Category Archive

Minnesota

This “wacky wallpaper house” in Minnesota will assault your eyes with patterns galore

Did you know there was a time when the fanciest way to decorate a room was to match your fabric to your wallpaper? This home for sale in Minnesota in the paradigm of that matching wallpaper and fabric movement…

The House of Yes: almost nothing cost more than $150

A couple years ago, I had to disassemble my adorable apartment, passing along my furniture to my students and packing everything else into my car. But before I began the process of getting rid of my worldly possessions, I thought my little flat deserved a bit of a photo shoot.

98% of what you see here is second hand. And with the exception of electronics, nothing cost more than $150!

A bright and brilliant ornately-painted ceiling

This is the ORIGINAL ceiling in the Naniboujou Lodge’s Great Room — it’s almost 100 years old and has never been repainted. Granted, it is in northern Minnesota, so it’s not like the place is heavy on the direct sunbeams.

DIY or Buy: Making state fair-style corndogs at home

You ever notice how, from one state to another, there can be drastic vocabulary differences?

I’m originally from the awesome state of Minnesota, where, for whatever reason, there are a few things that are just said differently. For example, growing up, I played Duck, Duck, Gray Duck instead of Duck, Duck, Goose. It wasn’t until I was in college that I learned about the goose business. And it’s the same way with corn dogs: In Minnesota, and especially at the Minnesota State Fair, these babies are Pronto Pups. Not that you can’t find a corn dog in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but you’re more likely to encounter a pronto pup. It’s just the way it is.

But no matter what you call them, the hot-dog-wrapped-in-corn-batter-and-dipped-in-hot-oil is a quintessential fair food. It’s fried, it’s on a stick and it’s delicious. After the dual appetizers of fried pickles and mac and cheese on a stick, a pronto pup (a.k.a. corn dog) dinner is just about perfect. So, here we go!

Colleen and Sam’s completely renovated modern little Minneapolis house

This house was one of those boarded up sad-and-lonelies. When Colleen and Sam swooped in, they had a total rehab ahead of them. Good thing the house turned out so peacefully lovely!