The Yogurt Lab

I absolutely love when a new, creative, energetic concept hits town.  Well, this one might not be "new" per se, but it's a solid concept that took a twist, got turned on it's head and scaled up a notch or two.  It's The Yogurt Lab in Minneapolis and let me tell ya folks, this ain't no TCBY.  This is a modern, fresh, cool, fun, healthy (organic milk!), and utterly delicious soft serve frozen yogurt destination.  With flavors like Green Apple, Salted Caramel, Chili Chocolate, Cupcake and Mango (to name just a few) your options are endless.  And there are even more choices when it comes to toppings- be the healthy type with fresh fruit or go bananas with every type of cereal imaginable, all kinds of nuts, your favorite candy bars, Gummi Bears and marshmallows- there are simply too many to list.  You just need to check it out for yourself and have your own little yogurt experiment.  The place was packed and given that it was a Monday afternoon in the middle of winter, I can only imagine what summer will bring when the crowds flock to nearby Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles to take their yogurt for a stroll. 

Endless options to top off your yogurt.

My personal fave.

The Yogurt Lab has an industrial, lab-chic vibe that not only serves inventive flavors of frozen yogurt, but pumps great tunes and loads of energy into the experience.

Cooper's eyes were definitely bigger than his belly when it came to making flavor and topping decisions!

The wall says it all!!

The Yogurt Lab is located at 3100 Excelsior Blvd. near Whole Foods.

Don't miss it!

"Somebody That I Used to Know..."

If you haven't seen this video from Walk Off the Earth, the Canadian, YouTube viral sensation (almost 36 million hits this month alone!) you must watch right here, right now.  There are kind of no words to describe it.  Just watch it- a few times, and then maybe a few more.  Make sure you get past the first 1.5 minutes to hear the haunting voice of Sarah Blackwood.  This collection of musicians is clearly talented, imaginative, inventive, and there is just some super crazy symbiotic sound they produce that transcends all conventional music.  Even if the song is a cover of Gotye's hit (FYI, he's coming to the Varsity Theater on April 4th, but unfortunately it's already sold out) I think they made it their own by mastering the solo guitar with ten hands on it.  Weird.  But it works.  Really, really well.  I see raw, eager talent, humor, commitment, and soul when I watch these guys.  I love it.  I showed it to my music loving eldest son and he was instantly mesmerized by their hypnotic, almost haunting melody.  Now check it out and let me know what you think.  Click here to watch the video...enjoy.  You will be singing- I guarantee it! 

Brrr...

Think positive and stay warm.

San Francisco Trifecta

Three of my favorite things collided when I saw this post on the super fun blog, Hooked on Houses the other day.  What are three of my favorite things, you might ask?  In no particular order, they are...

Words with Friends.  San Francisco.  One King's Lane.

They all came together when I found this gorgeous listing of The City's  uber-power couple Mark and Alison Pincus' Presidio Heights home.  It went on the market last month right before Mark's online gaming company, Zynga, went public.  If you are not familiar with Zynga (Words with Friends, Farmville, etc.) than maybe you are familiar with One King's Lane, the incredibly successful online home decor site that was founded by Alison in 2009.  If you're not familiar with either one of these, well, I can't help you out.  Google them.

This 4,000 square foot home (on a 4,199 sq. ft. lot no less- can you say, "San Francisco??") is absolutely stunning, gorgeous, happy, and oh so bright and spectacular.  I can just see myself curled up on the sofa off the sunny yellow kitchen playing Words with Friends.  Can't you?  

It's in my favorite neighborhood of The City, Presidio Heights, and sits on a tiny, tree lined block that backs up to The Presidio.  Within walking distance to great shops, world class restaurants, beautiful parks, and schools (private, of course), this little dream could be yours for a cool $8.95 million.  

Doesn't that equate to about $447 per square foot?  

Kind of a deal if you consider that it's never even been lived in.  The family (they have twin daughters) apparently never took up residence due to a little stalker issue that forced them into their much smaller home across town in Cole Valley, which is also on the market.  I wonder where last month's Zynga IPO (no matter how luke warm it turned out to be) has the family moving next?  It hasn't been revealed publicly but I know I can't wait to get a glimpse once Alison gets her hands on it!  

Check out her impeccable taste in the Presidio Heights home below...

Gorgeous inside and out...this is the view from the back courtyard

I think this is my favorite room in the house.  I LOVE the shocking green lacquer paint- what an entrance!

I could find a lot of inspiration in this sunny kitchen and can see my three boys sitting on those cool counter stools

That's my Words with Friends couch...

I love all the color.  And the view ain't so bed either...

When you need a break from all the color, here's your room

The light is incredible

Once again, a lacquer love affair

The entrance- two balconies and a double garage.  Two San Francisco rarities.

What do you think?

Are you there Chelsea?

It's me, Kristin.  
You know, your number one fan.  In fact, I adore you so much and think you are so clever and hysterical that I actually want to be you.  Seriously, who doesn't want to sit at a desk with their three best friends and rip on stupid people who do stupid things?  And get a Belvedere vodka sponsorship to do it.  Daa- that's my kinda gig.  
BUT...we need to address what happened last night.  Let's just say that little show you created on that very large network...you know, the NBC project?  Ummm, it's not working out so well.
Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea. 
I am so sorry to tell you but the new show sucks.  Simply- it's totally, terribly, off the charts awful.   It sucks so big and bad I feel like an asshole just talking about it.  
But here's the deal- your comedic tone can only be delivered in it's ballsy, brazen manner on a cable network like E!.  A mainstream network is not going to understand your humor, your outrageous stories and outlandish behavior let alone allow you to stick around.  I'm afraid it's going to be canceled after a few measly episodes.  It was... that bad.  
I'm sorry, Chels, but when we hear the name Chelsea Handler we expect the real deal, the "in the flesh" Chelsea Handler.  Not some cut rate stand-in from That 70's Show that reads her lines like a blond robot.  It was painful.  And the most disappointing part of the whole deal was seeing you with brown hair portraying your straight laced, boring sister!  It was a total tease, not to mention downright confusing. The show was so slow, so boring, and so un-Chelsea like that it was a complete catastrophe.  
Pleeezzzz, I beg you- and I still love you and want to meet you in person and aspire to actually have a show like yours where I can actually get paid to sound like I feel...
please don't quit your night job.