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This has to be the best festival of the year.  The Minnesota Renaissance Festival has already started, but there will be performances every weekend until the end of September.  The best part of the festival for me, is seeing all the players/characters in their period costumes.  Walking around with a giant turkey leg, is always fun too.  A crowd favorite is always the jousting, you can shout as loud as you want for you’re favorite Knight and it’s fun to hear the little one’s debating which one will win.  You can’t miss the Court Juggler’s as they pass through the festival delighting the crowds.  You also won’t be able to miss, King Henry VIII either, with all his wives as they ride through the festival waving majestically at their eager subjects.  This is a great day out, I highly recommend that if you don’t have anything planned for this Labor Day weekend, then you head to Shakopee  (map) and mingle with the “commoners.” 

 

 

You keep hearing the term “Go Green” all over the news, in magazines and on billboards but just how do you do that?

You can actually do something very simple to get started on the “Going Green” path: simply purchase compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

CFL bulbs are those funny-looking bulbs with swirls of glass tubing, lit with argon gas and mercury vapor. They are slightly more expensive than traditional incandescent light bulbs, but they pay for themselves in six months and can last 10 times longer than the incandescent light bulbs you’re using now.

 That means if you have a light fixture you use quite a bit and find yourself changing the light bulb in it every six months, using a CFL bulb means you won’t change that bulb again for five years. The higher the wattage of a CFL bulb, the longer the bulb will be, with more fluorescent glass spirals. That means a 40 watt CFL bulb is smaller than a 100 watt CFL. You can even purchase CFL bulbs for recessed lighting.

And since CFL bulbs use less energy, you will eventually notice a dip in your energy bills in the coming months and years.

No need to replace your incandescent bulbs all at once; that would be quite an expense. As your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with CFL bulbs. Don’t forget that since each CFL bulb utilizes a small amount of mercury, you can’t just throw away a burned-out CFL bulb, it must be recycled. Many recycling locations will take your used CFL bulbs at no cost or give you a discount on future CFL bulb purchases.

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Are you ready for 12 days of FUN, FUN, FUN.  The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow, August 26th. Residents from all over Minnesota come here once a year to exhibit their livestock and share their new products and services.  You will be entertained with live entertainment and good Minnesotan 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 will run 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. 

If you have ever been to the fair, share you’re experience here on the blog.  We would love to hear all about it. 

Voted the best musical of the decade by Entertainment Weekly, Wicked is back at the Orpheum Theater due to it’s immense popularity.  The story of Glinda and her sister Elphaba, is the prequel to the Wizard of Oz.  Currently, Wicked is the 18th longest running show on Broadway and has broken box-office records around the world.  We are lucky to have it back at the Orpheum and it is running through until September 19, 2010.  

Here are the directions from Jefferson at Plymouth to the Orpheum Theater.

View Larger Map

 A very popular television series is coming to CBS in the fall.  Hawaii 5-0, is back with a whole new cast and a whole new attitude.  Leading the way is Alex O’Loughlin and Steve Caan, as McGarrett and Danno.  I personally like O’Loughlin as an actor, but he hasn’t had much luck in television series, his last one, hospital drama, Three Rivers was cancelled before it ended it’s first season.  The original Hawaii 5-0 ran for twelve seasons and was very popular with audiences, so this new crew has a lot of work to do to make this remake strike a cord with the viewing audience. 

Will you be watching the new Hawaii 5-0?  It premieres September 20, 2010 on CBS.

Ever wanted to walk down a pink carpet?  Well here’s you’re chance.  On October 7, 2010 The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes are hosting Girls Night Out Benefiting Hope Chest for Breast Cancer.  You will be treated to gift bags and special discounts from the Shoppes and restaurants at Arbor Lakes.  There will be live entertainment and appetizers served.  100% of all the proceeds from this event will go to the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer, to fund research, financial aid and education.  So, come along and join in this great event for an even greater cause. 

I have a small kitchen pantry. And for the longest time it was driving me crazy not being able to store items properly. This craziness went on for about a year, I know, I just kept putting it on the back burner and telling myself I’d get to it later.

Well, later came and I finally resolved to do something about my lack of pantry storage. I went everywhere looking to find solutions to end my small space issues. I finally walked into the Container Store and staring at me was an over-the-door organizer. This organizer hangs with baskets off the back of the door and you can put all kinds of goodies in it. It’s great because when you close the door, it doesn’t stop the door from closing. It’s not just good for the kitchen, I have used it in the bathroom and the laundry room. It really is a great space saver.

 

Having read, Eat, Pray Love, there is no-one else I could see in the role of Liz, than Julie Roberts, she is perfect for this role.  This is the story of one woman’s search for everthing that she thinks she has lost in her life, since she was 15.  She has a failed marriage behind her and she embarks on a trip to India, Italy and Bali.  It’s while she is on this trip, ths she discovers the importance of life and she rediscovers who she is.  I loved the book and would highly recommend you read it if you haven’t. 

Eat, Pray Love comes out August 13, 2010. 

Check here for times of the movie

I know how difficult it is for me to function properly on a really hot day, so just think how your pets feel, especially your dog! If you are a pet owner, you know that your dog needs plenty of exercise. During the summer months when the temperature is at its highest, it can be difficult to get outside with your dog. If you do manage to spend some time outside, here are some tips for you to keep your dog comfortable during the hot weather.

1. Don’t run errands with your dog in the car. This is the number one danger for a pet. Even if you leave your window open a little to let air in, your car will get several degrees hotter on the inside.

2. Always protect your pet with flea and tick medication. During the summer months, these little pests can create havoc for your special furry friend.

3. When you are outside, leash your dog. You don’t want your dog eating or drinking something harmful.

4. If you are going to the dog park, remember to bring some extra water with you. When your dog is running around, they are going to need a drink.

5. Sunscreen. I never even thought to put sunscreen on my dogs. But it makes sense. They can get sunburn to. So, whenever we go out, I apply sunscreen to their coats, its a bit of a struggle because they are used to it. But it definitley makes all the difference.

  Another classic Beverley Cleary comes to the big screen.  Being a fan of Cleary’s fun, amazing children’s books, I took my girls to see this movie and loved it.  If you have the chance, go, it was really funny.  It stars Selena Gomez, who if you have kids you will already know all about her. 

Check out the movie at:

MannMn Plymouth

3400 Vicksburg Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447  | (763)551-0000

11:50am |  2:10pm |  4:25pm |  6:45pm |  9:05pm

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