Sure, summer is swell. But I’ve always been a shameless lover of autumn, especially in Des Moines. Whether it’s breathing in the first crisp mornings or unpacking favorite sweaters, there’s something extra special about this time of year.
So in honor of the first days of fall, I’m sharing some of my favorite things to do in and around Des Moines to take advantage of this spectacular season.Continue Reading…
state Disclosure: Our trip to fair was hosted by the Roseville Visitors Association and the Minnesota State Fair. However, all opinions are my own.
When we first started planning our trip to the Minnesota State Fair, I knew we would spend a good amount of our day focusing on one thing—the food. While we’re regular Iowa State Fair goers, I have to admit that I was beyond impressed by the Minnesota fair’s fare.Continue Reading…
After spending a few days in Kansas City for work, I’m back in Des Moines and excited to spend a few days enjoying summer in my little city—patio drinks, a trip to the “beach” and maybe even a bit of sunburn. But in the meantime, here are my favorite bits of Internet from the past week:
How to read in a bar.
Some good tips to remember.
Reddit users agree—these are the funniest gifs of all time.
God bless the potato salad guy.Continue Reading…
Happy Fourth of July from Olio in Iowa!
It’s 80/35 time here in Des Moines, which means lots of live music, libations and lounging with friends. While I’m off work and enjoying the fireworks, here are my favorite bits of Internet from this week:
One guy is asking people for their best life advice and posting a new one every day.
David Sedaris on his love for his Fitbit. I’m almost convinced to order one.Continue Reading…
While it’s a little tricky to see through the glare of the window, this tiny shed in Sac City, Iowa houses the world’s largest ball of popcorn. Fun fact: this 2,175-population town is home to the Noble Popcorn Farms, “one of the finest popcorn growing areas in the world” according to the company’s website.
In 2009, the good people of Sac City built the more than 5,000-pound popcorn ball using 900 pounds of popcorn combined with a sickening amount of sugar and dry syrup. It took them more than 12 hours and the ball stands at just over eight feet tall. While that all sounds—and looks—pretty unappetizing, the popcorn ball is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and is definitely worth a visit.
The popcorn ball is located right next door to the Sac City Museum—open only four hours a week from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Though we arrived during these hours, the museum was unfortunately closed, but you can still wander its grounds and admire the many barn quilts Sac City is famous for (more on those later).
World’s Largest Ball of Popcorn, 13th and Main streets in Sac City, IA
I’m a huge lover of pasta. Actually I’m just a huge lover of carbs in general. Especially in the gloomier months though, I love sprucing up my pasta with fresh veggies and savory cheeses.
Last month when I was in Chicago I picked up Béatrice Peltre‘s gorgeous cookbook, “La Tartine Gourmande,” partially to inspire myself to cook more adventurously and partially because the photography is simply gorgeous.
So in an attempt to carry through with my 22nd birthday list and try something new, I tried my hand at one of the book’s simpler recipes.
The recipe below is my own interpretation as a number of the ingredients were foods I a) don’t like or b) can’t afford. The original recipe called for scallops – which I love but on a college student budget are a little unreasonable – so I substituted shrimp and omitted the red pepper and celery.
What you’ll need:
Cook pasta according to directions on package. Stir in 1 Tb olive oil and set aside.
Heat remaining 2 Tb oil in pan medium. Add onion, lime and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes before adding zucchini. When vegetables are tender and fully cooked add spaghetti and shrimp to pan.
Toss in cilantro and parmesan and serve. Bon appetite!
Yesterday some of my oldest and dearest friends got together to catch up and celebrate the holidays while we’re all still in town. Our party was a potluck of sorts and involved lots of old stories, tons of good food and copious amounts of wine from Trader Joe’s.Continue Reading…
Along with the same soft spot that I have for Chicago, I have an equally profound love for the city’s history. From city planning to legends of hauntings and favorite mob boss hang-outs, I can’t get enough quirky factoids about my hometown.
Consequently, my mom absolutely loves to buy walking tour Groupons – generally with the intention that I’m going to be the ones using them as both walking and organized touring don’t usually appeal to my dad or brother. So naturally since I was in town for a few days we decided to embark on an urban adventure and explore the twisting tunnels of the Chicago Pedway.
Under the direction of a fabulous guide from Chicago’s Finest River Walk Tours, we set out across the Loop to see what the elaborate tunnel system had to offer.
Though I’m not the largest fan of enclosed spaces or underground structures, I absolutely loved the random bits of trivia that we collected along the way. For instance, I now know that prior to the building of the Michigan Avenue bridge, the north part of the famous thoroughfare was named Pine Street because of the large number of pine trees in that part of the city.
While I don’t have many days left in Chicago, you can rest assured that there will be another walking tour waiting for me the next time I come home. Still to come: a chocolate tasting tour and a expedition to try some of the best cupcakes in Chicago.
