Summer Bucket List in Des Moines

CATCHING A SUN-SATIONAL SUMMER:

Summertime is almost here! This will be my second summer in Des Moines and I cannot wait!!! Last summer I was still new to the area and was learning the "In's and Out's" of the city.  BUT this summer I'm more aware about all the great, fabulous and fun things to do!  I want to make sure I don't miss any exciting events, so I made a summer bucket List for Des Moines. (Well, these are only my Top 10.)

• WineFest - May 31 - June 7: This event happened right when I was moving down to Des Moines last summer, so this year I HAVE TO make sure to attend. As you can see from my previous blogs...I LOVE WINE! :)  The Iowa Lawn Party on June 1st will be a great Sunday afternoon event with lots of local Iowa wine - Can't wait!

• Downtown Farmers Market - May 3 - October 25: The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market was ranked by TheDalilyMeal as the second best farmers market in AMERICA!! - Which I totally agree with.

• Dam to Dam - May 31: I have been (attempting) to train for this 13.1 mile race for about 2 months now, so I'm excited to accomplish this race after (attempting) to train.  I've only ran a half-marathon one other time and it was about 2 years ago.  It's time to kick some 13.1 mile butt!  

• Zoo Brew -June 4 - August 27 (Wednesdays only): Last Summer I made it to the Zoo Brew once at the Blank Park Zoo and it was so much fun!  I want to be able to go more often this year.  You get to drink with the animals and listen to live music - perfect humpday fun :) Each Wednesday is a new theme and bands!

• Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series - May 15 - July 31: Every Thursday from 6-9 p.m. there is live music at the winery.  They have wine, sangria and beer available.  Bring a lawn-chair, blankets and enjoy live music.  Every Thursday there is a different band that plays.  This is a great FREE event!

• Arts Festival - June 27 - 29: I made it to the arts festival last year and enjoyed walking around looking at fantastic works of art.  They also offer live music and great local food vendors!  

• National Balloon Classic - July 25 - August 2: The sky filled with spectacular hot air balloons?   Sounds like an amazing site to see!  Can't wait to attend the National Balloon Classic this year.

• Adventureland - Open throughout the Summer: Last year I didn't make it ONCE to Adventureland and I haven't even got to see the new water rides yet!  - This is definitely on my top priority list of things to do!

• Free Flicks - Outdoor Movie - June 5 - September 4: Movies under the stars is perfect for a summer night!  Admission is FREE! All you  need to bring is blankets and/or lawn-chairs..and don't forget the snacks :)  The schedule of movies and locations can be found here.  The movie I can't wait to see is THE LEGO MOVIE!! 

• Yoga and Zumba in the Park - June 7 - September 27: Every Saturday morning there are FREE yoga and zumba sessions at Gray's Lake this summer.  What a great way to start a relaxing Saturday morning before you head to the Downtown Farmers Market :)

These are just a few of the AMAZING activities and events going on throughout the Des Moines area this summer!  So many more to CATCH for a SUN-SATIONAL SUMMER :) 

Wine & Canvas @ Jasper Winery

Experienced my first Wine & Canvas outing this weekend and had a fabulous time!  It was a perfect event for a rainy Sunday afternoon - Sunday Funday :)

Sample Painting - What the painting
is suppose to look like.

The event took place at JasperWinery in Des Moines. Jasper Winery provided the wine; which we had to purchase seperate from the painting fee.  It was $12 for a bottle (no corking fee), so Rachel and I split a bottle of wine - which helped get our creative juices flowin'.  We wanted to try a sweet white wine, so we tried their ‘All-Night White’ wine.  – It was delicious! The wine at Jasper Winery never disappoints.

Every painter gets a 16x20 piece of canvas, 5 different sizes of paint brushes and of course, paint.  At first, I was intimidated by the painting because I didn't think I had the artistic ability to paint something THAT good, but it was a lot easier than I thought. 

The instructor gave great detailed advice and step-by-step instructions. I believe anyone (no matter how artistic you are) can have a great painting experience with Wine & Canvas.  I highly recommend this event to all wine lovers!  It's perfect for a girls day :)

My finished painting!! :) 

Sunday Funday at the Winery

With all this gloomy, cold weather – what’s a better way to spice up your life by having a relaxing afternoon at the winery?  A friend and I went to Jasper Winery downtown Des Moines Sunday for a movie, popcorn and of course… WINE.  It was a splendid, relaxing afternoon. 

The movie playing was “Dirty Dancing” – a favorite classic of mine, the popcorn was free and the wine was delicious - and I must say very reasonable. We split a bottle of wine between both of us, which cost us only $10.70! So $5 per person for a half a bottle of wine – awesome deal! J We got to sit by the fireplace, watch a movie and chug-a-lug wine.  It was a perfect Sunday Funday - another great CATCH in the Greater Des Moines area!

Jasper Winery has a great selection of delicious wines.  We drank the Bed Head Red from their Winemaker's Selection. It's a fun and easily drinkable sweet red wine.

Be sure to catch all their great events at: http://www.jasperwinery.com/events/winery-events.php 

Their unWINEd and the Summer Concert Series starts in May and I cannot WAIT!!! – Spring is almost here... the countdown begins! 29 DAYS TILL SPRING 

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Christmas

It is that time of year when the stockings are hung, presents are filled-up under the tree and goodies are laid on every table near.

We can get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle and forget about the true meaning of Christmas – The Christmas Spirit.  The spirit of Christmas isn't’ in the expensive items and toys you asked for from Santa, or all the stress in traveling from one place to another.  It’s about BELIEVING… The Christmas spirit is in the moments spending time with family and friends or giving a helping hand to those less fortunate.  Take some time this Christmas and think about the memories of Christmas you remember most.  I bet it’s not about the IPad you received 3 years ago - It’s probably memories about special family traditions or the smile on a strangers face when you were able to be a helping hand. Don’t lose the Christmas spirit by getting wrapped up in the hustle and bustle. May we see the gifts of God all around us - JOY, HOPE and LOVE.. 

Light Up a Child's Life - Jolly Holiday Lights

Light up a Child's Life at Jolly Holiday Lights in Des Moines! Going on now till January 1, 2014 at Water Works Park. I highly recommend taking the drive to see it - plus all proceeds goes towards Make-A-Wish Foundation.

It is the LARGEST light display in Iowa!! 

Yesterday, Anthony and I drove through all the twinkling, jolly-holly lights!  It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.  It was a 3.5 mile long journey through magical light displays.

'No Room at the Inn' Event

I started working at Catholic Charities about a month ago and was able to jump right in by helping coordinate their 9^th Annual No Room at the Inn event which was this past weekend. It was a weekend full of festivities centered on poverty awareness. There is often ‘no room at the inn’ like our family shelter, St. Josephs’, for families living in poverty.  This past year, St. Joseph family Shelter had to turn away 1,089 families or 2596 people because their shelter was full. The weekend of No Room at the Inn consists of three events: Fundraising Reception - Friday night, Poverty Stimulation - Saturday and our Open House - Sunday.

Fundraising Reception

Friday night was a great turn out - around 300+ people attended! This was our first year of the lighting of the ‘Giving Tree’.  It was a night filled with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and socializing.  The Catholic Pastoral Center looked amazing! It was decorated beautifully and looked very elegant.  Check out the YouTube video of the Lighting of the ‘Giving Tree’! http://youtu.be/-PZjJavyOq4

Poverty Stimulation

This was my first time participating in a poverty stimulation. It was set up to be a real-life experience to show what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family – not a game. Right when you walk in you receive a new identity and family. I was a 17 year old boy who dropped out of school and had to help my family survive. I had a 34 year old mother and a 14 year old sister, and we had no income starting out the stimulation.  We had four weeks to learn and experience the realities faced by the poor. 

The Stimulation taught me the difficulties and frustrations that people living in poverty have to face - government agencies, transportation, importance of budgeting money towards your most needed needs and much more.  I highly recommend anyone and everyone to participate in a poverty stimulation to get this hands-on experience – it is truly an eye-opener.

Open House

The open house on Sunday consisted of an afternoon full of choirs, 100+ nativity displays, a live nativity, Christmas treats, the Christmas Story read by Bishop Pates & Bishop Charron and  a ‘window of opportunities’ display for visitors to learn about volunteer and service opportunities through Catholic Charities.  Despite the snowy weather, which made it hard for some to travel, we had a good collection of personal care items that were donated!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this event! Without you we couldn’t make this great event happen! 

Adventures to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

The last three weekends Anthony and I have had to journey up north to Minnesota.  We've been to a Minnesota Vikings game, rode along a Pedal Pub, and joined family & friends bar hopping on a short bus.  We had such a great time riding the Pedal Pub on the Longfellow route in Minnesota, but I've heard there is a "Big Yellow Bike" in Des Moines that has the same concept. --We will need to check that out! These adventures have been a lovely time, but the best was the drive along I-35.  The scenic view of the leaves changing and blue skies made it a perfect drive every weekend.  It's crazy how much more the trees have changed already in Minnesota compared to Des Moines.  That just means that the changing color of leaves has yet to come to Iowa!

We had a grand 'ol time in Minnesota with family & friends, but I can't wait to spend some time in Iowa .