Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year

Awwwww.... Yet another year passes....

This year is going to be really good. Big accomplishment for 2012
1. Bought a Home
2. Found another Hobby (Mountain Bike riding)
3. Family is healthy
4. Went to a 90% gluten free diet
5. Good growth year at work
6. Pay a significant amount towards our debt

 2013 Personal Goal:  
I will ride the expert loop (8 miles total uphill/downhill) without stopping

 2013 Financial Goal:
I will be out of debt (excluding Mortgages) by the end of the year

 2013 Family Goal:
We will set a plan to get back to the Pacific Northwest

Here are my goals... There is a lot that is going to each goal, but I wanted to make these goals as specific as I could. I actually think the easiest one to accomplish is my financial goal. The hardest one will be the last one (getting back to the PNW) Hopefully you guys are also setting lofty but attainable goals for yourself this year!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation....

As you guys know... We bought a home in Minnesota. For the most part, the house was move in ready. The bathroom down stairs got renovated, but the upstairs bathroom was/is dated.. We didn't want to spend a lot of money on renovating the upstairs bathroom, but we want to update it enough were we can feel like we like it. Last weekend I got the product from Rusto-leum that is suppose to transform your cabinets.. I was a little suspect, but for 35 dollars... I will try anything. Here are the results of the cabinets.. Wood be gone! Rust-oleum Before After Before After Overall we are pretty happy! Next up... Mirror, wall paint, toilet, and flooring...

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Summer!

We are already having a great summer!! We got the kids a pool today. They loved it. We have been using the Weber Smoker pretty much every weekend. Today, I smoked some St. Louis style ribs... They turned out great. Next weekend, I will have a Raspberry Wheat beer to go with it! Can't wait!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Home Brew...

Since we moved into our new home, I haven't gotten a chance to drink any of my homebrew. Today I plan on kegging a smoked IPA. It is my own recipe. I must have gotten a hair up my ass... Because I threw in a bunch of smoked malt. So far, it has tasted really good. I am super excited about how this brew is going to turn out. A buddy of mine are planning on doing a flight of beers. I think I will bring the smoked IPA and a chili beer. I haven't started it, but there is a place in Oregon called Calapooia Brewery that makes the best chili beer ever! I hope to come a little close to that.... If you haven't had it, fly to Albany Oregon and check it out. You will not be disappointed. Now that I am smoking BBQ... The smoked IPA might be pretty freaking good. Maybe one day you will be able to buy a taste of heaven from me... Maybe.... In the interim, just ask and I will give you a brew...

A New Toy

I finally doing true BBQ'g... I went out last weekend and picked up a Weber Smokey Mountain! It is sweet. I have already smoked two racks of ribs and a small brisket. This weekend I am smoking an 8 lbs brisket and a modified "Atomic Buffalo Turd"... I used sweet peppers instead of Jalapeño's.
Also! This week marks the first month on P90X2. Pictures to come!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

New Home and P90X2

We are finally moved in!!! Now it is time to settle in. We are in a really nice neighborhood, but it seems a little clicky.. I don't do so well in that environment. Oh well.. I don't really care. Just wait until I start beer brewing! I started P90X2 today. The workout was called X Core... I didn't realize how out of shape my core is.. I figured since I have a six pack my core is pretty tight. Well.. I was taken to school. Here are day 1 Pictures Front
Back

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

We're Here

Well we finally moved in!! We are super happy about owning a home again... Pictures to come!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Week 2 P90X Round 3

I just entered my third round of P90X... It is just as hard as the first time. My body is already starting to react to the workout! I am trying to eat zero carbs (except for veggies..). It isn't working all that well but I think I have probably cut 60% out...

I need to get ready for the Warrior Dash.. It is coming up pretty fast.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Paleo Diet...

I am about ready to set fourth on yet another adventure.... First, it was getting into shape and now it is changing the way I eat... It is argued that Agriculture has not done the human race any favors. Our bodies over the years have been designed to eat protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fats (avocados, olive oils). I don't know about you but I eat a lot of carbs, simple sugars, and dairy...

The thought is if we can control our blood sugar we control our health. Sugars (both complex/simple) spike our blood sugar and that is what creates fat storage..

I don't know if any of this is true, but I am going to give it a shot. There are still a couple of things I need to look into, but the plan is to do some sort of trial. There are a lot of people out there that say that after the first week, I will know that it is working. While I am not into losing weight, this is a good dieting option to do that.

I will never totally go paleo because I love beer, and it is unrealistic to really drop all carbs. I figure I will try the full on paleo for a month and then go to an 80/20 type diet (80% paleo and 20% non)...

Cave Man diet here I come....

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Home Pictures

It is nice to be going down the path to home ownership again!


The Dining room


Finally a backyard

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Home Owner Again

We made the plunge!!!

We decided a couple of weeks ago to start looking for a home. I expected to find a home fast, but I didn't expect it to happen this fast! It is a little town called Savage. The town itself is pretty nice.. I don't think it is as nice as Maple Grove, but it will do. Etsuko is happy it is located closer to Mall of America.

It is a 4 bedroom split which means it technically has 4 levels, but you don't have to travel up/down many stairs to get to the different levels. The home also has an unfinished basement. There is about 1780 SQFT of finished space and probably another 400 SQFT of unfinished space.

Pretty much all the big ticket items are taken care of... New roof, windows, and updated furnace and that makes me a happy man. It has a fenced backyard with sprinkler systems in the front and back... The lot is a little over 1/4 acre. We put a very competitive offer in on the home and it almost fell through... Between me being stubborn and my realtor being a good negotiator, we locked up the deal.

If you want to see pictures go to Zillow and put in the address
14735 Quentin Ave S. Savage MN

We are pretty happy!!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Niners!!

That is right... The Niners win!! The Niners win!!

I was pretty happy last night... I was in rare fashion last night! It was all worth it.

Bigger post coming soon!!