Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market

We had a super awesome time with our friends at downtown at the farmer's market.  There is so much yummy goodness I usually end up dragging all my heavy bags back to the car.  There is always live music, live performers, and lots of healthy treats.  We found so many great photo opportunities for Faith, Charlie, and their friend, Melvida, to pose with.  I love the mixture of art, fresh produce, and fun, I think you'll love it too!

Yes, that is a giant dutch letter….i'll take one to go, please.

My mouth is watering just looking at the pic.

There is something about farmer's market flowers that make my heart leap.

Especially the mixed wild flowers.

This guy's tap dancing was fantastic!

Enjoying a Twinkie, minion cupcake
on the way out.

The market is from 7 AM-Noon every Saturday going on now through October 25.  If you want a list of vendors, a map, or anything else about the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market just click here!

Dia de los Muertos Festival at the Des Moines Art Center

I have this fascination with the Day of the Dead.  I think it's so beautiful that people do so much to remember their loved ones who have passed away.  It's fairly comforting when thinking about death.  Anyway, every year our local Art Center hosts a Dia de Los Muertos Festival and we've gone to it every year.  They have the coolest mariachi band from Omaha, Nebraska called Mariachi Zapata.  Every year there is music, dancing, food, beverages and a lot of other fun entertainment in addition to the regular beauty of the Art Center.

The year the festival honored Warren Morrow (1977-2012) there was a display and short video shown on who he was and his life.

The mariachi band was so lively, ignore the pun, festive and incredibly talented. 

Day of the dead bread was served for free, along with hot chocolate.

Making day of the dead crafts. 

We made skull flags and the traditional tissue flowers.

As I said, the beauty of the Art Center is always a fantastic bonus.

I know it's graffiti, but it was pretty cool looking.

For information on Mariachi Zapata, please visit their website here, or visit their Facebook page here!
For information on the Des Moines Art Center just click here!

Visiting the LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter & the Pleasant Hill Fire Station

 I no longer work in the hospital's emergency room, because I wanted to focus on a job that would benefit me after I graduate, so I'm now interning in a marketing department.  However, I still love and miss the people I used to work with, and luckily I still get to see them.  My friend Tina, who is on the LifeFlight crew, invited me and the kids up to see the helicopter.  I jumped at the chance, because Charlie loves rescue vehicles and Faith would think it was cool too.

Tina also works for the Pleasant Hill Fire Department.  Lucky for us, because she also gave us a private tour of the fire station.  The kids loved pressing the buttons, sitting in the big fire truck and setting off the lights.  Our friend's Connor and Jill came with us again! I loved seeing Faith dressed up in the gear.

Thanks Tina!!!

Exploring the ambulance!