Announcing the Great Ape Race

I recently stumbled upon the Austin Gorilla Run, and I just have to wonder: Why doesn't Des Moines have something similar?!? I'm not even a runner (seriously, if someone was chasing me I'd just say uncle) but I have to think that this would go over BIG in a town that also hosts the 'biggest cross country race in North America'  and the Des Moines Marathon, and we could even raise money for Des Moines' own Great Ape Trust. It could be the Great Ape Race! In Austin, participants had to pay $100 and they had over 1,000 runners - I'm no mathematician, but that's a sh*t ton of money all from people who wanted to run around in their monkey suits.

I really think we could do it! Who's with me?*

*disclaimer: just because I'm 100% on board with this idea, does not change my view on running, so by 'with me' what I mean is, who will run this race that I will plan, support, and watch encouragingly from the sidelines?

50 and 50

As their website states "the 50 and 50 project, curated by Dan Cassaro, attempts to construct a handsome new way of looking at the United States. Fifty designers, one per state, have illustrated their state motto: a kind of designer's atlas." They just unveiled all 50 state designs, and although Iowa's isn't at the top of my list, design-wise, I still like it enough to want to call a copy my very own and the concept is just plain cool.



Maybe we can get a few different ones from various states we have lived in. Colorado's print isn't bad:

And South Dakota's, although having a decidedly cheesy motto ("Under God the people rule"?!? What year was this created in, 1992?!? I feel like the author had to have tightrolled jeans on when they came up with that one! Or perhaps it would be better suited for the Rocky Mountain high state? Hmmm....), has a nice simple look:

All I have to say is, thank god I don't have any affiliation with New Jersey (as if I haven't thought that enough through the years):

You can also get this beauty (and the others, to be fair) on stretched canvas. Wrong on so many levels.

March Madness

Now THIS is some March Madness I can get behind! (And, get more to my own behind as well, but that's another story...)  Mmmm, pizza! Is it sad that we've experienced pizza at at least 10 of these locations already? Sad, or awesome? You're right, I think it's awesome, too.

Found courtesy of Des Moines is Not Boring.

Yes, please.

The Iowa State Fair is right around the corner (27 days, 4 hours, and 50 minutes from RIGHT NOW, to be exact) and in preparation of this fun-filled event, they have released the list of food-on-a-stick that will be available at the 2010 fair. Here's just a sampling (full list here):


■Frozen s’more on-a-stick
■Chocolate-covered key lime round on-a-stick
■Pickle on-a-stick (mmm...)
■Pork chop on-a-stick
■Corn dog
■Cheese on-a-stick
■Turkey drumstick
■Fried pickle on-a-stick (oh, even better!)
■Monkey Tails (chocolate covered banana on-a-stick)
■Deep fried Snickers bar on-a-stick
■Fudge Puppy (waffle drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream) (yes, please!)
■Chili Dog on-a-stick
■Potato Lollipop (4 thick slices of russet potato deep fried and on-a-stick with dipping sauces) (where do I sign up??!?)
■Pineapple on-a-stick (Fresh pineapple dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried) (nothing makes fresh fruit better than the words "batter" and "fried")

Oh my goodness, I think I have to start a paper chain countdown today. This is a pregnant woman's dream (minus the August heat and Iowa humidity - a small price to pay for food on a stick!).   I will probably end up looking like one of Lawrence's State Fair Bingo Card answers (ask him if you don't know what I'm talking about), but that's okay. You only live once, and the state fair only comes but once a year. Let the lines begin!

Man Cave

A few weeks ago, Lawrence went to a tupperware Man Cave party. If these haven't hit your neighborhood yet, they soon will, so wives, hide the checkbooks now. Our neighbor Andy hosted the little shindig (you can read more about the famous Andy here), and even though I thought I was safe from a sale since our grill was BROKEN, Lawrence still managed to come home with $60 worth of brats and pork chops. What's that saying about selling ice to an eskimo? Yeah. Oh, and did I mention we then had to spend $40 to get the grill fixed? Double yeah. I don't want to hear it the next time I come home from a jewelry party with a new bracelet or earrings, boys.

View From The Top

Previously we blogged about the Leadership Iowa class I'm in. It's been a very cool experience to date and I thought I'd share some photos with you from our "Government" session a few weeks back.

These are some of my more brave counterparts who climbed the "secret" steps above the Capital dome to get to the tower. It's very rare for people to get to go here so I snapped two quick photos. Enjoy the Des Moines skyline!

Oh, and as a reference point we were standing in the little white widow's tower on top of the gold dome!

Surprise, surprise.

There's snow in the forecast. Again. We got a light dusting of 11 inches on Monday, so why not bookend the end of the week with a few more inches? That'd be really great. Thanks.

Have I mentioned that I keep my thermostat at a balmy 62 degrees in the winter? And that I work from home? Just so you get the full picture of my suffering this winter.

Spring? Spring?!? Where are you? Please come quickly! I don't think my spirit can take much more of this white stuff.

Sunny Days are (NOT) here again!

This just in... we have a new record here in Iowa! 55 consecutive days with 4+ inches of snow on the ground. I'm starting to think we live in the U.P. Awesome. And just in case you were wondering, the 10 day forecast is calling for more snow. And no temps higher than 33. I'm thinking we're setting another record tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that. And the day after that. Probably up through Easter Memorial Day.

Home, sweet Iowa. Oh, how I didn't miss your dreary dismal winters when I lived in Denver. Thanks for the constant reminder of what the color gray looks like. I had almost forgotten, that is until the last 55 days came.

Okay, I'm off to refill my Seasonal Affect Disorder prescription, buy a sun lamp, and scope out Internet sales to warm, tropical climates. Who's with me?

PS- I'd post a picture, but it would look something like this:

Toot, toot: A Closer Look

Des Moines Business Record is a weekly print/online publication of the who's who and what's what in the business world in central Iowa. Aparently, this week Lawrence is the who's who. But we already knew that, huh?

Celebrity Run-in: Beaverdale Style

Last month was the annual Beaverdale Fall Festival, and what is a Beaverdale Fall Festival without a photo op with Dale the Beaver? (Yes, of course our neighborhood has a mascot! Do you honestly think Lawrence would live in a neighborhood that didn't?!? Have you met my husband?!?)

Dale was in the parade later that day, so that means he's pretty much Rock Star status in our book. You should be in awe of us that we even got to get our picture taken next to him. I mean, we did have to push a few kids out of the way and elbow our way through the line, but all's fair in celebrity sightings, right? Don't worry, there were only a few bumps and scrapes on the kids and I'm sure they healed just fine.

Toot, toot! Part 2

Why yes, it is sometimes deflating to live under the same roof as someone so talented, involved and community-minded as LC.

And yes, my feelings of being an under-achiever do increase with each award and accolade he receives.

But yes, I do still love him anyway and I'm proud to be connected to such an accomplished guy.

So yes, it's with only pride in my heart that I share yet another example of why my husband is indeed a big deal.

Lawrence was selected for the 2009-2010 Leadership Iowa class! You can read more about the program here, but the gist of it is that he was one of thirty out of over 200 nominees/applicants to be selected for this year-long experience. His first session is later this week so if he ever gets back on the blogging bandwagon maybe he'll tell you about it.

Memphis, Eat Your Heart Out!

My dad told us about this great little BBQ joint, Woody's Smoke Shack, a while ago (and by told us about it, what I mean to say is that he couldn't stop talking about it and took us on a wild goose chase in the wrong direction to try and find it to no avail) but it wasn't until we were in San Jose, Ca recently that we figured out it does indeed exist and exactly where it was... thanks to our friends on Good Morning America who voted it one of the top 4 BBQ places in the country!



So we ventured out to give it a try recently and I have to tell you, it was as good as they say! Granted, it's a little hole in the wall, blink and you'll miss it sort of place with all of four tables inside and three crammed on the patio, but now that we know where it is we will definitely find it again. If you're thinking of coming to visit us be sure and let us know if you like BBQ and we'll show you how it's done in Iowa!