Once you decide on a house after browsing Bemidji homes for sale and Brainerd homes for sale, you'll probably need a few new appliances. A washer and dryer are essential devices, but settling on the right models with so many available options can be hard. We share six considerations before you complete your laundry room.

1. Consider Size
   Size is a vital consideration for washers and dryers as you don't want units that are too big for the available space. Measure the space in your home to compare against the measurements of potential models. Also, plan for at least 6 inches behind the appliances for water and venting hookups and 2 to 3 inches if you plan to keep the washer and dryer separate. A stacking pair is ideal when you're tight on space.

National Pet Day is recognized every April, but those with pets know that every day is pet day in our households! If you haven't given your heart to a pet yet, maybe it's because you haven't found the right one for you yet. Here are a handful of unconventional pets to consider as you shop Alexandria homes for sale.

• Sugar Glider
  Sugar gliders are one of the most popular unconventional pets. While they're small and can be kept in a cage like a hamster or a gerbil, they are actually marsupials and can live for 10-15 years. These intelligent and social animals like lots of interaction with their humans and have similar requirements as other caged animals. Because of their social natures, they also get separation anxiety when kept by themselves, so should be adopted in pairs.

April 13th is National Make Lunch Count Day, and the Twin Cities are filled with wonderful restaurants and cafes to help you celebrate. Whether you're searching for Minneapolis homes for sale or St. Paul homes for sale, there are many places between the two cities to enjoy lunch any day of the week. To get you started, we've narrowed down some of our favorites.

1. Longfellow Grill - 2990 W. River Pkwy., Minneapolis, MN 55406
   The Longfellow Grill serves casual American food like burgers and steaks, but they also have more unique dishes like the smothered chilaquiles. A lot of people remember this place because of the adorable plastic trays that are used for kids' meals, but you might remember it more for the grill's tasty Nashville fried chicken or deluxe burger that even includes crispy onion strings. It's a lovely family-style restaurant that you'll want to come back to again and again.