Lights! Camera! Action!

Our 1st day of production was a slow whirlwind. Dan and I were so excited/nervous that we didn't sleep very well. The assistants showed up around 7:30am to start the preliminary work or laying down tarps and bringing a lot of equipment in. The camera man showed up a little after 8am and started shooting the preliminary shots. He ended up being so hilarious. Between takes he would talk in funny accent voices and sing. His "Southern Russian Hillbilly" was classic.

In demo we ripped out the mirror, the lights, the vanity, the shower, toilet and the tub surround. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be and at the end it of course looked terrible. We wrapped up around 5:30pm and we were exhausted. Tomorrow is the next shoot and we are looking forward to it and only 4 days later will be the 3rd and final shoot and we will have a beautiful and stylish master bathroom.

After the destruction

Our hunky contractor, producer on the left and the designer on right

Our bare-boned shower

Director's view

Between takes Matt, the host and Dan

The "do" and outfit

Our very crowded production room, aka our bedroom. We hosted the producer's assistant, the sound guy, the contractor, the contractor's assistant, the designer, the producer, the host, and the camera guy

Dan getting mic'ed. He could clip it, I had to tape it to my chest.

Bathtastic!

Not sure how many have heard but Dan and I will be featured on an episode of DIY network's "Bathtastic". After the 1001 hour of Dan and I watching this network I turned to Dan and said "Let's be part of it" So after some researching and email sending we are "IN"!!!! They even came out and did a video audition. They wanted energetic and we gave them energetic. The producer, designer, and contractor have been out to measure and chat about the design.

Some of their work!

As far as the design we've tried to reconcile our styles. It's not easy, there are so many choices, amazing choices out there. Bonnie, the designer has been amazing through it all. Some of our requests included new sinks, countertop, flooring, faucets, tile backplash for the tub, organized storage, multiple shower heads and/or body sprays, and new and more lighting, seat for the shower etc. Can you see now the opportunity she's has to be amazing.

This what they have to work with.

The tub

Our water closet

Vanity

As you can see it is very vanilla. So far the design looks great but its pushing some comfort boundaries. For example the bronze hammered sinks. (http://www.waveplumbing.com/store/images/CIMG6828.jpg)

We will be begin shooting the episode on Oct 12thn (Demo)...Yeah in a week, 15th (Projects) and 23rd (Final shoot). Just 3 shooting days. Can't believe than in less that a month it will be all done!

First Home Project

Well its been forever and a day since I have blogged. Things are going well and we are continuing to settle in to our home. Dan has taken charge of our first home project: Taping, mudding, and painting the garage. It hasn't been easy but we are definitely getting our feet wet. You can't imagine how Lowe's has become our best friend. It's worst than going to Costco where you can't help but drop a couple of $$hundred$$ dollars every time you go there.

The garage still needs a coat of paint and we can mark it complete and off the long list of items we want to tackle.

Mi Casa es su Casa

It's been a month since we moved in to our new house and thought it be time to write a blog. So far we really like the house. We love our small back yard and we get a few visitors every now and then: duck, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. The master bathroom has 2 sinks and we don't have to share!! I've been able to cook so much more and Dan is appreciating it.

Our visitor

Dan mowing the lawn for the 1st time

Right out of the box

The move

Our home

T-wolves

Dan must be a lucky guy, he got me didn't he... ;) That aside Dan also won tickets to sit in the Executive Box at the last Timberwolves game. I had been there before during a visit to GM before my internship but it was Dan's 1st time.  It was fun and I enjoyed the game a bit more than the hockey game due to the fact I knew what was going on. The atmosphere at the hockey game in the Excel Center (St. Paul) was still better.

Dan all I have to say is keep winning those tickets... we still need to see the Twins and the Vikings

From the box

Dan enjoying the view at mid-court

T-wolves mural

Minnesota Wild

A few weeks ago Dan, through work, won some awesome tickets to a Minnesota Wild game.  It was my first official NHL game. Dan was an old pro, a month into his new job he got to sit in the General Mills Executive Box. He really had a tough time adjusting to the seats. All through the night he couldn't help but compare the seats to the box. Even though the were awesome seats there were not comfy seats, free catering, and a desert cart with 4x layer carrot cake (Dan's favorite).

Hockey is very big here and it seems all the kids play. Instead of seeing boys carrying pads for football they carry hockey sticks and huge hockey bags.

The atmosphere in the arena was crazy and extremely loud. The Xcel center is the newest arena in the state and has all the amenities one would want. We sat next to one of Dan's coworkers. We both didn't understand much and spent most of the time talking. 

Go Wild!!

They ended up loosing in the last 5 min of the game. It was a great game and I could definitely get used these kind of perks.

FATSO (FTO) Gene

At my new job I'm afforded some great and unusual opportunities. One that arrised a few weeks ago was genetic testing for the obesity gene which test your disposition to be heavier than the average population. I was naturally curious to know whether I was "doomed" or not and I debated whether I even wanted to know or not. My co-workers were also hedging on the decision. The gene is named FTO but goes by FaTsO gene. (How comforting). 

Genetic Lesson

If you know a little about genetics it is understood that your genes are comprised of half coming from dad and half from mom. Both of my parents, if they were recessive FTO carriers, could have not passed on any kind of predisposition to me or if they were dominant FTO then I didn't have a chance in heck to begin with.

Well, to make a long story short it looks like I won the lottery, I have inherited the gene from both my parents. Great!? Of course my parents deny it :) I can only guess that at the very least they are both recessive FTO carriers and I just happened to receive the FTO gene for both of them. Now what do I do with this information? Should I call up Ben and Jerry and drown my sorrows? Don't get me wrong I was bummed when I opened the envelope but what can be done, my genes are my genes and I have to do the best I can with what I was given. All in all I'm glad I found out so I can be aware of my predisposition.

The Chicago Caper - Murder Mystery

Dan and I received an invitation to a mystery diner from some friends of friends. Dan played Eddie "Socks" R. Gyle a smooth, fashionable, and clever who is an avid golfer and owns a gaming house. Dan's costume called for a bow tie but he just wouldn't have it...oh well. I played Malissa F. Orthought, a reporter for the local paper with a shady past. It was fun getting to know other couples in the area that don't attend our ward. 

S. Treighton Harrow and Anna Maria Carlotta Sassine "Torchy"

 

Ernie "Bet a Million"G. Ambler and "Silky" M. Adam

Our hosts. Billy "The Kid" Thrower and Molly M. Awbsterr

Psycho Suzi

After what seemed 100th episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives we decided that our next adventure had to be a Dive Adventure. Thanks to Guy Fieri, we locked down on Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge. It was a truly unique experience. We were accompanied by fellow foodies Anna and Garth. We met during our internships at General Mills. She now works full time in Pillsbury. Coincidentally, she also lives in the same apartments that we do. We ordered deep fried cheese curds and pizza. Both were absolutely delicious. We then bowled 2 games at Tonka Lanes. The 1st game was the high scoring game. The 2nd game was riddled with gutter balls, thumb injuries, and a wicked hang nail. Stay tune for our next Dive adventure.

Featured in Food Network's Dives, Drive-Ins and Dives

Amazing form

Psycho Suzy's herself

MLK Breakfast

General Mills makes it a priority to be involved in the community. Along with the United Negro College Fund they host an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. This year's speaker was General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State. Once that that got out, tickets were flying out like hot cakes. The Meals Division, composed of Progresso, Green Giant, Hamburger Helper and Old El Paso, was able to secure a table. I was lucky enough to get a ticket and be 4 tables away from Powell. It was very exciting. He was a great speaker, funny, thoughtful, and a bit inspiring without being preachy. They also recognized 3 people that belonged to the community that through their service represented MLK's vision. It was a great event.

Bob

General Mills is partnering with "Pound for Pound", Feeding America and Biggest Loser for a campaign. People can log on to pfpchallenge.com and for every pound they pledge of weight to loose General Mills will donate a pound of food to a food bank. As a result we had a special guest at Headquarters, Bob Harper. He gave an inspirational speech and divulge some interesting information about The Biggest Loser. It was a total blast, I went with a coworker and we both squealed like girls, which is ok for me because I am a girl but maybe not for him. Bob is a very handsome man and unbelievably fit for being 40-something. I couldn't help but try to get a pic with him. 

Snowboarding

Before I left Utah in August I informed everyone that I wanted to go snowboarding. Now mind you I had gone skiing several times before but never snowboarding. I decided that it was another activity that I had to cross off my bucket list (it's never to early to start one really). I didn't want time to pass by, get too old, too scared, or miss the opportunity. We (Brothers, Sisters, Sister-in-laws, and Brothers-in-laws) gathered at Sports Authority on the 26th to rent our equipment so we could head to Sundance the following day. 

We took snowboarding lessons for the 1st 1/2 of the day then went on our own. I would say the lesson was invaluable. I learned more and by the end of the day I felt I was pretty proficient. (My falling leaf is awesome) Most of us had a hard time with S turns but to give credit to us we did that last and our thighs were burning. It was like doing a roman chair all the way down the mountain, the thighs were on fire.

After the lesson we felt we were doing pretty good and decided to go up further on the lift. This is when got too big for our britches. The "Maverick", a blue run, had Dan and several of us nervous. Basically if you didn't stay on the path you were going to tumble down the mountain. It was prayer time. We survived unscathed but had a scare when Iris fell down and hurt her knee. Both Jeffery and Dan had to unclip and go up the mountain to see if she was ok and she was though she felt that knee for a while. I had scare myself, what I'm calling a small self diagnosed concussion. Soon after my head got acquainted with the floor my vision got weird, had a huge headache, and started to get nausea. Looking back on it I should stopped but we had paid for an all day pass, lessons, and rentals. I didn't want to quit to early. 

Picking up our gear

I kept hitting this sign. Don't know why, other that I knew I didn't want to hit which made me gravitate to it.

Dan, Iris, and I.

Shredding the slopes

Dan "Shaun White" Colyar

Me, Kirsti, Dan, and our instructor, Eli, riding the lift

Taking a break

It was a beautiful day to snowboard.

Chad, Kirsti, Kristi, Me Dan, Iris, and Jeffery

Christmas

Christmas Day was amazing. The previous day my mom, Zaida, had flown in from Florida as a surprise and was able to spend a week with us. On Christmas Eve we stayed at Iris' house so we could wake up w/ the nieces and nephew and celebrate all that Santa had brought. He brought some really fun games including a DVD Dance, Dance Revolution game (courtesy of Zaida) and a Hannah Montana Guitar Hero. You see Dan with it here but I was absolutely in love with it. Not that I'm a HM fan but I love Guitar hero and with only 3 frets how could I go wrong. Samson, the Wiseman's great dane, was not left out and got the biggest bone I've ever seen for Christmas. I guess he was a good pup this year.

Mom and Garret DDR'ing away

Santa also dropped off a bone for Samson. He's up to 160 now.

Dan chanelling a great dane

Everyone getting into DDR

Iris and Dan

Our nieces and nephew (Garrett, Eva, and Alexandra)

Drums and Cymbals, what is Santa thinking?!?!

Dan and Alexandra

My 2 best friends

At the original Colyar's (Dan's parents)

Dan diving for presents

Dan loving Hannah Montana Guitar Hero