End Of Summer Happenings

Can you believe summer is coming to an end?  Kids are back in school and cooler weather is just around the corner.  Seems like a few weeks ago I was posting about things to do over the July 4th weekend.

If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, here are some options around Des Moines!

1. Bridal Sneak Peak at the Blank Park Zoo Friday, August 29th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
    If you are planning an upcoming wedding check out the vendors that will be on hand as well as
    the Blank Park Zoo's venue possibilities. Admission is free.  

2. Des Moines Renaissance Faire Saturday, August 30th through Monday, September 1st at Sleepy   
    Hallow Sports Park in Des Moines.  This is the first of three weekends for the Renaissance Faire
    in Des Moines.  This weekend is Knights and Royals weekend at the Faire.  For additional   
    information, including admission, visit their website.

[source]

3. Labor Day Hometown Festival at The Bass Pro Shop Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st from Noon until 5:00 PM both days.  If you are looking for something to do with the kids this weekend, check this out!  Free crafts as well as a metal detector treasure hunt and duck pond. 

4. East Village Sunday Bizarre  Sunday, August 31st from Noon to 4:00 PM.  Go check out the collection of arts, crafts, and vintage finds while supporting local businesses.  Visit their Facebook page for additional information. 

[source] 

5. Live At the Creek Concert Series with Toni Valdez and Retro Rockets Sunday, August 31st at Jordan Creek Town Center.  Activities start at 5:00 and run until 10:00 PM.  Enjoy a cold drink from the beer and wine garden!

6. IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals starting Monday, September 1st in Boone.  Check out the website for additional information, including times.

7. Doggie Dive at the Birdland Pool in Des Moines.  Monday, September 1st from 4:00 PM t0 6:30 PM.  Beat the heat with your four legged friend.  Admission for dogs is $4.00, regular admission fees apply for all humans attending!

 

 [source]

8. Hy Vee Triathalon Saturday, August 30th and Sunday August 31st in Downtown Des Moines.  For a complete list of events and locations, go to the triathlon's website.

9. Catch some football!  College football season kicks off this weekend.  Iowa State plays North Dakota State Saturday, August 30th starting at 11:00 AM in Ames.  The Iowa Hawkeyes take on the UNI Panthers at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City Saturday, August 30th beginning at 11:00 AM.  Looking for a local matchup?  The Grand View University Vikings, 2013 NAIA Footballs Champs take on the Drake Bulldogs.  Game time is 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 30th at Drake Stadium.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids 3-18.

10.  Pool Time- Get in one last swim at many of the Des Moines area pools before the close up for the season and we say goodbye to summer!

Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on what to do this upcoming holiday weekend.  Don't forget to enjoy a little R&R!

- N

It's Monday

coffee - enough said. here is a little inspiration to start your week off. happy monday!

imagine yourself here 

or here instead of at work...

 

drinking this

or this...yummy!

happy thoughts! happy monday!

with love - P

image 1 | {source}
image 2 | {source}
image 3 | {source}
image 4 | {source}
image 5 | {source} 
image 6 | {source}

Dress Love Of The Week | Alexandra Grecco

so we may or may not be obsessed with tutus, and since Emma is about to have a little girl, we could not resist! here we go: Alexandra Grecco is a Brooklyn-based fashion designer whose clothes are all produced in the New York City garment district. she creates not only feminine, classically inspired wedding gowns that exude a timelessness but also designs ready-to-wear dresses, tops, and tulle skirts (tutus!).

now I know that you may be picturing a ballerina in the Nutcracker right now but these are not it. her skirts are soft and more graceful than that (at least in my mind) - extremely feminine and ethereal. you can dress them down with button-downs, cardigans or simple t-shirts or pair them with a blouse, blazer or sweater for a night out. of course, they always require some statement jewelry and a pair of killer shoes! be prepared to fall in love...

{source}

 

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

with love - P

Back On Track

With the Iowa State Fair winding down today, another year of fried anything on a stick comes to a close.  While it is fun to eat your way across the fair, I can't help but feel miserable the next day thinking about all the calories I took in.  More than likely I consumed a weeks worth of calories in one day on my visit to the fair.  But, I enjoyed every last one of them.

However, now that the fair is coming to a close, and summer seems to be coming to a close as well, it's time to get back on track with eating healthy.  I always say one of the easiest downfalls when trying to keep on track with healthy eating is snacks.  Lets face it, we all get hungry throughout the day and want something delicious to snack on.  Here are several healthy snacking option from the Red and Honey blog, which can be found at redandhoney.com

1. Apples and Peanut Butter
2. Raw Veggies and Hummus
3.  Air Popped Popcorn
4. Cheese, any kind other than processed
5. Hard Boiled Egg
6. Kale Chips
7. Pickles (homemade are best, but look for ones without added sugar)
8. Dark Chocolate 1-2 small pieces
9. No Sugar Added Applesauce
10. Plain Yogurt With Honey

These are just a few ideas, the website contains one hundred healthy snack ideas.

Water is also something to keep around when you are trying to get back on track with healthy eating, or maintain a healthy lifestyle.  If you are like me, water isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I'm looking for something to drink.  While there are times when I crave water, most of the time I don't.   Style Me Pretty provides several refreshing infused water ideas to keep your taste buds on their toes!

1. Lemon Raspberry

 2. Cucumber Mint

3. Strawberry Basil

4. Lemon Lime

5. Orange Lemon and Ginger

*Photo Source


I hope these ideas provided you with a little inspiration to get back on track in the coming weeks.  Happy healthy eating!!

-N

Dress Love Of The Week | Grupo Rosa Clara

I apologize for being m.i.a. last week, but not to worry - here are a few beauties just for you from the 2015 collection by Rosa Clara Parellas, the founder of Grupo Rosa Clara  (I couldn't pick just one!). her designs blend both fashion and bridal into some of the most gorgeous dresses! we are head over heels for these gowns.

 

the lace sleeves can actually be taken off to convert this into a strapless dress. a lot of her dresses have this option, which is amazing for the custom bride!

 

 

beyond gorgeous illusion back

 

 

convertible dress! take the skirt off for the reception - perfect!

 

 

so soft and romantic. would be great for an outdoor wedding - I can definitely picture it

 

architectural and structured but still ultra feminine with the shape and material

 

just love! that is all *sigh*

 

the gloves are such an adorable detail

 

 timeless elegance

 

simply stunning! this is definitely one of my favs by this designer. the detail in this dress is perfection

okay okay so I know that it was more than a few, but I could not pass up the chance to post them.

happy friday!



with love - P

Summer Fun | The State Fair!

we are not just talking about any state fair - it is that time of year for the Iowa State Fair! art, food, the midway, anything you could possibly want on a stick, concerts, food, crafts, food, people watching; so much to do and so little time. people wait all year for this and you only have until sunday to get there so get a move on!

this year the fair is from august 7 through the 17 and the weather has been amazing for it. we went this past tuesday and the weather was perfect! if you know the Iowa State Fair then you know that this rarely happens. i have been there on extremely humid days, days with the heat index being close, if not more, than 100 degrees and even during torrential down pours - since it is Iowa, i would not expect anything less - so i definitely cherished the 79 degree high for that day.

 {source}

 

{source}

besides the big boar (1,273 lbs this year) other various animals and attractions, people are lying if they say they don't go for the food. come on! it's the fair - it is that one special day where calories don't exist! f.y.i. do not, i repeat, do not ever look at the nutritional value of fair food, just saying.

{source}

some of the newest fair foods include:

smoked brisket mac and cheese | macaroni topped with chunks of smoked brisket and apple wood smoked bacon and tossed in a creamy three cheese sauce

brownie blitz | cream cheese brownie bits, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and coconut

 red velvet flurry | chunks of red velvet cake mixed with vanilla ice cream and cream cheese frosting

pineapple inside out funnel cake

mexican grilled corn on-the-cob | lime chipotle sauce

i tried the mac and cheese - super delicious and well worth it for the price and portion (not kidding here). my plan was also to try the red velvet flurry but sadly i had no room left so i will attempt to make it at home. i did say attempt. or there is always next year!

 yummm red velvet funnel cake  

{source}

some of my other go-to's: 

red velvet funnel cake

cheese curds

grinder (lets be clear: jennie's not gizmos)

corn dog

honey lemonade

fresh milkshake from the dairy

salt water taffy 

peppermint log (at bauder's)

there are obviously more, but i will stop there otherwise you will be reading about food for quite awhile, which is probably actually okay right?

 

{source}

anyways, there is so much to do, which means there is something for everyone. here are just a few - see the art and photography exhibits at the top of the hill, walk through the different buildings full of vendors, visit the barns, see the butter cow of course!, eat, enjoy a ride on the midway, catch a show or concert whether on the main stage or the free stage, stroll along and people watch, eat and eat again, see one of the many daily attractions like the talent show and most importantly enjoy the fair and Des Moines! 

{source}

 by-the-way something new at the fair this year is a 25 foot statue of the couple from Grant Wood's American Gothic! pretty cool if you ask me (and pretty huge). i do not know how long this statue will be in Des Moines so make sure to see it before it moves on to the next place. hint: see it before it's gone!

 

 {source}

and of course i cannot leave you without posting a picture of the symbol of the Iowa State Fair: the butter cow. enjoy!

 

{source}

happy fair going!



with love - P