Iowa Orchards

Falling leaves...but not falling temps on today's trip to Iowa Orchards in Urbandale. What a beautiful morning to get out and...

experience nature...

bump around on a hayrack...

enjoy Miss Addy (the cutest, sweetest niece EVER!)...

and dip our tootsies in...corn??

There was plenty to see and do...slides, face-painting, tire maze, and lots of pumpkins/gourds/goodies to pick from...

Thanks to the fam for a great day out! :) 

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P.S...just one more pic...b/c she's so darn adorable!

Cheesin' it up :)

Start Somewhere Wa1k

According to the 2010 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index^®, Iowa is #19 in the nation when it comes to being physically, emotionally and mentally healthy. We know we can do better, so we plan to claim the #1 spot by 2016. It’s ambitious, but with your help, we can help change Iowa and show the rest of the nation the road to wellness. Take the pledge to help create a healthier, happier Iowa today!

--http://www.iowahealthieststate.com/

Instead of enjoying my usual trip home over the lunch hour today, I did the Start Somewhere Wa1k in Altoona. The 1k took place all over the state, with all sorts of folks participating. Since it wasn't a very long distance, it was a great way for people who aren't necessarily physically active to get involved! This was definitely a welcome change from my boring routine on the treadmill...

Leah (a co-worker) and myself

Got to experience the pretty scenery along the trails from the Altoona Campus to Prairie Heritage Civic Plaza...and the fresh, fall air! :)

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Enough idyllic chatter...it's now time to clean my house...not nearly as fun as a leisurely stroll...

A Finished Project...

I haven't had any time to do projects this week...hopefully will get a couple done this weekend. Until then...here are some pics of our basement. We finished working on it a few months ago...although, there are some little things I still want to do. :)

Some "before's"... 

And...."after's"...

Hard to see...but I love the green chandelier! It serves no other purpose than to be pretty. :)

Where we keep all our Costco treasures. :)

The bathroom turned out pretty great! Painted every surface...including the floor (which, unfortunately, I don't have a picture of...it's dark grey, fyi).

A free towel bar and some old wall decor from my Grandma got new life with some black spray paint.

Vintage chalkboard, zebra rug from Ebay, and spray-painted chairs...love! I don't dig the couch and ottoman...but slipcovers are not a necessity right now. :)

My crafting table...I've added all my scrapbooking stuff, etc. Maybe I should actually do some scrapbooking, huh?!?  My favorite part are the milk crates, turned shelves! :)

I really didnt' like the ugly wooden doors on the closets...so they had to go! In their place...art deco inspired curtains from World Market. I loved the fuscia. :)

A couple more curtain panels hide all my "junk" under the stairs. ;)

This project was what first jump-started my courage to think outside of the box with redoing a space. I used vintage materials and painted almost anything I could. I'm so happy with the end result!

Just In Time...

Got home from a tough day and found this little gem in my mailbox...all the way from an Etsy shop based in Thailand...

Just a simple leather bracelet. I ordered it weeks ago...and have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. Isn't it lovely? The best part...it was only $5! :)

I must get some sleep now...nite nite!

 

What Cheer Flea Market

Do you have a place that makes you giddily happy? You can picture it so clearly; the exact set-up, people, sights, smells? For me, it's the What Cheer Flea Market. (http://www.whatcheerfleamarket.com/) This was my 3rd time going and I have fallen even more in love each time! My partners-in-crime are Sister and Chelsea. We kind of have a routine down, which is nice...makes navigating the throngs of treasure-hunters a bit easier. :)

We started our day in Pella at Jaarsma Bakery...

Drooling...

Next stop...What Cheer. But wait, what's that over there? Another antiques extravaganza? Not really, it was just a garage, filled with nominally cool objects...but I did come away with 2 frames and a mirror...I hear my spray paint cans a' callin. ;)

So we finally make it...shopping cart and all...

Aren't we just snazzy...and didn't have to be jealous of all those folks with carts...we had our own!

The flea market is full-up with characters...this guy was one of my faves!

Added a little "class" to the day with his tunes :)

No worries...

G.I. Chelsea's here to stop anyone from getting in the way of our shopping!

Lunch Time!!

I was so excited to eat these nummy nachos that some sweet church ladies had made! Little did I know there were a couple of hairs lurking in them when I took this pic. (Sorry if that grossed anyone out...)

After an experience like that I needed some humor...and here it was...

What's a lap robe you ask? Well, I'll tell you...it's a blanket. Great marketing, though, huh?!?

Last time here, we brought my brother-in-law's big ol' Ford truck...and ended up fitting our purchases in the cab...totally not needing the space of the truck bed. This time around was a different story...

I'm sure Chelsea's Nissan Murano has never seen so much stuff! There were tons of gawkers as we pushed and prodded to fit everything. And then, I got to ride with a milk jug b/w my legs the whole way home. It was worth it...what a day!

And a drum roll, please...here's what I picked up...

Some sweet new kicks! ($20)

I have 2 more of these wall-hangy things that were my Grandma's. Those have been painted black and grace the wall in a basement bathroom. These will be painted too...but might have a more luxurious home. ;)
($1 each)

A couple of catch-all's for a dresser (only paid 1.50 for both!)

A whole mess of frames, metal, and a mirror. Hoping to transform most of this and use it as a base for an Etsy store! :)

Last, but not least, this blanket...I love it! It's the first bed linen I've bought for the guest room-redo...and I think it's a great jumping-off point! ($5)

In all...a fabulous day!

It's in the Bag!

Tiny girls' nite out w/ Sister and Addy Cakes tonite at a Thirty-One party. My first one...and it was a success. Got to catch-up a bit, nibble on some nummy foods, and get some ideas for my next bag purchase. I didn't buy anything (Sister picked out a fun new purse organizer), but I do have my eye on this little number...maybe for Christmas (although, that list is quickly becoming a bit too large)...

Perfect for a weekend getaway!

Tote-Ally Awesome Beach Tote, Circle Spirals

http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog/page26_27

It's off to bed w/ me now...have to be well-rested for the What Cheer Flea Market tomorrow. Can.Not.Wait!!!!

Today

A sneak peek at my day...nothing special...but it happened nonetheless...

*4:20 a.m. -- alarm went off  :(
*5:00 a.m. -- went to the gym
*7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. -- worked
*6:00 p.m. -- Thai food with  friends, Ammon and Fifi :)
*7:00 p.m. -- came home to find that one of my flower pots had blown over...spilling its contents (I now have an extra "to do" for my list :/
*Presently -- jotting down a quick post...then off to watch Parenthood on my beloved DVR! :) :)

P.S....this was my fortune at dinner...I dig it!

I like to think that every experience I have and every person I meet has an impact on who I am...ever-changing.