Raise your hand if you’re slightly freaking out about the fact that we’re entering the last week in June tomorrow? Eek!
True to form, I decided to write a “summer bucket list” this weekend so I can stay focused on having fun these next couple of months. How’s that for an oxymoron?! 
Anyways, here’s what I’ve got:
- Go berry picking (probably at Berry Patch Farms – my fave!)
Walk to one of the 500 fro yo places around my house after dinnerGo fishing– DONE!Drinks/dinner at Mullets followed by an I-Cubs gameGo swimming (I went approximately ZERO times last year!)- Attend a Thursday night Jasper Winery music/wine event
- Go to the National Balloon Classic
- Ride bikes to the Cumming Tap
- Go to a Music Under the Stars concert
- Attend the Blank Park Zoo’s Zoo Brew
I’m feeling like this is totally doable, and Ben and I actually crossed off an item that would have made the list if it hadn’t just happened this weekend – attending the Des Moines Art Festival on Friday night!
This annual festival takes place in downtown Des Moines, surrounding the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and is something I look forward to every year. Not only is it nice to wander around, checking out the travel photography (my favorite), paintings, and mixed media pieces, but it’s also just a really good time in a fun and festive atmosphere.
Plus there’s cold beer for sale. 
Ben and I thought we could beat the crowds and heat by going in the evening of opening day, and while it didn’t get too crowded while we were there, it was scorching! A cold bud light lime helped us stroll the festival (which I apparently took zero pictures of) in comfort.
The heat finally lifted on Saturday, with the threat of rain on the horizon. When it hadn’t come by noon, Ben and I said screw the clouds! and ventured out for a 5 mile walk on the trail.
When the rain finally came later that afternoon, we spent some cozy time indoors watching the Olympic synchronized diving trials (seeeeeriously – how?!) before hanging out with some friends later that night.
Today we made our way over to my parent’s house for our weekly Sunday lunch. On the menu – Aunt Mary’s sausages!!
My aunt, whom we visited in Stuevenville last week, is the best Italian cook and for as long as I can remember has had her famous Italian sausages ready for us whenever we visit. They are slow cooked in her homemade tomato sauce with peppers and onions, and literally fall apart with the touch of a fork after simmering for hours and hours. She froze and sent us on our way with an extra batch last week to enjoy at home – which we seriously did. Immensely!
For the side, my Mom made her throw together Orzo Salad. All she does is cook 8oz orzo, then mixes it with pesto thinned out with a little Italian dressing, and combines it with whatever she’s got on hand in the fridge or freezer. Today it was tomatoes, corn, red onion, black olives, and capers. So yum.
Fresh fruit rounded out the meal. How good are grapes right now, btw?!
For dessert, my Mom made homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Pie which fresh rhubarb from her garden.
Sweet, tart and creamy. If I wasn’t so stuffed from lunch, I would have eaten 1/4 of it. Thanks Ma!
Poor Evie slept through most of lunch, and thus, lost her slice of pie to her hungry Papa. Not happy about it.
In other news, Ben and I are off to play in a fiercely competitive tennis match this evening.
BAHAHAHA!
Sorry, I couldn’t even type that with a straight face. First of all you have to be good at something to be competitive at it, and also competitive to want to win. I am neither, but we love playing together anyways. Heading down to the courts in a bit to sweat, swing, and miss!
Hope you had a great weekend!
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What’s at the top of your summer bucket list?
The food looks so delicious!!
You forgot the State Fair!
Oh for sure! I just figured that one was a given.
Oh, I would love to go berry picking!! But mine top one would have to stand up paddle boarding! Supposed to be a great workout – just kinda pricey!
You picked a good evening for the Art Festival! I went down Saturday afternoon and luckily we didn’t get too drenched! Looking forward to seeing you document the rest of your bucket list!
My summer bucket list includes loading up my bike and riding the Elroy-Spart trail in Wisconsin and the High Trestle Trail in Iowa:)
Is there something wrapped around those sausages? At first I thought it was cabbage…then nothing…I’m confused! They look delicious.
your mom’s pie looks delish! And rhubarb from the garden… sounds so good!
I feel silly saying it, but I loved the close-up shot of the grass! Definitely made me want to go barefoot, like, immediately!
Can I come to your mom’s house for Sunday lunch? Looks delicious! I love how she makes that orzo salad. I am going to have to try that!
I have almost the exact same summer bucket list plus a movie at Valle Drive-Inn and a trip to Eldora to get a delicious piece of pie at the American Gothic house.
Is it OK if I steal your summer bucket list? Sounds like so much fun! Would love to go to zoo brew sometime. And don’t forget about corn dogs at the Iowa State Fair. A summer must-do!
Yoga in the park. I have to make it there this year!
Local festivals are the absolute best. Around here we have at least ten every summer. It’s crazy pants.
p.s. I really need to start walking to froyo. It would be way more healthtastic.
Explore NYC! That is kind of huge but I’ve never been and cannot pick one particular thing and I’m also going to Boston and Disneyland, too! I think I might have too many thing on my to do list! But I will enjoy marking them off!
I wish I had gone to Jasper Winery this past Thursday — The Nadas were playing! Couple that with sangria and amazing weather and it’s an awesome night!
Definitely drove to OrangeLeaf tonight… as did half of WDM
This list is making me very anxious for our upcoming move to Ankeny later this summer! The Zoo Brew is definitely on my list. Oh, and I suppose just taking my KIDS to the zoo should be on the list too.
Wrote my bucket list as well and had all three of my kids write one! http://creativeawakenings.ning.com/profiles/blogs/summer-bucket-list
To buy a house
Love the summer bucket list. i have made one too and one thing i am hoping to do it a hike in the beautiful lake distric near my home. I am so jealous of your hot weather, it is cold and very wet here in England. I have even had my heating on! You food looks really yummy as always.
I want to start and successfully finish my summer running plan which I am just starting this week, go to yoga in the park at Gray’s Lake at least once and spend some time reading and working on my nonexistent tan at the beach at Gray’s Lake. I would also like to make it to an I-Cubs game, but we’ll see if that happens this summer before I go back to Iowa City for my last year at Iowa!
I always make a summer bucket list – if I don’t, sometimes the whole summer passes by while I did a whole lot of nothing. On my bucket list this year is to go on a trip with my brother!
I spent 4 glorious years in Des Moines, and this post made me miss it terribly!! So glad that I stumbled across your blog
And, that I scheduled a visit with some college friends in August!
I love your summer bucket list, my friends and I started working on one this weekend too! Can’t believe June is flying by at the speed of light. I’m gonna add berry picking, great idea! Your mom is adorable btw, and that pie looks delicious!
I love that you made a summer bucket list! I should probably do the same thing.
QUESTION – I’m sure you get asked this a lot: what camera do you use? The picture quality is amazing!!
hey! I just found your blog on caitlin’s healthytippingpoint! congrats on winning Editor’s Choice for Best Healthy Eating Blog!
Booked a hot air balloon ride at the Indianola fest
I like the idea of a summer bucket list. I haven’t gotten nearly enough “summer” things done yet this year, but at least I’ve gotten a fair share of fun things accomplished.
I did the same thing last week– a summer bucket list of sorts to do with different people throughout the summer. : )
Berry picking is on my list too! Also, go to the beach! I miss it!
Just found your blog, it’s so lovely! Looking forward to getting to know more about you
What trail did you walk on? It looks beautiful!
Sweet style tots at Mullet’s are a must!
[...] made some headway on the Summer Bucket List this [...]
[...] Ben and I kicked things off with dinner, drinks, and bad hairdo spotting with friends at Mullets on Friday night, followed by an I-Cubs game under the stars (bucket list item!) [...]
[...] Yes, despite almost begging Ben to build me a fire on Saturday evening (I know, but it was seriously kind of cold (ok, debatable) and I was watching The Notebook after all. How romantic would that have been?!) and my returning obsession with hearty fall soups, I am definitely not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. I still need to drink beer with zoo animals per my summer bucket list! [...]