New Project!

                                                              Hi All!
Yes it is starting to become warm in the cities, which means...house projects!!  I have been wanting a sewing table since my mother bought me a sewing machine for christmas last year.  Craigslist has been my friend for quite some weeks now, looking every now and then to find a gem.  Well!! No more looking pour moi!  I found it, she's a beaut.  I found this old antique sewing table that was own by this older gentleman's grandmother.  It had a couple of scratches and dents in the wood, but overall- in perfect sturdy condition!

So my job this weekend has been to renew this table and bring it back to life!  I bought new drawer knobs and sanded it down.  I only have one more coat for the body of the table.  All that's left is the top coat. The polyurathane (sp?). Once that is all done I will begin my journey with a needle and thread!  Can't wait to get it into the guest bedroom where it will stay!

I will post when I have pictures...stay tuned!

THREE CHEERS FOR THE MAMABEAR!!!!!!!!!

HELLO!!!!

So obviously as you can see, I am terrible at this blogging thing.  BUT! I will not give up!  I am determined to fix my blog (because I think it looks terrible) and keep posting and adding new things to it!!  Work is getting busier! And it is starting to warm up..THANK GOD!!
Mike and I have been able to cook out on our balcony once already!  I think that is our favorite part of the spring/summertime up here! 
Recently I visited Richmond to surprise my little sister Emily on her 21st birthday..let's just say she couldn't catch her breath she was so excited!! 

The reason why there is no image of me or my sister is because she jumped on me and wrapped her body like a koala bear around me and I dropped my camera!!  It was so priceless and I am so glad I got it on film!

 

Thanks Ali for helping out my mom with the breakfast surprise!!

                                          

I got to see my Dad's new band "RockSlide" play, which was great!

I got to hang out with my little pup zeke, and I got to see my School go to the Sweet 16 with my best girlfriends! Oh and how can I forget my mama who made this all possible!!

THANK YOU to the MAMABEAR!!!

 ........It was a great way to end a great weekend and head back north to my husband! 

Here are just a few pictures of what we've been up to!! Thanks mom for a great weekend!!!!

 This is the girls at Bridgewater College outside of Emily's Apartment where I scared the crap out of her hehe :)

  

Good Ol' George Washington!



Do I smell Spring?

Hi Everyone!!

Sunday mornings I think are my favorite part of the week.  I love waking up early, the smell of coffee brewing, listening to Cities 97 acoustic sunrise, and the sun rising as I am waking.  This is my favorite time to sit down, relax, and get ready for the day.  Our weekend has been a lot more productive than the past.  I truely believe it is due to sunshine.  It feels as if the sun has not been around for about a month.  This weekend, the sun is out, and the tempatures are RISING!!  To top off this perfect weekend, we have word on our house construction. 

Cross your fingers ladies and gents....we should start demolision this week!! AND because construction will begin next week, we got to paint our bedroom.  Mike and I went from this boring taupe to a beautiful "Beach House Blue".  I cannot make decisions to save my life, so I give all the credit to my wonderful husband in pushing this color.  So hopefully in like two weeks, we will have: a new ceiling, new carpet, and new bedroom colors!!!  Now that the weather is getting warmer, and our house is coming together, I have the itch to decorate, decorate, decorate ....oh and to grill out!! 

During the spring/summer- sitting out on our deck, watching the sunset, drinking a nice cold beer with the smoke of the grill going is all we are looking for.  UHH how this "thaw" is making me long for spring.  But I have a feeling mother nature will take these sunny days away from me sooner than I would like.  OH WELL!  Spring is on the way...


Any cute decorating tips would be much appreciated!



~Cheers to a warmer day~

Life in Minnesota

Life in Minnesota

Sooo..after long long months of no blogging on my behalf, it is my 2011 goal and beyond to stick with it.  It is my 2011 goal to stick with things.  For example, I am terrible at follow-through.  (stating the obvious here). BUT not anymore!! I will follow through and I will continue to blog about our life in Minnesota for you!  With that said..here we go..

Since the last time I blogged we have been on the move!  We finished our basement, we got a bigger and better television for our basement, and a new futon and "man chair" for the  "Man Cave".  Mike has now splurged and bought a PlayStation 3..ugh!  Actually I don't mind he has worked so hard this past year and deserves it!  He actually worked himself so hard that he made Presidents Club!!!! YAHOO! Which means= Mexico we come!  ...Wait, did I say we? I mean him...I am not invited. 'nother story.  

We went to Virginia for Christmas! So fun to see all my friends and family!  It was so strange visiting, but it was nice to come back to my own home.  I guess I am growing up. After an amazing Christmas in VA, disaster hit..our home.  This disaster is called an ICE DAM: An ice dam can occur when snow accumulates on the slanted roof of a house with inadequate insulation and warm air leaks into the attic.  AKA-association problem.  ..Not according to them!!!!  and I quote "if it is inside your home, it is your problem, if it's outside your home, our problem".  

Anyways, these ice dams apparently are all throughout Minnesota.  They are ruining people's homes and putting holes in their pockets. 

(Actually..at this very moment, our neighbors have people on their roof scraping snow and ice dams).  

But what Paradise and Associates don't know is they have the Benos living in their town homes..we are feisty, smart, and will not be taken advantage of.

That is where we stand here in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  We are cold, ceiling less, wall less, and loving every minute of  being a first time home buyer!! 

Until next time...HaPpY nEw YeAr!!!!

Sorry for the Delay!!!

Where do I begin!  So much has gone on since my last post! Basement finished, Minneapolis Fill The Boot, Lonsdale Community Days, Brother Beno off to college, now Brother Beno #2 on his way, and Cabin time next weekend!!!  WOW! I guess you could say we are not "boring" anymore!  So now that our basement is finished (for now) we have so much more time to enjoy the outdoors.  Work has been CRAZY! Our Minneapolis Fill the Boot is 3 days of chaos!!  It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun! We made a lot of money for MDA-now onto Telethon!!
Last weekend we went to "Lonsdale Community Days".  Mike's older brother Joel's brother-in-law's house (follow that?)  is in Lonsdale, MN.  So Jeff and Darsy invited us out for the day to run a 5k, and drinking all day long.  There is a parade, and community activities on Main Street.  I ran the 5k in 32min!! BEST TIME EVER!!!!  and drank all day long!! It was a blast.  We met some of Darsy and Andrea's friends and was invited out to a cabin for drinking about water fun! 
So let me explain what the Cabin is.  My assumption of a Cabin is on of which is on a mountain and skiing is involved.  Campfires, hot chocolate, and blankets.  HERE- Cabin is a house on a lake (lakehouse) where people spend time on their boats and go fishing.  Took awhile for us to understand, but we got it now and are excited to check one out!! 
Yesterday, we took David Beno to college!!!!!!!  St. Cloud Technical College is where he is attending, but actually living in the dorms of St. Cloud State University.  We moved him into his dorm and got him all situated.  We wish him the best of luck!!!  Now that we have brought David from Baraboo, WI to St. Cloud, MN; Brother Bryan has decided to move to Minneapolis from Ohio!!  It has been A LOONG TIME since all beno brothers have been together in one state.  Bryan Beno will be arriving next week.  I have heard is owns a snake, sooooo...there's going to be some issues.  All I gotta say is that snake will be living in his car!

So my final activity that I have completed was last week when I finally put together a beautiful barn window that is close to 100years old from my grandparents farm!  I sanded it , painted it white and blew up a picture from nags head I took on our honeymoon.  It is so awesome and something I will cherish forever!!!  Now I just have to find somewhere to hang it!!  

You are now caught up with our minnesota life...OH one more thing.... We just found out my grandmother has lymphoma.  She is now on kemo and has 6 treatments. Just talked to her yesterday and she seems tired, but haning in there.  Please keep her in ya'lls prayers!!! 

xoxoxox Love Love Love xoxoxo

Resch Wedding and Family Fun!

Phew! What a weekend it was.  Mom, dad, and sister all were here by Friday evening.  Mom had a couple of issues getting in.  Flight being late to start with then missing her connecting flight in Atlanta.  And of course luggage was already in route and nothing to sleep in, Delta gave her a complimentary "sleep over" package including a t-shirt, brush (maybe costing them 50cents), and toothbrush/toothpaste.  Thanks Delta!  Luckily she made it here everything in tow.  Dad and Emily made it here in one piece as well on Friday.  Friday afternoon is when the weekend really started.  We went on a Mississippi River Boat Cruise with the bride and groom and all of our friends and family.  It was very cool going down the river, listening to the history around us, and finally going through the Lock!  Very fun and exciting! 
Saturday was the wedding, and it was a very pretty outdoor wedding.  Beautiful deep purple, gray, and greens illuminated the ceremony area.  Being with my husband and my family at a social gathering is always a good time, and for them to be able to FINALLY come see our new home in Minneapolis was awesome. 
With our basement finally completed Emily was able to feel comfortable and cozy at night time!! Now we are counting down our days... 5months until we are back in Richmond, VA- ready for some sweet tea, no traffic, and friends and family.  Ohh, Christmas cannot come soon enough!!!!!
Pictures Following!!!