Des Moines Arts Festival

Today the Nikki's and I decided to go to the Des Moines Arts Festival during the early afternoon. We started our day by taking a picture in front of the sign.

Then we walked around the festival and saw a lot of really neat art work. If I had money or a place to put a lot of the paintings, etc. I would want to buy some. There were also a large section of kids activities that looked like a lot of fun. Here's a couple of the pictures of artwork that I liked.

There was also a little stand by kashi where you learned more about the brand and also got to try samples of kashi brand and burts bees products. We each got a wristband, which you had to scan at the different stations and then at the end you got a little gift. The gift was a reusable bag full of samples and coupons. It was really nice and we were all fans.

Overall, it was a good day at the arts festival it's activities like this that I'm really glad that I'm in Des Moines for the summer. I think next year I'll probably want to go back and look around-possibly a little longer. Here's a picture that is proof that Nikki M was also there because she took the first picture of us and I forgot to get any other pictures of her so she's nicely modeling our gifts.

After that we came home and tanned for a bit on our back deck. Then I went into work and guarded for about 20 minutes before it started to lightening and thunder. We then had to try and wait it out, but it continued so I went home early.

I Refuse

I've been hearing this song on the radio a lot lately and I really like it. I heard Josh Wilson sing it in concert in the fall and also liked it then. I think right now this is my prayer for my life so it's really impacted me this week. I hope that it speaks you to as well.

Free Panda Express

Nikki L came home from work and said that there was a new panda express at the Merle Hay Mall and they were giving out free food from 11-8 and asked if we wanted to go. Of course I was excited for free food so I said yes! The Nikki's, Lindsay and I then started the drive to the mall. When we got there the line was really long so we got in line. Nikki M and Lindsay were being negative nancy's about having to wait in line, but they did it. We each got 2 entrees, a side, and drink for free! I love free things and we only waited in line for like an hour. They had things really well organized and so it moved pretty fast. We brought it home and ate it. It was a lot of food and I couldn't finish it. Overall it was a good time chatting with the roommates and catching up even if Nikki and Lindsay were a little whiny :) We all really enjoyed our food and our wonderful fortunes. Mine said 'Express your talents in music art and dance.'
Here's some pics from our wait in line.

This is also a couple of pictures of our usual nights in dragonfly watching tv [the Nikki's will also be happy I put these up]...

A Family Day

Saturday morning my mom, grandma, and Carina came to pick me up so we could head to the farmer's market. It was good to see my family again and as always great to walk around the market. We tried a variety of foods as we slowly walked downtown. First we tried some Bosnian food (I believe that's what it was anyway). It was ok, but not super good-mostly just tasted like the bread.

Then we were tried a spinach and cheese pupusa from el salvador I believe. I always read Iowa Girl Eats blog and she always says how good they are from the farmers market so I said we should try it. The four of us also shared this and it was really good.

Then we of course had to sample some great harvest bread, peanut butter, and other random things. I also bought a dutch letter to eat later as well.

My grandma also bought some plants otherwise we just bought food. My mom and grandma of course also had to look at all the jewelry and some clothes at a couple of the vendors. Carina and I judged the outfits from a far.

After the market my mom, Carina, and I walked to the science center for Body Worlds Vital. This is an traveling exhibit that is currently in Des Moines. It is donated bodies that have been preserved so you can see the nerves, muscles, bones, etc. It was so cool. We spent almost 2 hours going through the exhibit and looking at all the different body parts as well as reading the information. This is an exhibit that I would definitely recommend you go and see especially if you're interested in health care, etc. As Carina and I have both taken anatomy we really enjoyed seeing these body parts in real life-not in an animal or a picture. We couldn't take photos inside the exhibit, which kind of stunk, but we took one outside of it next to the sign.

Then my grandma picked us up [she had been shopping in east village as she didn't think she would enjoy the exhibit] and we went to valley west mall. There we went to Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale and got a few things. Carina and I went to a variety of different stores-I ended up buying shorts at american eagle. My grandma and mom also went to other random stores and bought some clothes.

After our little shopping trip they took me back to my house. Carina had to work at the pool in the evening so they had to leave. Overall it was a good day! I would again recommend you go and see body worlds vital while it's still in Des Moines!

Grilling update

I thought I'd update you all on how my grilling experience has been since the last time I talked about it. I've grilled 2 times since the chicken and burger episode. Last Friday the Nikki's and I decided to grill burgers. They actual started the charcoal as I was still at work, but they let the lighter fluid sit on the charcoal and then we waited for the coals to get grey before putting the burger on. The burgers turned out pretty well-2 of them were still a little pink, but overall they were really good!

The second grilling experience was with Carina and the brats. I got the charcoal all started and waited for them to get grey. I then boiled the brats in beer before putting them on the grill. They actually turned out really well and Carina and I both thought that they tasted similarly to Dad's so I would count that as a success.

I'll continue to perfect my grilling skills this summer and possibly update you all on it! Later this week I'll probably either make burger or brats and I'm hopeful that they'll turn out well :)

"You know who you look like? My grandma Rose"

I've now spent quite a bit of time at the pool. I've actually lifeguarded about 2 1/2 times and then had 1 1/2 days of going into work waiting an hour and then having the pool close. So far I've enjoyed the pool. It's quite a bit different from the Hampton swimming pool. There are lots of people that come when it's nice out as well as there are about 25 guards that work each day.

I still haven't really made many friends. I do now know quite a few more people and have actually talked with them more. It's hard working somewhere when you're the only one not from the area and everyone else knows at least one other person.

This week swimming lessons started so that has helped me get to know some of these guards. I'm enjoying teaching the lessons. I teach 2 different sessions one is level 3 kids and the other is advanced water pups (so kids under 5). They are actually all ok swimmers and I just have a couple of kids that are scared of the water. Today I had to take a little girl to the bathroom during the session that I was on break and the girl told me that I looked like her grandma Rose. I'm still not sure exactly how to take this statement. Most of the time recently I've been told that I look like I'm in high school. I guess to this 5 year old though I appeared to be her grandma.

I hope that the next few days end up being nice so I can work on my tan and wondeful lifeguard tanning lines ;)

A sister comes to town

Late Friday night the one and only Carina Hanson came to Des Moines to visit me for the weekend. It was a good visit and I love spending time with her and chatting with her. Friday night we watched a little tv and then went to my room and caught up on each other lives for a while and it was lovely. On Saturday while the Nikki's did yoga in the park...

Carina and I took a lap around Gray's Lake and then decided to rest while they finished up and do a mini photo shoot. The pics of Carina are her modeling and the one of me is her sneak attack.

After our little visit to Gray's we went to the Farmer's Market. I was very excited as I hadn't been to the market this summer and normally I would have been a few times without actually living in Des Moines.  It was pretty crowded as we walked around looking at things. I ended up buying some tomatoes [they ended up being SUPER good]. I also got a dutch letter and a breakfast burrito.

After the market we went home and all showered. Then Carina, Nikki M, and myself went to Jordan Creek and did a little shopping. I ended up buying a shirt from the Gap that was on sale and Carina bought a ton of new things included glitter toms. Nikki L met us at the mom and we continued our shopping adventure before going to the moving Something Borrowed. I liked the movie [the book of course is better, but the movie was still good].

We went home and grilled some brats and had some more food. Then Carina and I watched Mean Girls 2 with Lindsay. This of course is another quality movie. Then we went to bed and Carina left in the morning as she had to work at the pool.

I really enjoyed her visit here and can't wait until Sat. when she comes along with my mom and grandma and we all go to the Farmer's Market and then Body World!!

Missing Ethiopia

A lot of things have happened in the past week or so that have made me really miss Ethiopia. First off of course is that this time last year I was starting to prepare to go. I was trying to finish up my fundraising and getting this ready to go. We flew out July 5th (I believe that was the date) so right now I would have been just a few weeks away from leaving the country.

The missing Ethiopia really started to happen around last Thursday as my friend Amanda was preparing to leave for China again.

Amanda and Autumn at Snookie's during her going away dinner/dessert

She went to China last year with Intervarsity and now is going on more of a school trip. Anyway on Thursday while she was thinking about her last trip Courtney and I started talking more about Ethiopia. That just got me thinking more and more about how much I miss the country, the people I met in Ethiopia, as well as bonding with the members of my team. It's great to continue to think about the country, but sometimes I really just want to be back there. I want to be with the kids at KVI and see their faces everyday.

How can you not miss these faces?

or these ones?

I also was reminded how much I miss Ethiopia as well as the people that I went with when I saw Mandy at the farmer's market on Saturday. I was just walking down the street and heard my name then I saw her. It was great to hug her and talk for a couple of minutes. I wish we could have caught up more (which I really hope to do sometime this summer since she lives nearby) but the farmer's market is not really the location for this.

I think I also really miss the constant focus on God. In foreign countries, on mission trips, etc. The main focus is doing God's will and drawing closer to him for comfort, strength, etc. My mind was consistently focused on God. As I've been home through school and everything else I slowly draw further and further away from that connection with God. I know in my head he's always there, but to intentionally focus on Him I haven't been very good at. I also think this summer with my schedule and not having IV and DG bible study weekly to think about my relationship with God has been bad. I've been going to church, but that's only 1 thing a week and I haven't tried to do much else. I'm really going to try and be more intentional with reading my Bible, praying, and/or journaling the rest of the summer and hopefully it'll be succesfull.

Overall I miss Ethiopia-the people, the relationship, etc. I'm honestly jealous of my roommate Lindsay's brother who goes to Creighton and will be going to Ethiopia this summer with IV. I know that the experience I had in Ethiopia will never be repeated, but one can hope can't they?

If you're just now reading my blog, which I highly doubt as I think Traci's the only one that still reads it and haven't looked at my Ethiopia blog and would like more info about my trip then check out my blog from the trip.

I'll leave you with another picture!

Grilling

Well I've now done something else that I consider grown up. On Friday I went out and bought a little grill. Then when I got home I got some chicken that I marinaded and also some peppers. Then I also made some hamburger patties to put in the freezer. I felt very grown up as I did both of these things. I also put the grill together after getting the meat ready to go.

Then after work I got out the grill and started lighting the charcoal. I only needed a little help from my dad on the phone-as I couldn't quite figure out how to light the charcoal and keep it lit. With his expertise I then got it going. I then cooked 3 chicken breasts for my supper. I ate one of the chicken breast along with the peppers and parmesan cheese and raspberries. The other 2 chicken breasts I put in the refrigerator for later use.

On Saturday I decided to try and grill hamburgers. I still have more to learn about grilling burgers. I didn't let the charcoal light long enough and get ashy so it took a long time to get the burgers cooked. Also I've been using the lid, which I think makes it more of a smoker. The burgers had more of a charcoaly taste and weren't that good.

This summer I plan on perfecting my grilling so that by the end of the summer I can grill up a storm!

Snookies

What is a great treat on a hot summer day?? Ice cream of course. We decided to go on a little walk to Snookie's Ice Cream in Des Moines to get some ice cream on Thursday. It's about a mile walk there and then we got our ice cream and walked back.

I love going to hometown ice cream shops over chain stores like DQ or McDonalds, etc. Not that I don't like a good blizzard or McFlurry on occasion, but given the choice of a shake where I can pick the flavors I will do that every time.

Thursday I decided that a chocolate shake with peanut butter sounded good. It might be the only thing that I've had at snookies-but it's really good. Next time I think I'm going to try a crunch cone.

Anyway I'm really enjoying summer so far and the random adventures that we've been going on throughout Des Moines like zoo brew, snookies, etc.

Right now our house if very warm so it's nice to get out and do other things every once in a while.

Here are some pics of our snookie's adventure:

Zoo Brew

A couple of weeks ago I got a groupon for 4 tickets to the Blank Park Zoo for Zoo Brew. Today the Nikki's, Ashley, and I decided to go today. It was a lot of fun. We saw the animals around the zoo. My favorite animals are the bigger animals like tigers, lions, and giraffes. We also sampled some wine from area vineyards. There were a couple that I actually liked so that was good. One of the vineyards also does concerts throughout the summer so we're thinking about going to one of those this summer. There was also a band that played and Nikki L and I got margaritas and Ashley and Nikki M got some more wine. It was a lot of fun to be outside today, see some animals, and hang out with friends. Overall it was a good experience and I would recommend that anyone older than 21 in the Des Moines area this summer check it out!
Here's some pictures of the evening: