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Celebrate

Detour Ahead

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Sun Room

Surf, Sand and Sun

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Up Northmas

Winter Wonderland

The Rooms

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Plastic Wrapping Windows

It’s Tensile Time

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Fall Funsies

(Almost)

Updates

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Labor Day Weekend

Laboring Days

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S’more Summer Ventures

Hold on!

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YardWork

Putting the Yard to Work

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Fishing

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Detour Ahead

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Surf, Sand and Sun

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Winter Wonderland

The Rooms

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It’s Tensile Time

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Zucchini Banana Bread 3 Ways

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(Almost)

Updates

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Laboring Days

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Hold on!

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Putting the Yard to Work

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