Rob and I have been celebrating weekends together and exploring new restaurants in the Twin Cities by doing a little research and hitting up happy hour specials. I love happy hour.

Last Friday, we ventured to Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar, a fun place in Minneapolis with fabulous rooftop seating. There is a rooftop happy hour, but it's not available on Fridays. So we took advantage of the indoor happy hour that was going on and sat inside by a window, feasting on oysters, ribs, a spicy tuna roll, peel-and-eat shrimp, and a couple drinks each. They're serious about that two-for-one drink special, and Rob laughed at my surprise when, after ordering a glass of wine, the server brought me two, right then and there.

  

If you're ever in Minneapolis, you should definitely stop by Stella's! And you should tell me first so I can meet you there and have two more glasses of wine and another bucket of shrimp.

Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar

1400 West Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55408

Food 4/5

Service 2/5

Atmosphere (inside) 3/5

Prices & Specials 4/5

Paleo-Friendly 5/5

I hope you enjoy me sharing our restaurant adventures in Minneapolis and St. Paul with you! I'm hoping it will be a fun way to document all of our favorite places, while simultaneously encouraging our friends from home to come visit immediately.

I'm trying to do yoga. When I say that I'm trying to do yoga, it means I got a sudden urge to one day stretch and actually be able to touch my toes. I am not flexible. So I did a few sun salutations yesterday and felt pretty good about it.

This move from Virginia to Minnesota has been really smooth so far, so naturally I am waiting for the moment where my anxiety will kick in and I'll freak out about being so far from home. So far so good though, you guys.

But what do you do when you feel a little anxious or a little stressed to calm down a bit?

I made a list.

+ Call someone from home. Ask to talk to your dog as well.

+ Go for that run even though you're sore and really don't feel like it.

+ Make some tea. While the water boils, stretch.

+ Watch a couple episodes of

Friends

. Works every time.

+ Write something down. Step away from it and add or edit.

+ Look through old photos and laugh at your hair.

+ Lie down on the couch and read something.

What do you do when you need to chill out?

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This post is sponsored by 

Ice Mountain® Natural Spring Water

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I'm turning 25 in two weeks.

I love a good birthday as much as the next person, but I've never been one to make a big big deal about celebrating too much. This year feels different. It's a little inconvenient that my family and friends are a plane flight away, but I still want to celebrate. Because there are so many things to be thankful for. I'll be 25--a quarter of a century! After a long year of distance, Rob and I are living in the same apartment again. I just bought an incredibly expensive ticket to Alt Summit and I intend to make the most of every minute of that conference. Oh yeah, and did I mention that I'm getting married in May?

I have some stuff planned for my 25th year.

So, in celebration of all that's going on in my life these coming months and with gratitude to you, who have made this blogging thing such a pleasure, from now until September 4th (my birthday), all ad spots are 75% off. (Get it? Because I'm turning 25, ads are only 25% of their full price. Yeah--math.) Just use the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY.

And to keep the party going, I've got a giveaway. Let's do this!
a Rafflecopter giveaway