Bike Expo/RAGBRAI Route Announcement

A little homemade goats milk vanilla and cinnamon ice cream to go along with my churros for dinner at Dos Rios.

And then... the big reveal... (the following photos courtesy of The Des Moines Register)

...the RAGBRAI Route Announcement festivities.  This year they had a photo booth.  So. Much. Fun.  I liked this year's glass better than last years.

Words With Friends

Eating Thai Sticks at Fongs Pizza in honor of National Peanut Butter Day.

Found ice cream at the coffee shop across the street.  The others opted for double espressos.

And did a little climbing at the sculpture park.  Did a few pull ups off the O and the P.  What can I say?  The "op" was there and I took it.  No words were harmed in this activity.

Breakfast of Champions

Day 22: 

Breakfast of champions.... on the days I haven't been reporting in, I've probably been eating P28 bagels with my ice cream... my new favorite way to start the day.  For the record. A container this size lasts me about four days.

After Seven Years

Day 15:  Headed out for one last hurrah tonight at the ARFC South gym stomping grounds.  My ice cream of the day might be motivating me.  Good pre-workout?  I think so.

After seven years, I had a bit of a break up with my gym today.  Craig doesn't use it enough to feel like renewing for himself and they couldn't give me a very good deal on a monthly rate, so I opted for a switch to Anytime Fitness where they would give me a discounted rate for Craig's law enforcement background at a monthly rate instead of lump sum, up front.  And they added in unlimited tanning.  I couldn't pass it up.  So, after seven years, I will be going to a different gym in the morning.  That's a weird feeling.

You Are Funny, But...

Gavyn: "Mom, you are funny. But I sure hope you don't do a snow angel in your swimsuit again."  See Exhibit A.

Hard not to love a compliment like that.

And... I'll show YOU addiction. Day 13's ice cream recommendation could be a dangerous one for me - CAN'T TELL ME NO! COOKIE DOUGH by 2nd St. Creamery. This was the kind recommended to me and that I was looking for a few days ago when I came across Truck Stop Fudge.  Also? I have good friends who feed my Ted Kooser poetry addiction, too.  Look what came in the mail.  I love sure signs.

Ice Cream for Breakfast

Done! Day 11: Ice cream for breakfast? Yes, please. Post workout (I'd say the above picture is proof, except that person in the red coat talking is me... hmmm....) brunch (two meals in one) with my good friend, Sarah, to discuss healthy lunch ideas. Heh.  Been way to long.  The Cafe was good to accommodate me and add a little scoop of vanilla bean to my Tres Leche French Toast. It was as good as it sounds. I think I killed about five birds with one stone on this deal. And no... I am not naked. In case you were wondering. The plate was just that big.

My Happy Accident

My happy accident. This mirror was supposed to set on the mantel over the fireplace... only it was too big. I liked it so much I found another place for it.  The mantel space is a work in progress (still figuring it out), but there's another present I like sitting there... a canvas print courtesy of a online holiday "flash deal". I'm getting things so much to my liking, that I might not want to move to Texas after all.



Someone recommended I try 2nd St. Creamery's cookie dough ice cream, but they didn't have it in stock.  That means... Day 10: Dinner brought to you by 2nd St. Creamery.  Truck Stop Fudge!

DQ Detour

Day #9 of ice cream brought to you by a little detour on the way home from DQ.  Used a little gift I found in my purse from a co-worker/friend.  Yesterday's ice cream (Day #8) courtesy of McDonalds... a vanilla ice cream cone.  In case you were wondering.

January Survival Continues

Was too lazy to go out and get ice cream... this cold weather drains my motivation... so I just had Girl Scout Samoa ice cream drizzled in warm chocolate syrup for dinner. Seven for seven, baaabbbbyyyy!!!! I officially declare January the month of the ice cream. Craig just looked at me and asked, "Is that what you're having for dinner? When I confirmed, he shook his head and said, "You are your Father's daughter."

 In other news, I had more success with ice bubbles this morning.

Mint Chocolate Chip Soup

Day 6 brought to you by mint chocolate chip ice cream, extreme cold, and neighbor kids here playing because school got canceled because it's too cold (that's a first!)...

... taking a break with some chocolate soup.  At this point, it's called survival.

Does It Make Me a Bad Mommy

Does it make me a bad Mommy if I overhear my oldest son (who is having trouble getting something to stay where he wants it to) say, "Son of Nutcracker!" and I secretly laugh instead of correcting him? Heh.

Or if I get amused when I overhear Gavyn tell Daddy, "You need to exercise, Chubby!"?  I feel like these boys get away with a lot.  Someday it probably won't be so cute.

Oh... and this just happened.

Day 5 of ice cream eating = Success!

Christmas Gift from the Sea

My Christmas gift from the sea. The sea has always been good to me. All smiles.  A friend brought me a grocery bag of seashells from Florida.  I sat and cleaned the sand off them for several days and soaked them in bleach water.  This is what it yielded.  I consider this Step 1 done.  I have a project in mind for them, so stay tuned.

And in case there was any doubt about the awesomeness of my friends.... here are a few "squirrel" gifts from a good friend of mine and her daughter.  Smiles are few and far between for me at this point in winter.  So thankful to focus on the things that make me smile.

The residual sand from my gift of shells plus my squirrel gift made for a pretty awesome centerpiece, dontcha think?

And lest I forget... the ice cream of the day?  A jamocha shake from Burgie's.  Dinner = Heaven!

And Again

And again with the cherries.  And the ice cream.  And the Buffalo Wild Wings.  And the reconnections with old friends.

 A good friend of Daddy's high school days (and fellow track star) was home over Christmas as his Mom died just a few days prior to the holiday.  Kekoa in particular really latched on to Uncle Darryl.  We went out to eat at BWW's with him and his wife, Germaine, before they escaped back to Texas.  Was good to see him and Day 3 of the ice cream resolution was a raving success.  We plan to make our way down south to visit them in Houston over Spring Break.

The "And Again's" have been pretty good to us so far this year.

The Secret Life

So one of my favorite, favorite things to do is stop at Cold Stone Creamery and get a small birthday cake batter ice cream to put in my purse and sneak into the movie theater.  Went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with a friend.  Day 2 of my ice cream once a day resolution was a success.  To eat more ice cream.  That is the purpose of life.  So far I've had ice cream at least once a day in 2014.  On purpose.  No wonder I'm smiling.

On This Day

On this day (January 1, 2014), a New Year's Resolution of sorts was born.  Mommy decided she was going to eat ice cream every day in 2014.  We brought in the new year with a meal at one of our favorite haunts, Buffalo Wild Wings (affectionately referred to as BWW), where we watched the Hawkeyes try to pull off a bowl win in the Outback Bowl.  A few happy things happened.  Our waitress humored the boys by bringing them a basket of cherries.

And Mommy started off the new year with ice cream, football, and her family.  The wings weren't bad either.  Daddy enjoyed his burger.  These.  These are just a few of our favorite things.

I'd say 2014 is holding lots of promise already.