It's interesting to me that we use the word "hunting" when we talk about searching for the right home. I don't know that I can really compare the process to hunting, but I am sure learning a lot! Brian and I went up to Worthington this weekend to begin our process of finding the right home for us. Here are a few things I learned:
1) Looking at houses is emotionally exhausting! We looked at 10 houses in one day! Wow!
2) If you're not sure of your exact cut-off, look a little higher and a little lower than you think you might want to spend. This gives you a better idea of what you're getting for your money.
3) You get a lot more bang for your buck by heading out of town! I'm not sure this is true everywhere, but it was here!
4) "Location, location, location!" It's true. If you're not okay with the location of a house, don't even look. You'll just fall in love and get your heart broken!
5) My mind changes from day to day, and even hour to hour! While there are lots of things to weigh and consider, there is also something about a house just feeling right!
6) There are certain things you just can't budge on. For us, one of those was outdoor space! I need a yard!
7) This is not a quick process...
We will be back to look at houses at least one more time, probably 2! That's not at easy task when you have to drive and spend the weekend, but it will be worth it! If you have any house-hunting tips for us, feel free to share in the comments!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Our Next Big Adventure
Well, the news is out! Brian has officially passed his boards and accepted a job at the Veterinary Medical Center in Worthington, MN for after graduation in May! It is overwhelming and a little bitter-sweet, of course, but we are very excited for this next big step in life. Getting this news has meant making many other decisions and plans, which have been keeping us busy. Here are a couple of updates:
- In a couple of weekends, we will be heading up to Worthington to look at some houses! We are planning to buy a starter home in town and it looks like there are some pretty good options available.
- I have also been working on a lot of business research and even some online classes as I prepare for starting my own private practice in music therapy. I am learning a lot about small business from a variety of sources. I am amazed by all of the amazing (free!) resources that are out there.
- We are also planning a trip for between graduation and our big move, hopefully hitting 3 National Parks on a 12-day trip! We are planning on going to Mammoth Cave, Great Smoky Mountains, and Congaree. If you've been to any of these parks, please let us know your tips for must-see areas or must-do activities!
Looking forward to all of this excitement is getting us through this cold - I'm ready for spring! Stay warm, everyone!
- In a couple of weekends, we will be heading up to Worthington to look at some houses! We are planning to buy a starter home in town and it looks like there are some pretty good options available.
- I have also been working on a lot of business research and even some online classes as I prepare for starting my own private practice in music therapy. I am learning a lot about small business from a variety of sources. I am amazed by all of the amazing (free!) resources that are out there.
- We are also planning a trip for between graduation and our big move, hopefully hitting 3 National Parks on a 12-day trip! We are planning on going to Mammoth Cave, Great Smoky Mountains, and Congaree. If you've been to any of these parks, please let us know your tips for must-see areas or must-do activities!
Looking forward to all of this excitement is getting us through this cold - I'm ready for spring! Stay warm, everyone!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
A Music Secret
Do you like music? Do you like to get things for free?
Well let me tell you a little secret! Shhhh.....
Every month, on Amazon, there are new songs available for FREE download from artists on the rise! I have gotten some great music this way, including the song I performed last May (now on the radio all the time) "Let Her Go" by Passenger! These songs can be found in the Amazon Mp3 store under "Discover" on the left-hand side of the screen. It says "Free Songs from Artists to Watch." I recommend previewing the songs before buying, as some are better than others, and there are a very wide variety of styles, but there are always at least a few I really like.
There are also a large amount of other free songs, but every time I try to get on and find them, I end up clicking around and sometimes I find them, and sometimes I don't! So, my gift to you:
Free Songs
Free Albums
Again, these songs and albums vary greatly, but there are some great ones on there! Simply listen before you download. I love the Celtic Sampler and some of the Christmas albums, as well as some of the relaxation stuff. Children's music is hit or miss. As a music therapist, you'd think any free children's music would be worth it, but I have turned down free albums more than once.
Good luck and happy "shopping!"
Well let me tell you a little secret! Shhhh.....
Every month, on Amazon, there are new songs available for FREE download from artists on the rise! I have gotten some great music this way, including the song I performed last May (now on the radio all the time) "Let Her Go" by Passenger! These songs can be found in the Amazon Mp3 store under "Discover" on the left-hand side of the screen. It says "Free Songs from Artists to Watch." I recommend previewing the songs before buying, as some are better than others, and there are a very wide variety of styles, but there are always at least a few I really like.
There are also a large amount of other free songs, but every time I try to get on and find them, I end up clicking around and sometimes I find them, and sometimes I don't! So, my gift to you:
Free Songs
Free Albums
Again, these songs and albums vary greatly, but there are some great ones on there! Simply listen before you download. I love the Celtic Sampler and some of the Christmas albums, as well as some of the relaxation stuff. Children's music is hit or miss. As a music therapist, you'd think any free children's music would be worth it, but I have turned down free albums more than once.
Good luck and happy "shopping!"
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy 2014!
Wow! Can it really be 2014 already?!?
While I didn't have any amazingly exciting plans for New Year's Eve, it was nice to enjoy a quiet evening at home in my PJs, and my first day of the new year has been great! I spent my morning finishing the doughnuts I made from my new cook book - delicious! As many of you know, I LOVE doughnuts, and fresh is always best! What's better than homemade?? I made the Apple Fritter recipe from my new Top Pot Doughnut cookbook!
The rest of my day consisted of playing on the silks at TGR with some wonderful friends, and a winter hike (sans snowshoes) with my hubby! Before we start dinner (we're making patty melts! yum!), I decided to take a chance to wish everyone a very happy new year! A wonderful opportunity to start fresh, set goals, and make changes. A chance to evaluate our lives and realize how many wonderful things we have done in the past year!
This year, I:
With Brian's graduation coming this May, I am very excited to see what 2014 will bring for us! It is crazy to know how many changes we will be making this year, and to not know right now where we will be later this year! Luckily.... we like adventures! :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
While I didn't have any amazingly exciting plans for New Year's Eve, it was nice to enjoy a quiet evening at home in my PJs, and my first day of the new year has been great! I spent my morning finishing the doughnuts I made from my new cook book - delicious! As many of you know, I LOVE doughnuts, and fresh is always best! What's better than homemade?? I made the Apple Fritter recipe from my new Top Pot Doughnut cookbook!
The rest of my day consisted of playing on the silks at TGR with some wonderful friends, and a winter hike (sans snowshoes) with my hubby! Before we start dinner (we're making patty melts! yum!), I decided to take a chance to wish everyone a very happy new year! A wonderful opportunity to start fresh, set goals, and make changes. A chance to evaluate our lives and realize how many wonderful things we have done in the past year!
This year, I:
- Flew on a flying trapeze
- Took my Girl Scouts camping for the first time
- Completed and performed my first routine on the silks
- Took part in Hill Day for Music Therapy
- Backpacked in Glacier National Park
- Planned and led a Girl Scout day camp
- Created many other wonderful memories with friends and family!
With Brian's graduation coming this May, I am very excited to see what 2014 will bring for us! It is crazy to know how many changes we will be making this year, and to not know right now where we will be later this year! Luckily.... we like adventures! :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
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| We decided it was time to take a Christmas photo this year... the cats did not agree. |
Have a wonderful day full of Christmas joy, family, food... and laughter! :-) Many blessings to you and your family!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
BLT Grilled Cheese
What is better than a gourmet grilled cheese? YUM!!! This one is based on the classic BLT, with bacon, tomato, spinach (in place of lettuce), and 2 kinds of cheese.
The best part of recipes like this, though, is making them work with what you like (or have on hand). I would have loved to add some avocado to this! The key to cooking a perfect melty grilled cheese when it's this thick is simple: slow and steady wins the race! Keep the heat low! It's not a light meal, but it definitely hit the spot on this chilly snowy day!
The best part of recipes like this, though, is making them work with what you like (or have on hand). I would have loved to add some avocado to this! The key to cooking a perfect melty grilled cheese when it's this thick is simple: slow and steady wins the race! Keep the heat low! It's not a light meal, but it definitely hit the spot on this chilly snowy day!
Christmas Cookies, Take 1!
Hooray for cookies! I figured this is take one, since I'll probably make some more at some point when I'm with family for Christmas!
With my new apron on, snow falling outside, and Christmas music filling the house, it was a perfect day to bake cookies!
Here are the two recipes I made today:
First, was an Andes Mint cookie from Mrs. Clark's Kitchen. Karen is the mother of a good friend from college, and I can tell you without even trying them that I recommend everything on her blog! She has great tips for this cookie - there really isn't much to add. They are DELICIOUS! Here's how mine turned out:
The second recipe I made was a shortbread cookie. This was one of the top shortbread recipes on allrecipes.com, called Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread, and it truly does! One tip for this site if you haven't used it before is to always look at the reviews! Some people rate the recipe very well, but make a lot of changes. Some people have tips that may have been left out of the original recipe, as well. Luckily, they are sorted by which are most helpful, so by reading the first 10-15 reviews, you should get the information you need. With the help of some of these reviews, my cookies turned out great!
If you're in town, come see us, because we have plenty of cookies to share!!
With my new apron on, snow falling outside, and Christmas music filling the house, it was a perfect day to bake cookies!
Here are the two recipes I made today:
First, was an Andes Mint cookie from Mrs. Clark's Kitchen. Karen is the mother of a good friend from college, and I can tell you without even trying them that I recommend everything on her blog! She has great tips for this cookie - there really isn't much to add. They are DELICIOUS! Here's how mine turned out:
The second recipe I made was a shortbread cookie. This was one of the top shortbread recipes on allrecipes.com, called Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread, and it truly does! One tip for this site if you haven't used it before is to always look at the reviews! Some people rate the recipe very well, but make a lot of changes. Some people have tips that may have been left out of the original recipe, as well. Luckily, they are sorted by which are most helpful, so by reading the first 10-15 reviews, you should get the information you need. With the help of some of these reviews, my cookies turned out great!
If you're in town, come see us, because we have plenty of cookies to share!!
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