Guess who's back?

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I've caught up on here! I guess I have been busy enjoying my new Minnesotan life. I have also kept busy making a little money. First that report:

I traveled to Nebraska with my mom to work the world's largest farm auction. Western Nebraska is not my definition of a great tourist stop, and I would not recommend it. Highlights included people with few-to-no teeth, bored and on ill-advised sexual escapades, rancid cow feed lots, and miles and miles of farm-equipment graveyards. However, if you smile at the thought of feeling dusty grit in your mouth every time you bite down, Nebraska may be just the place for you! There is nothing like the feeling of grit between your molars...I could write a book about this trip and will save more details for my best seller.

Speaking of molars (and completely off topic), MSN News published a list of cities with the best and worst oral hygiene. Western Nebraska was not on the bottom ten, but I'm guessing it is because it houses NO CITIES...or real civilization for that matter. ANYWAY, St. Paul and Minneapolis BOTH made the top 10 list, and I am proud to flash my pearly-whites in a metro teeming with full jaws of healthy teeth. Ft. Wayne made the top ten list for use of most Fluoride in the water, but Indiana cities made no appearances in the top ten overall lists. Sorry guys.

Back on topic: I have also taken on additional contract work as a Mystery Shopper. Is this a high-paying job...no. Is this a career...no. It is, however, a great way to entertain myself and allow me to earn a few dollars now and then. Yesterday I was shopping for jewelry, which is a LOT of fun. I spent my day draped in diamonds...what did you do? :-)

In other Dani-related news, I am (accidentally) a red head! Accidentally, you ask? Here's the story. Nate had a $20-off coupon at an Aveda salon, so I thought I'd spring for a professional hair color. I have been eying a short hair style lately, and decided I wanted a little darker blonde. That way, if I cut my hair short, I would still look like I had hair (instead of being all one color...my pale skin and blonde hair were dangerously close to monochromatic). Anyway, upon expressing my desire to go darker with the stylist, she asked, "Have you ever considered red?" I said NO quickly...I like being blonde...you can get away with so much more. She then suggested strawberry blonde which would, "Warm up my cool skin and bring out my eyes." I figured that couldn't be TOO bad, so I agreed to it and off she went. An hour later, she turned the chair around and to my surprise...I HAD RED HAIR.

The quality of this picture does not quite do the color justice. In the stylist's defense, in normal lighting the color does warm up my face, and my eyes look REALLY blue, but it just isn't me. I am not meant to have red hair. I'm trying to wait it out to see if it grows on me. I'm thinking about cutting it first, then having blonde highlights added if I'm still unhappy. Either way, I think the red will disappear on my next color. For my cut, I have fallen in love with an actress' hair style and want to try it. I'm not sure how it will look on me since I don't have the petite and cute features this girl has, but I'm going to ask Ann (who will cut my hair tonight) her opinion. For reference, here is the "longer" version of the cut, and here is the "shorter." Please ignore the fact that she is showing booty on the second photo...it was for Allure magazine...not Playboy :-) Funny how a women's magazine can print that and it is about being "comfortable in your own skin," and, "empowering." If she were in a men's magazine, she'd be trashy. Ahh, nothing like a little double standard.

Nate and I just rented out another property. Yep, that means that last weekend was spent cleaning and painting (my two favorite things to do). I signed the lease with the new tenants yesterday and think they will take better care of the place. I can't wait to sell these things... HURRY UP STUPID REAL ESTATE MARKET!

And finally for today, I should report that we are all happy and healthy here in the Minnie. Nate is doing very well and recently found out that he will be getting a promotion on June 1. It is well deserved, and Baylee and I are proud of him :-)

Stay tuned, more to come!

Traveling

After a quick trip to the Carolinas I headed to Vegas for an auction. I just got home, but tomorrow I leave for Nebraska for yet another money-making experience. Money is good. Being away from home is not...that's right, home. This really does feel like home, and I couldn't be more excited about it. We have a great little routine here. I make dinner, Nate does the dishes, Baylee cleans any dropped food off the floor.

In other news, my iPod was declared dead by the genius at the Apple store's Genius Bar. Lucky for me my mom gave me my birthday present early: an iPod nano. While it doesn't hold as much as my previous model, it is compatible with the Nike+ system. For those not familiar, it is a "training" system for runners (for a neat-o video, click here). I have had my eyes on this system for a while, but it would have meant buying a new iPod, shoes, the transmitter, AND the arm band. OY. Since Mom provided the iPod, I just needed the three remaining items. The transmitter itself was only $30. I found the arm band on sale...the only piece remaining was the shoes that accept the Nike+ transmitter. This leads me to my next subject:

I set out to find Nike+ shoes on sale. Not an easy task. All major retailer's prices started at $90. I decided to search at T J Maxx and Marshall's stores. As I was searching for locations, I discovered that there was a Marshall's in the Mall of America. YAY! While rummaging through the "stuff" at that Marshall's, someone asked an associate where the Nordstrom Rack was. That's right kids, the Mall of America not only has all your over-priced retail favorites, but also has my favorite discount stores! I practically skipped to the Nordstrom Rack where I quickly found a pair of Nike+ shoes in my size, on sale. Seriously. I am quickly discovering that the Mall of America, even though it is a suburban tourist trap, might just be one of my favorite things about this place. You can get everything you want under one roof...on sale. DSW, Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack...great places to start before you go to another store and pay full price. Anyway, I am now the proud owner of the Nike+ system. The weather is also bearable for running, so I will soon look like a marathoner...just watch.

Well kids, it is time for me to finish folding laundry so I can head to WalMart for some pre-travel necessities. I hope everyone is as happy and well as I am :-)

Baylee is Happy

I don't think my mom is really concerned about my wellbeing. However, I know she is worried that her precious little puppy is in good hands. I am here to reassure her, and every Baylee fan out there, that our furry friend is quite happy in her new home.

First, Baylee has always loved the sunshine. Let me tell you: while it may be cold, the sun shines WAY MORE here. Dreary, cloudy days are limited, and Baylee really loves basking in the sunlight. In the morning Baylee can be found wherever the sun is hitting. If this means she has to lay on the floor, she does it. One morning she was laying on the hardwood floor so she could maximize her sun exposure. Being the good "dog mom" that I am, I moved her bed for her. Here is the result:
She also likes curling up (or sometimes stretching out) on the rugs we have. Here she is on the dining room rug enjoying another sunny Minnesota morning:Second, Baylee has a new best friend. Her name is Chloe, and she is a dachshund that happens to be just about her size. Chloe's mom and dad just happen to be Nate's parents, so they have a play date about once a week where (believe it or not) they play and chase each other around until they reach exhaustion. One of these days I'll have to get a video of their adventures...it is quite ADORABLE.

Finally, Baylee is in love...with Nate. When 5:00 rolls around she starts to stare at the door waiting for his arrival. When he finally arrives, she refuses to hold still until she is in his arms. Her favorite activity is cuddling with him. If you don't believe me, check this little nap on the couch out:
Please note the fact that her head is completely relaxed, her arm is swung over his, and she is giving me the, "How dare you interrupt this moment," look. Pathetic. Then I think she felt a little embarrassed and decided to shield her face:Sad, isn't it? A four-pound poodle has stolen my boyfriend and there is nothing I can do about it. She is WAY more cute than I can ever hope to be.

In fun news, I will be visiting Ash and Mom next week for Mom's birthday! YAY! Any excuse to get the girls together is good enough for me. Nate will be out of town for his job anyway, so the timing was perfect, and I couldn't be more excited. We have also decided that the moment I leave town, I'll get about 20 calls for job interviews. If I hear, "You seem like a fit, we will call you when we are ready to interview," one more time, I might explode. I seem to be a candidate for about a million jobs, but no one is on the fast track to hire. Hopefully something will stick soon, as I have discovered being a housewife does not suit me at all (as if anyone doubted that), although I make a mean pork roast, fabulous cheese stuffed shells, and have discovered that onion soup mix can be used with ANYTHING in your refrigerator to make a good meal.

PS: I had to think of my Grandpa as I purchased horseradish to have with my pork. That is always how we had it with Grandma at their house.

I am a bargain hunter.

I have too much time on my hands, but I HAVE discovered a talent I didn't know I possessed. I am a SUPER bargain hunter. For example, I had to go grocery shopping. Instead of my usual, "grab the keys and just go to the store," I sat down at the computer, looked at the weekly specials online and discovered a buy one, get one sale. It was a GOOD ONE! Most meat was BOGO, so I stocked the freezer with chicken, beef, pork, and bacon. Pasta and sauce was also BOGO. I ended up spending $81, but I saved more than $47! Yeah, I'm pretty awesome.

Example number two: Nate needed more dress shirts and ties. Since I'm convinced I could be a stylist to the stars anyway, I did my research and headed out alone to shop for Nate so I could surprise him with my findings. I knew he liked the fit of Express dress shirts, so I saw they were having their, "buy one, pay $50 each; buy two, pay $40 each; buy three, pay $30 each," sale. Clearly, buying three was the better bargain. However, I also used a "$30 off your purchase of more than $75," coupon, so I paid only $20 per shirt. That is a savings of 60% off the regular price. Express has decent shirt deals, but they get you on their ties. They are $40 each at the regular price and are rarely on sale. Boo. Either way, after a little further research I found a GREAT sale at Macy's on BCBG ties. They are equally as stylish and come in the same great colors. Needless to say, Nate got three new ties too. What makes me most proud is my ability to coordinate. The ties and shirts I picked up will mix with other things he already owns, so I have actually created about 12 new outfits from three shirt/tie combos.

The job search is heating up. I have come across a couple leads by accident. While calling random people from Craigslist in search of a washer and dryer for a rental I happened upon a landscape architect that requested a copy of my resume to forward to his developer friends. It's amazing who you come across when you talk too much :-) Nate's dad has also been a great help, matching me up with someone with great connections to the City of St. Paul. Another position I applied for will be calling for interviews in the next one-to-two weeks. I'm not sure it is my dream job (it's not, who's kidding whom), but it pays VERY well. Hopefully I'll get that call. At this point I'm ready just put money back INTO the bank account.

Nate and I have been fantastic, except for a recent bout of bad luck. Thanks in part to an irresponsible contractor we have had to purchase a new (used) washer and dryer (as referenced above) for an occupied rental unit. When we sent him over for installation he, "needed a part," and was going to go back to finish. Of course he didn't, and instead left with something leaking water into the basement. This meant we had a tenant that was rightfully upset, and a new problem in our laps. Nate is at work, so I called a plumber referred to us who couldn't get there until Monday or Tuesday. The referrals I got from him didn't answer. Frustrated, unsure how much water was accumulating in the basement, and knowing I needed a drain line snaked anyway, I just called Roto Rooter. I'm sure I'll regret it when I see the bill, but knowing there will be a capable person there within an hour is worth the premium.

In addition to this morning's debacle, last night Nate called me from Fridley, a northern suburb. His car was acting up and he had to arrange for a tow to the BMW dealer. Oy. This meant he needed a ride, and the roads were treacherous from the evening snow and freezing rain. Poor guy. The good news was that his insurance covers the tow. The bad news is that we are down to one car and I wasn't able to meet the Roto Rooter guy because I'm stuck here. Good thing Nate's job is flexible. He should be there now. In fact, I just sent him the following text message:

"Don't let him leave until the washer and dryer are functional."

If I'm paying the emergency service fee, that place better perfect when they leave. What a disaster...and learning process. Oh well, I'm off to make potato leek soup. Nate will be ready for some comfort food after such a stressful week.

I'M BACK!

At the request of my mother, I'm back to send the world a little update. I have been incredibly busy with my job search, spending hours each day submitting online applications for any position I feel I am remotely qualified for. I've found that searching for a job is a job in itself. On the bright side, the City of Minneapolis has sent me a letter of interest. I hope they call for an interview sooner rather than later, but I have reason to believe they are on the slow track to filling their mid-level planner position. Too bad, because it would be great money, excellent benefits, and regular hours. Ahhh, a cushy job sounds like HEAVEN right now.

Today I signed up for my Minneapolis bank account. That's right...it's a little more permanent now! I am now the proud customer of U.S. Bank, so finances will be much easier. It also means I can deposit Nate's checks and my own at the same time. Yay for convenience, and yay for money.

Speaking of Nate, I'm quite proud of him. He got back from his two week stint in New York late last Friday night and he has already shaken up the workplace by landing two sales and a ton of meetings. I'm proud of how well he is doing and hope his enthusiasm lasts because it is so contagious. Plus, it is so much fun watching him walk out the door dressed to the nines every morning.

Anyway, Lipstick Jungle is on, so it is time for me to sit down and drool over beautiful clothes I can't currently afford. More to come! Miss you!

Do you know?

Do you know what -14 degree temperatures feel like? What about adding in the "windchill factor" to get that -34 degree feeling?

I do.

As if to say, "Welcome to Minnesota," Mother Nature decided to blast my little dog and I with frigid temps. Baylee was NOT having it this morning, so our usual jaunt around the neighborhood turned into a quick squat in the snow beside the door. Don't worry. I had her bundled up and we very quickly returned back to the warm apartment.

A little about the warm apartment. For those worried about my survival, please note that the radiator heat here is HOT. We are on the top floor, so we get all the heat from the units below us. It is so warm that we have closed the valves on all the radiators but one...and that one is only partially opened. Still, I wear shorts around this place. It is kind of funny, particularly when the dog decides she has to go out and it takes me ten minutes to layer up. I am very much enjoying the long underwear (thank you Eric and Michelle), which go under the jeans and fleece jacket, which is topped by the down coat, hat, mittens, heavy socks, and tennis shoes. I haven't yet purchased boots, but figure when things go on sale in the Spring I'll pick some up.

That's all for now!

Holy Minnesota!

Hey all! I have FINALLY moved in and spent my first "real" full day. I say "real" because yesterday was a waste. You see, it took longer than expected to get out of the Hoosier state...here is a recap:

I was working on some pretty important grant application on my last few days at work. They kept me busy through my going away party...that's right, I was still finishing as the party wound down. Either way, that meant that my desk wasn't cleaned out, and my computer was still an organizational disaster (and had a picture of my dog as the wallpaper...had to change that). Ashley came to spend Friday night with me (YAY) and ended up going out with Bryan, Angie, Ian, and I for some dinner and a drink at MacNivens. That meant we didn't get back home until we were tired (well, at least I was tired), so we went to bed.

On Saturday morning we hit up Starbucks (thank you Donita for the gift card) and McDonalds (if you haven't had the McSkillet Burrito, you are missing out), and went to the office. Ashley patiently entertained the dog while I cleaned up my desk and computer before heading back home to pack the car. I could not have gotten it packed as efficiently as I did without my sister. Ashley - I owe you BIG TIME! It was a mess, but we got all of the essentials in the car...at about 3:30 pm. This meant I headed north to Auburn a lot later than I had planned, but what can you do? The stop in Auburn meant I got to see my dad and pick up my new licence plate. Dad and I chatted for a while before I started toward the Minnie.

The drive went very well. I did make a stop north of Madison to get a 20-minute cat nap, but otherwise was smooth. I finally arrived home at 4:30 Indy time (3:30 Minnie time) and woke poor Nate up to have him help pull all this crap up the three flights of stairs :-) It only took about a half hour, but we crashed immediately afterward (clearly).

I wish I could report that we slept in and had a much needed day of relaxation together...but that would be too good to be true. Instead, Baylee wanted to potty early in the morning (this required going outside, brrr), and Nate and I needed to wake up anyway because he had to be at the airport for an 11:50 flight to New York. That's right, his training took him to NY for two weeks. Although it is not ideal, it gives me time to unpack, figure out where to shop, and job search. Speaking of job search, I got a letter from the City of Minneapolis. I am in the candidate pool for their Planner position. Some of the pros of this position include regular hours, great benefits, decent pay, and access to the developer network. Could be great, so hopefully I get a call for an interview soon!

Anyway, Sunday was a lazy, wasted day. I did, however, make it to Target. Minneapolis is home to Target's corporate headquarters and they have a downtown store that is pretty awesome. They have solved the parking problem by offering free parking in their garage with your receipt for a $20 purchase (I dare anyone to spend less than $20 at Target). It is a two-level store complete with cart escalators and very conveniently located to our apartment.

That brings me to today: my first "real" day in Minneapolis. Today's adventure included locating the downtown Lund's grocery store. I wish I would have taken a "before" picture of the refrigerator and pantry. The refrigerator contained a jar of applesauce, a gallon of milk, and a half package of hotdogs. Now it is full of real food, as is the pantry. I feel better already.

More on the grocery store for the Indianapolis planning nerds: it is everything that O'Malia's tried to be but isn't. It is in an area with enough traffic to require multiple exits with registers. One services walk-in traffic, while another bank of cash registers services those who have parked in the garage...that's right, the parking garage. It is on the first level of a condo building and also includes a dry cleaner, Caribou Coffee (the local brew choice), and a bank (I think). It isn't a huge sprawling store, but packs a great product punch. They fit a lot of products on the shelves by having just a few of everything. I'm sure it is a restocking nightmare, but I was able to find everything I usually bought in the suburbs. PLUS they have a huge gourmet selection that includes an olive bar, a cheese selection that makes my mouth water, an entire wall of just-baked REAL bread, and a great produce section that was really fresh (O'Malia's never quite figured that out). I think I will spend a lot of time at the grocery store :-)

The apartment is still looking pretty rough. I have decided to take it "one room at a time" and today was all about the kitchen. It has been cleaned up and almost everything has a home. I promise to post pictures as I get things completed.

It is time for me to make some dinner. I hope everyone is doing well!