Meet the blue screen of death…
When I went to post about my day yesterday, this blue screen of death and a lost internet connection led us to learn that more than 25 blocks on my side of town had lost cable and internet – and some, their power all together!
We’re up and rolling now, so here’s what I’ve been up to!
Saturday morning (feeling MUCH better, thanks for your well wishes!) I went off to the Farmer’s Market with some girlfriends of mine, for a chat and a stroll. 
The heat index was over 100 and the crowd was a wee bit thinner then it usually is!
We toughed it out though and it was wonderful to catch up. Girlfriends make the world go ’round!
Afterwards Ben and I hopped over to the Des Moines Arts Festival – which was another reason why the crowd was a little bare at the market.
The Des Moines Art Festival is one of the top 10 art festivals in the country and attracts local, national and international artists and emerging artists. It is a HUGE event for the state of Iowa, and I’m really proud of it!
The event’s location was centered around the new sculpture garden downtown and there were many installations and cool things to see.
Art at the fair ranged from sculptures to ceramics, to paintings to photographs.
My favorite was the painter who was actually selected to create the festival’s commemorative poster – Jodi Perry.
Jody’s paintings so perfectly capture the essence of Iowa, and the Midwest, that it almost takes your breath away! I WANT ALL OF HER PAINTINGS!!! At $1000+ a pop though, I’ll have to settle for a quick snapshot. 
Walking around in 104 degree heat requires a couple things. Water, shade… and gyros.
Traditional lamb for him,
succulent chicken for her!
Hey!
Ben and I actually didn’t stay too long because it was so darn hot. We came home, burrowed down in the AC for awhile and re-emerged at twilight.
For some brews,
and reading on the back deck.
It truly doesn’t get much better than sitting on your back porch in the summer time, listening to the cicadas and watching the lightening bugs. I need a painting of THAT!
This morning I was up and at ‘em for an early morning grocery store trip. I got a good haul, me thinks!
The produce:
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Baby spinach
- Broccoli slaw
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Basil
- Peaches
- Bananas
- Green onions
- Tomatoes
- Lemon
And the rest:
- Smart water (which, call me a sucker, but I truly believe SW is so much more thirst quenching than any other water!!!)
- Chobani Greek Yogurt (I finally broke down. I hate paying $1.50 a cup, but it’s too good to pass up.)
- Frozen chicken
- Tofu
- Parmesan cheese
- French bread (fresh out of the oven!)
- Frozen pizza (to keep my man happy)
- Tortillas
All for, drum roll please…$49.47.
Under budget by $.13!
I busted out some of my new tortillas to make a quick breakfast.
An almond butter roll up. I really liked these tortillas – soft and squishy. Just how I like ‘em!
This afternoon, Ben and I are going over to my parent’s house for lunch, but before then I shall be breaking out a brand new purchase – a Swiffer WetJet – squeal!
Who needs an iPad?! This is just as cool…right? RIGHT?!
Oh also – I watched TWO movies this weekend: Dear John and Up in the Air.
![dear-john-movie-poster-1[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/dearjohnmovieposter111.jpg "dear-john-movie-poster-1[1]")
LOVED them both!!! I am definitely NOT a picky movie person (except for Wanted with Angelina Jolie and When in Rome with Kristen Bell – both which were truly terrible) but honestly I thought these were fantastic! For different reasons, obviously, but wow. Loved ‘em!
Off to mop! 
Loved Up in the Air! So good!
I still need to see Up in the Air! I thought Dear John was decent – I’m not a fan of Nicholas Sparks, but for the most part I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. Glad you liked them!
Picked up your goat cheese rec at the Farmers Market yesterday–the summer salsa kind. So good! Did you see the Iowa Fit Chicks booth? I picked up some of their granola–very tasty.
The DSM Art Festival was great, but you know it’s too hot and you’ve perhaps had too much wine when you walk past a $500 painting and think that’s totally reasonable (if art collecting is NOT your hobby.)
Up In The Air was fantastic – Dear John? Not as much…I agree about Wanted though, I hated that film!!
Chobani Yogurt–I LOVE Greek yogurt, but it’s so stinkin’ expensive. I discovered that Sams Club has a box of 12 Chobani yogurts for $11 (4 Strawberry, 4 Peach, 4 Blueberry), which saves me about $7 on yogurt! Greek yogurt has a pretty long fridge life so I never have any problems putting all 12 away!
Glad you are feeling better! That heat looks stifling!
Is there a reason you buy frozen chicken? Price? If you watch the ads, you can buy fresh boneless, skinless for 1.99 lb. The Chobani is worth the splurge! Have you tried Fage yet? OMGosh,…. try it!
I get so jealous when I see how much you get for $50! I buy the same stuff, & mostly generic/store brands when I can & my grocery bill is always like $70-80! If I can get under $50 I’m psyched!!
The DM art festival looks really cool! I’m jelly!
I LOVE those tortillas!!!! Soooooo good!!! And I love the fiber numbers!
Up in the Air is an amazing film!!! It made me ready for a vacation from seeing everyone travel.. well who am I kidding, I am ALWAYS ready for a vacation
I wouldnt mind if Mr. Clooney happened to be my seat partner either!!!!!!
I’m always impressed by how well you grocery shop! So many goods for such reasonable prices!
The art festival looks great!
I don’t know how you spend so little money at the grocery store – I’m jealous! We spend about $110 a week…BUT we shop at Trader Joe’s, so it’s hard to say no to impulse buys!
I watched Up in the Air this weekend too- I’ve had it for about 3 months and forgot about it. I also had When in Rome and Prince of Persia, but the first one didn’t work and I couldn’t get into PoP, which turned out to be a good thing b/c I really liked Up in the Air!
I’m pretty sure my mom got one of Jodi’s paintings last year – beautiful and stunning! Glad you had a good time.
It’s a big weekend for Des Moines with the Art Festival and US Track Nationals! (I get all my information from my mom…who has been telling me she’s encountered lots of ‘real runners’ this week as she’s been out.)
Out of curiosity, do you budget $50/week for your groceries (and does that include your trips to the farmer’s market)? Or do you spread that out over a longer period of time? Carl is going to sit down and rework our budget this week and I know groceries are probably our biggest monthly expense behind rent. A friend of mine only goes grocery shopping once a month (she has two baby boys) and I can’t fathom how she does it. So I’m just asking to get some ideas – especially since you always have so much fresh produce.
I’m so impressed with your thrifty skills when grocery planning – wish I was more that way!
Those are my favorite tortillas! And Chobani is definitely worth the $$!
Haven’t seen Dear John but Up In The Air was fantastic. loved it! such a great weekend. Your girlfriends babies are the CUTEST!
That gyro looks amazing! And wow, you get so many groceries for so little in Iowa!! I think that same amount would be at least $75 here in NY.
Jenn
OMG…i am so amazed at what you get for $50 every week. I think I need to stop shopping at Target for my groceries. I walked out of there today spending $70..and I only went in for milk and yogurt and bananas. I would be happy if I only spent $100 per week. I am doing something terribly wrong. There is only 2 1/2 of us in the family (the 1/2 is a 3yr old).
That tortilla all rolled up looks like lefse! yummy.
Wow – you guys have been busy!!!!
Its funny hearing bloggers in the US talking about the heat when over here in Australia it is FREEZING!! It was minus 3 when I drove to work this morning
Up In the Air was a GREAT movie. I haven’t seen Dear John yet but I have read the book. Love Nicholas Sparks but I am just never happy with the quality of a movie after reading the book first!
Chobanis are only $1.09 normally in all the stores by me! BUT, do you have a Costco anywhere near you? I get them at Costco for $.33 EACH! They sell them in a 12 pack with peach, blueberry and strawberry for $3.99!! Craziness!
The 12 pack at costco is around $11.99 which is a good deal but I end up with 4 strawberry ones I can’t eat (darn allergies). I gave up and started spending the $1.50 for them at Hy-Vee. I love the peach flavor and wanted to try pomegranate.
hmmm I must have gotten them during a Costco special or something…darned expensive greek yogurt:-P!
Did you really get Chobani yogurt at Hy-Vee, if so I’m heading to Sioux City tomorrow and getting/requesting some!!! I miss my greek yogurt here in NW Iowa!
WOW! I can’t believe all you got at the grocery store and only paid $49. It’s just my husband and I like you and we struggle to keep it at $100 when we go. Your blog really has made me think about what were spending at the grocery store. I have to admit though, we definitly don’t eat as healthy as you do, but we are trying to change our ways. Thanks for all the great tips.
I make those roll ups all the time for a grab and go breakfast. Lately I’ve been throwing some cool jam my mom got me made with fruit juice.
ah…greek yogurt. I’m newly obsessed. Have you tried the new kind from Dannon? It’s pretty good and a little bit cheaper (but not too much). The Oikos is probably my favorite…and Greek Goddess is so thick and rich it feels like you are eating a stick of butter (but tastes so good), but don’t eat it in huge quantities (14 grams of fat!) I’m dying to make your spring rolls this week…