Some of you have been reading my blog for the past fifteen years, and you know I spent much of my childhood and teen years in Iowa. My parents were military, and when my dad retired, we settled in my mom’s hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa. Even though I don’t live there anymore, I still love Ottumwa. It’s not the same as when I was a kid, but it always fills me with nostalgia when I visit. We always make sure to stop by my favorite spots like Grahams, The Canteen, and my grandma’s house.
I’m excited to share this travel recap blog with you today because it’s about one of my favorite places. Next month, I’ll be sharing blogs from Germany and Italy, but deep down, I know they won’t be as special as this one—a place that will always hold a special place in my heart.
Watch this blog come to life in my video diary!
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My mother-in-law flew in on Wednesday to help care for my son while Kyle worked. My mom and I headed to the airport at 4:45 AM for a Des Moines, Iowa flight! I used my flight points with Southwest, which meant we had to take a flight with a stop in Denver. It’s not always easy to find direct flights into Iowa with Southwest. However, my mom and I had fun traveling together, giving me time to drink coffee, read my book, catch up on blogs, and relax. I don’t get much of that as a mom at home; I’m either working or handling mom duties. It was a nice break!
I started A Court of Wings and Ruin and love it so far. Many people told me they didn’t like the third book, but it has hooked me. There is so much to soak in while reading this series, so I’m trying to take my time and savor every chapter. Another girl was reading this book on my flight, and we totally gave each other that look, like we were both wearing the same team shirt.
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When we landed in Denver, we had a few hours to waste. I planned on editing my apple crisp recipe, and we picked up some breakfast to split since we were both getting hungry. We stopped at Modern Market Eatery and ordered the omelet with cheddar cheese, kale, peppers, tomatoes, bacon, ham, toast, and potatoes. Their lunch menu looked really good, so I highly recommend stopping there if you’re in the Denver airport.
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Surety Hotel in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa
In the late afternoon, we finally made it to Des Moines, Iowa, and headed to the Surety Hotel Downtown for the night. We planned to grab dinner and hit the pillow early to wake up, work out, and get ready for a road trip to Ottumwa, Iowa, to see my grandma.
Hey loves! Happy Monday. Hope your week is off to a great start. I know Mondays can be a total drag but you know what makes them better? SHOPPPPPPING. Today, I’m bringing you the only pants you will need this summer at a steal of a price. You know ya girl is all about the bargains so I love to share pieces with you guys that I know are super cute + but also a great deal.
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I hope you’re all staying warm during these January temps. We expect our first snowstorm in the South this weekend, and I am so excited! This will be Tux’s first time playing in the snow, and I can’t wait to see it. Before I log off for the weekend, I wanted to share my wedding photos from our outdoor ceremony at The Greystone Inn in Lake Toxaway! I have always dreamed of an outdoor wedding. Being obsessed with greenery and flowers, it couldn’t be more fitting. I was a little nervous since it had been raining all day, but just a half-hour before walking down the aisle, it stopped raining, and while Kyle and I were exchanging vows, rays of sunshine came poking through the trees. It felt so magical.
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I’ve been staring at this text box for a while, trying to find the words to say. It’s not the blog post I wanted to write, especially not this soon. I will keep this short because thinking about everything too long brings that lump in my throat. I try to go on about my day without thinking too hard and letting all the memories come to me naturally. Before I go on, I want you all to know how grateful and incredibly fortunate I feel to have so much love and prayers poured into me these past few days. I believe in the power of prayer, and I feel every bit of it while we try to heal.
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As much as I am a “summer forever” kind of gal… it is about that time again whether many of us like it or not. It is the time for cold nights, bonfires, pumpkin-flavored everything, big cozy sweaters, hayrides, and loads of fall fun. And let’s be honest: what gets you more excited for a new season than cute new outfits from
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