Pampering for the People Who Need It Most

I got this in my inbox the other day. What a great way for someone undergoing cancer treatment to feel a little bit better! Way to go Juut...I'll definitely be making another appointment there soon! If you know a cancer patient who needs to just feel good, make sure they go to the St. Paul or Wayzata Juuts on October 25 for some pampering. According to the e-mail, all gratuities received that day at those locations will be donated to Sanctuary for Cancer Survivors.

Pasta!

Mmmmm...went to the Loring Pasta Bar last week courtesy of my uncle Hans who was in town for some continuing legal education. I just love that restaurant! It's so chicly disheveled. I always feel like I am dining in a Parisian artist's garret when I am there. And they have the best artichoke dip ever! Punky waiters, good pasta, live music and beautiful red booths...can't ask for much more than that!

Photo courtesy of the Loring Pasta Bar.

Can I Live Here?

Lately I've been dreaming a lot about buying real estate. Notice I said dreaming...I'm nowhere near to actually buying, or even being able to realistically think about it. But that doesn't stop me from doing some Internet research.

If I could buy tomorrow, I'd buy a condo or townhouse. Right now I just don't want all the maintenance that goes into a single family home. I know a condo isn't maintenance free, but it's a lot less...of course you do have the association fees to make up for it!

I also like a more traditional look. My current apartment has that now, but it also has an older kitchen (no dishwasher, which explains my current sink of dirty dishes) and a cramped bathroom. So when I found this place, I knew it was perfect. Gorgeous woodwork, hardwood floors, generous size, good location in an up-and-coming neighborhood, modern and updated kitchen and bathrooms and a FIREPLACE!!! Let's hope it is still on the market in 20 years or so when I am able to buy. :) I LOVE IT!!!! *Sniff*

Photo courtesy of Edina Realty.

Racing for Myeloma Research

We had another successful Multiple Myeloma Race for Research today! Thanks to everyone who came to support Team Lisa! Last year the Twin Cities race raised over $150,000...I hope they raised even more this year. It all goes to researching treatments to help multiple myeloma patients like my mom. It was a gorgeous day and Lake Phalen was beautiful...I really should go over there to walk more often.

Team Lisa is coming back bigger and better next year, so please mark your calendars for the last Sunday in September!

For more information about the race, visit http://www.mmrfrace.org/. To learn more about myeloma, visit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

For A Good Cause!

The Multiple Myeloma Race for Research is this Sunday (September 27) at Lake Phalen in St. Paul. Please consider being a part of Team Lisa! We are walking (or running, if you want) in honor of my mother, a multiple myeloma patient.

The Twin Cities race raised over $150,000 last year for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation! Please sign up to be a part of this. For just a few hours on a Sunday morning, you can help myeloma patients have the chance to lead longer lives.

Plus, you might have the chance to win a medal like these Team Lisa people did last year.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!!

Spoonriver

I got to catch up with a good friend on Saturday at an awesome restaurant! It's kind of a funny story, but we'd planned to meet at Cafe Brenda since neither of us eats meat, and we knew there would be some good veggie options there. Unfortunately, we hadn't realized it would be closed for lunch on Saturday. No tempeh Reuben sandwich for me...Seriously, doesn't Saturday seem like a weird day to be closed for lunch?

Luckily, Brenda's other restaurant, Spoonriver, was open, so Joyce and I trekked from the Warehouse District over to the river. I've been to Spoonriver before and it's really good, but a little more expensive than Cafe Brenda.

Joyce's spoon dip duo:

My mock duck udon noodle salad:

Our chocolate mousse dessert:

J hadn't seen the new Guthrie yet, so we went there after lunch to look at the Endless Bridge. I love this picture! It looks like someone spliced two backgrounds together, but it's really just the sky reflecting from the metal on the rail.

It was a fun Saturday afternoon. I love downtown Minneapolis, and never get down there enough despite living close!