One of my favorite things to do in the summer is sit outside with good friends, sharing tapas and a pitcher of margaritas laced with good tequila and Chambord. Even better, if it's at a trendy open air patio somewhere in Uptown Minneapolis.

I've gathered a list of some fun local restaurants that are perfect for a summer evening out with your comrades or your better half.

Broders' Pasta Bar

I have dug up some great websites on tips for home owners insurance shopping and reducing those premium costs.

http://www.houselogic.com/news/home-insurance/homeowner-insurance-cut-costs/

Summer is just around the corner, and no summer is complete without getting out there and enjoying this short but beautiful Minnesota summer season.

Not all remodeling projects are created equal, especially when you’re updating to sell.

Here is a list of the top 10 projects that guarantee the highest returns.

1. Replacing exterior siding with upscale fiber cement.

2. Replacing an entry door with a midlevel 20-gauge steel door is an inexpensive upgrade at $1,238 on average, but it pays back 73% and greatly improves curb appeal.

Warm weather is just around the corner. If putting your home on the market this year is at the top of your to do list, now is the time to start preparing. Spring cleaning and repairing needs to be on the top of your list. Not only will a thorough cleaning make your home stand out, it will force you to get rid of the clutter that has accumulated over the winter.

On top the daunting task of packing and getting ready to move, preparing your home for that first showing or open house, can be just as overwhelming.  Staging a home has become a necessity in selling a home, but not everyone can afford to hire a professional to do it.

There are a few simple things that you can do yourself to make a big difference on the overall feeling of your home.

The Twin Cites sellers market seems to be starting to make up for some lost time. Inventory is at a 10 year low, below 12,000 homes are available from a high of over 36,000 less than 10 years ago.

By Jami Johnson

We bought our first home in 2001; a colonial built in 1968, nestled at the end of a wooded cul-de-sac. Tenderly loved by its original owners; it felt like home as soon as you walked through the door - if you were Marsha Brady. But I loved the layout and I could see past the silver sailboat wallpaper to all its glorious potential. I couldn’t wait to make this caterpillar a butterfly.

By Jami Johnson.

Hubby and I have been married for 13 blissful years and still going strong. He actually proposed to me on Valentine's Day in sunny Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Just because we can't afford to spend every Valentine's Day sipping sangria on a soft sandy beach, doesn't mean it can't be just as fun and unique as the day we became engaged.