Community Blog

Want to do something really cool this weekend?  The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is in town, with it’s jugglers, court revelers and let’s not forget, the main man himself, King Henry VIII and ALL his wives!  I go to the Renaissance Festival every year, I love it.  There are so many really interesting things to see and do, the one thing that I always make sure I do every year, is get a giant turkey leg, it’s crazy walking around with one, but everyone else is doing it, so I don’t look that silly.  My favorite acts are the Wishing Well Wenches,  they are really funny!  The jousting is always fun to watch.  You can shout for your favorite knight, and sometimes that gets a little loud.  I am half Scottish, so another one of my favorites is to see the Royal Scottish Dance Society, brings back memories for me.   If you aren’t doing anything fun this Labor Day weekend, then you might want to take the short trip to Shakopee,(click for the map) along the Minnesota River and join in the fun festivities of the festival.  Take it from me, you will have a great time! 

As I get older, I have the desire to find out about my heritage.  When I was younger, it didn’t really interest me, but now that I have children of my own, they have questions about their family.  So, I decided that I was going to do some research into my family, and being from England myself, I was actually hoping to find some Royal blood in the line, but alas, that was not to be.  However, I did find out that I was decendant from Vikings.  Twenty years ago, this would have been virtually impossible and if you did manage to track down your relatives, it would have taken you forever.  These days the internet has made it possible for us to do absolutley everything.  To do my family tree, I signed up for Ancestry.com.  There is a fee involved, but it is so much easier to do and worth it. 

Have you ever tried finding your ancestors? Share your story and experience with us, I think that would be a great story to tell.  Do it here on the blog site. Can’t wait to hear all your exciting stories!

 

The Minnesota State Fair is 12 days of FUN, FUN, FUN.  Held at the State Fairgrounds, residents from all over Minnesota come here once a year to exhibit their livestock and share their new products and services.  There will be live entertainment and good food, which if you like food on a stick, then you’ll be in luck. If you haven’t been to this fair, then you are missing a great event.  There are exciting things for the kids to do, from the giant slide to the ferris wheel and don’t forget the candy floss, whose child doesn’t like that?  The fair starts August 26, 2010 and runs through until September 6, 2010. 

If you have been to the fair, let us know.  Blog about it and share you’re experience with us, we’d love to hear all about it. 

Directions to the Minnesota State Fair  View Larger Map

There are three new movies coming out this weekend that couldn’t be more different.  Piranha 3D, which the title says it all.  Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, which I will be going to see, I loved the first one.  And Jennifer Aniston’s new flick, The Switch.  Out of these three, which one are you most likely to go and see?  Take our poll and let us know. 

Each movie is playing at The Muller Family Theater, which is about 2 miles from The Gates. 

Whenever I get stressed out and just need to relax, I usually reach for my basket of Lavender products. Lavender has been for many years a great stress reliever.  It’s benefits are well known and has been added to many other oils as it is known to blend well. 

 Here are some benefits of adding lavender to your health care regimen.  

1. SLEEP – Lavender is just one of many remedies to a good night’s sleep.
2. A PAIN RELIEVER – Helps to relieve muscle and joint aches.
3. SKIN CARE – Is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. 

 Using lavender isn’t for everyone.  If you are pregnant or nursing, then you should not use oils. 

 

 

This popular restaurant has been voted #1 out of 58 in Minnetonka.  With it’s rustic atmosphere, the Redstone American Grill offers it’s patrons the comfort of a cozy fireplace, which in winter is much needed and warm and romantic atmosphere.  The food is excellent and you can choose from house smoked salmon to the Redstone’s original burger.  And if you have room for dessert, well you’re in luck, because you can have you’re choice of the Stone’s Chocolate Cake or Banana Creme Pie. 

Here are directions from Gates at Carlson Center to the Redstone American Grill, which is about roughly 8 minutes away. 

View Larger Map

WICKED is back.  The theatrical stage production has been brought back to the Orpheum Theater to continue with it’s sold out musical.  Wicked has one several major awards, a Grammy and three Tony Awards.  If you liked the Wizard of Oz, then you are going to love Wicked.  I have seen it twice and each time I have come away with something new.  This is an awesome musical and I highly recommend you see it. 

 

We are into August and four more months from now it will be the end of the year.  And once again, we will be making those New Years resolutions, that, let’s face it, who actually follows through?  Mine was to get myself to the gym more often and eat healthier.  Hahahahaha!  Yep, I broke that one before the end of January.  What I lack is the motivation.  I need to be more enthusiastic about getting and staying in shape. 

Here are some suggestions that I found, that I think may help me on my quest for a healthier lifestyle. 

• Sign Up For a Distant Race
• Make a “Friendly” Bet
• Tie Exercise to Your Health
• Switch Your Training Partners
• Compete
• Think About Fat
• Join a Fitness Message Board
• Strike an Agreement with Your Family
• Burn a Workout CD

What motivates you to workout?

The summer is nearly over, can you believe it, and gone with it, the pretty blooms and plants that have decorated our balconies.  Don’t despair; our patios don’t need to take time off from being colorful and full of plant life. 

Here are some hardy plants that will thrive through the cooler months. 

Silver Leaf Dogwood.  Blooms during the season and can withstand very cold winters.

Redtwig Dogwood.  Is a very hardy plant and will add some color to your outside.

The Expendables are out in theaters August 13, 2010.  This is going to be an awesome movie! Well, I hope so, because you can’t get a better cast.  Stallone, Statham, Willis and even Schwarzenegger has a cameo role. 

This movie is rated R. 

Here is where you can check movie times for The Expendables.

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