Iowa is shut DOWN! Schools, malls and business are closed, buses and plows are unable to run their routes…I woke up in the middle of the night from the wind practically blowing the house of it’s foundation…the worst blizzard in decades has officially hit!
Last night Ben’s parents got stuck at work, so he braved the streets to go and take their dog out for them. On the way back, he got stuck at the bottom of a hill at the end of our street. I hopped into the driver’s seat to steer and two neighbors + 5 face plants by Ben later, we got the car in the garage – FULL of snow! 
Overnight, things got worse. Much, much worse! We woke up to more than a foot of snow, 10 foot drifts and blinding wind! Poor Ben got up at 4:30 to try and dig us out.
Just as he cleared a little lane in the driveway for him to attempt to get out, we learned that his work had closed down for the day! My work is staying open, but thankfully my department had allowed us to all work from home. The local news is pleading for people to stay off the roads, so I’m glad we get to do just that! Here’s my little shoveling hero. 
After staying glued to the news and weather for a couple hours, I made a warm and cozy breakfast to hunker down with…
Pumpkin Banana Oats!
In the mix:
- 1/4 cup each old fashioned oats, skim milk & water
- 1 banana (half cooked with the oats, half sliced on top)
- Dash of cinnamon, splash of vanilla
- Drizzle of pumpkin butter
- Sprinkle of pecans
Seriously – best combo EVER! Have you given this a try yet?!
That pumpkin butter hits it out of the park – so spicy, deep and rich. And the addition of the pecans makes it even more of a treat!!
Here’s my current view.
There will be no venturing out of the house today…not even for coffee…which we desperately need because we don’t have a coffee pot! The horror!!! Taking pre-emptive Tylenol now, for the caffeine headache that I know will be on it’s way in a couple of hours. 
I’ll be back this afternoon with a few more pictures and lunch. ‘Til then, stay warm and safe if you’re going through the same thing I am and don’t forget that you have until 3pm central this afternoon to enter the Larabar Variety Pack Giveaway!
See you!
~~~~~
What’s the weather like where you live?
OMG im jealous things shut down for you guys!! We got a similar amount of snow, but because the school busses could navigate ok, we’re here at work! Stay safe!
I’m from western MA and we are just starting to get the snow!! I’m shocked school isn’t cancelled because it doesn’t look pretty out there! I really want to work out, but can’t see myself driving to the gym! It’s been a couple of days since I last worked out! BOOO!!! Haha!
I want that much snow! I woke up to 2 inches of snow and it had just started raining so it was wet, heavy and slushy! So gross! But it should all be gone soon because it is supposed to hit 50 today. Breakfast was oatmeal with banana, dried apricots and almonds. yum!
Wow! Enjoy being snowed in
I am in the same boat as you, girl! Over 400 schools closed this morning! YEESH. When I saw the foot + of snow burying my car in the driveway I knew it was going to be a work at home day. Enjoy being snowed in, so sad you dont have a coffee pot!! I would be dying without mine
I’m originally from Milford MASS and now live in FLA so I know what you are talking about and it really makes me appreciate the weather down here! OMG and no coffee!!!! That would be tragic for me. I feel for ya girl.
You inspired me. Am watching the wind/snow make it impossible to get out and am feeling tense about all the Etsy orders I should be mailing today. Instead, I”m going to whip up some banana oatmeal – have everything! Well, I think my pumpkin butter’s the William Sonoma jarred variety. Thanks!
*Yeah snowplowing at 10p last nite was total waste of time.*
Hang in there with all the snow!!
It’s super windy and snowy here – the power got knocked out last night, and we almost froze
Thankfully it’s back on now though.
Wow that’s a lot of snow!! I had a Gingerbread bagel from Panera for breakfast! The last of my stash
Man it’s like that here too… but I have to drive home today. I stayed in a hotel in lincoln and am driving back home to omaha soon.. wish me luck! It looks like we have plows out and about trying to do some work but I’m not sure. Thankfully my car is a beast in the snow.. that is if it isn’t buried. I am not sure yet
Now, that is a lot of snow!
We had snow overnight last night too, but it was just an inch or two where I live. (The northern part of KC metro got more)
How fun though that you and your hubby get to have a snow day! Snuggle up and enjoy the day…that is, if you don’t have to do too much work from home.
I want a snow day!!!
We woke up to a 25 degree morning in DFW and sadly complained about it. I wish I wasn’t at work but visiting family in IA and snowed in. Haven’t been home with that much snow in years. Sure do miss it. Enjoy the day! Bake, snuggle and stay warm!
I live in Ohio…it’s VERY windy and it’s suppose to get SO cold this afternoon. Don’t have any snow though!
You both stay safe!
I’m jealous! All we have is slush here in Boston. I love being snowed in… enjoy it!
I hear ya!! I live in Madison, WI and we have the exact same thing….ugh blizzards aren’t fun- we have 18 in of snow in some places! oh the joys of midwest living
Stay warm & safe. I saw that on the Today show this a.m. I would love to be snowed in right now. Instead we’re getting rain. Cold rain
WOW, I dont miss seeing that! I live in NC now and its 70 and sunny today. My parents have snow back home though in PA. Stay warm!!!!
I live in Kansas and we have about 2 inches of snow and its icy ( we got lucky other parts of the state are up to 10-12 inches)! The temperature is currently 8 degrees with a wind chill of -14… the wind is bitter! Enjoy your day inside with your hubby!
What brand pumpkin butter is that?
It looks so so good!
My drive into work today STUNK!
Zevia winners will be picked tomorrow – new music post tonight – http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Iowa was all over the Today Show!
I think I’d rather have the snow
It snowed a few inches here but now it’s going to be rain for the day
That’s pretty much how my neighborhood looks right now too…we’re in N.IL, so we got that same blizzard after you did. Luckily, I have a snow day. The plan is to cozy up with some DVDs, papers to grade, and throw something in the crock pot to enjoy later.
Enjoy your snow day!
how funny~that was my question on my post last night! it snowed here in salt lake city but not as much as you got! i am so jealous~send your snow here
xo
I am snowed in too! I am in Des Moines for a clinical rotation at Mercy Hospital and living with my dad out in Van Meter. I knew early last night that I was NOT going to be braving the country hills and roads to get into town today…its a crazy blizzard out there!
I’m in IA too. Lucky me, I can work from home also and since there is no school my 3 kids are home with me too. This is going to be a long day. I already ventured out super early to get my coffee, I would have walked if I had too!
WISCONSIN = SHUT DOWN TOO!
unfortunately, i walk to work, so i didn’t have a huge excuse not to come in, but i am planning on a lunch out and leaving early to snuggle and do work from bed.
and there are 3 trees down in our driveway….do you think ben could come take care of that?
It’s snowing here but not as bad as where you are. We had to close our office today though.
Oh no!!! Poor Ben
We got the same storm, but not nearly as bad as you guys did a bit south. Nice that you get to work from home!
Same here in the CR area! Perfect morning for gingerbread waffles!
I know you don’t love the snow, but I’m jealous of the blizzard! I kind of like when everything shuts down from the snow
We had a thunderstorm this morning and heavy, heavy rain. I wish the rain was snow!
Wow! Glad you both get to stay home!
I would die if I had no coffee
I want that snow!Here is above zero, raining and awful weather. I would so want it to snow
oats look divine
The snow looks BEAUTIFUL. So do your oats…
It is Humid here in Houston. It was 26° on Friday and now it is back up to the 70°… send some snow our way.
It was 51 degrees when I woke up this morning!! However, they are saying wind chill will be 2 degrees tomorrow.
Stay warm!
As much as I hate snow; and driving in it, and shoveling it, blizzards are fun when you get snowed in.
WOW! That is A LOT of snow. Holy moly. We used to get snowstorms like that ALL THE TIME up where I’m from (Northern Canada) but that was when I was a kid. Since Global Warming has set in we barely ever get that much snow!
So glad you decided to stay of the roads, trust me as you know from my experience that accidents can happen SO EASILY and it just isn’t worth risking it! Enjoy your cozy day and hope that you find some caffeine soon!
Our view is exactly the same! The kids are home from school and the wind is whipping. Pancakes for breakfast, frozen pizza for lunch, and not sure what’s for dinner. Thank goodness we’ve got a deep freezer full of meat and pheasant.
That snow is ka-raze-eee!
What a lovely day to be inside sipping tea and eating Christmas cookies!
That is what I am doing.
So glad you guys are able to stay safe at home in those conditions! We missed the snow hear in the STL area, but it is about 20 degrees with crazy wind, and getting colder! The low tonight is supposed to hit 10 degrees. I’m NOT looking forward to going to my outside farm job tomorrow morning!
well i think its me who lives most far away…. here in the basque country (between spain and france) we have warm and sunny weather, you are all invited to visit us!
The weather is really wet here in ny. It snows but not much and its raining sits all slushy! I can’t believe how much snow you got! Wow!!
Also side note- you have great skin, what products do you use?
I meant to say it snowed* and so its not sits.. Sorry!
I think the snow looks so pretty! Hate to make you jealous, but it’s sunny and 60 here in S. California (which is actually pretty darn cold to me…)
Why don’t you have a coffee pot????? I don’t even like coffee and I have a little coffee pot, although no filters or coffee! Ha! I hear you can use a folded up stack of paper towels as a filter in case of emergency! My mother insisted I have one so she bought me one. It’s stashed away somewhere in the basement!
Wow… That’s some serious snow! We haven’t had much snow here in the past few years, which disappoints me. For some reason I just enjoy being snowed in. Hope all is going well…