Greetings from Cedar Rapids, IA! :D (PS I watched the movie Cedar Rapids a couple weekends ago – hilarious…)
I’ve been on the go since yesterday at the crack of dawn. Whoo! Destination #1: the Farmer’s Market.
I didn’t think it was possible, but it was packed with even more colorful produce than last week, and I had to stop myself from buying a million more pumpkins. I was itching to buy a few more – they’re just so perfect. :)
My favorite find were these incredible dahlias. I hadn’t even heard of a dahlia before yesterday, and my Mom, the flower whisperer, had a good chuckle when I pronounced it dahl-ee-yah, instead of dahl-ya. Hey, I didn’t know!
They had the brightest blooms I have ever seen, in so many different colors. They’d make a perfect Fall wedding bouquet.
I left the market with an acorn squash (destined to be halved, roasted & stuffed,) some flavored Pappardelle’s Pasta,
and an Oreo Cake Pop from the Sweet Cakes Gourmet Cupcakes tent!
My Mom and I were actually just strolling the market when I noticed some yummy-looking cupcakes laid out on a corner. I looked up at the woman working, and it turned out to be an old sorority friend from college!
She and a friend started a cupcake business several months ago and I just had to buy something from her. This Oreo Cake Pop was dense, sweet and AMAZING. Muuuuch better than my failed attempt… ;)
After the market I packed up the car, picked Ben up from a Saturday shift at work, and we were off once again.
This time to reunite with tons of Ben’s family in Cedar Rapids, IA, about 3 hours east of Des Moines, for the Especially For You race against breast cancer 5K this morning.
Ben has 3 breast cancer survivors in his family, so the event is especially meaningful. Today was the 21st anniversary of the walk, and the 19th time one of his Aunts had participated!
It was cha-chilly at 7:30am when we arrived at the starting line. 35 degrees!
We quickly warmed up though, when the race kicked off at 8am.
Aside from the initial chill, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Bright blue skies and not a breeze to be felt. The streets we walked were lined with huge trees too, that were turning fall-yellow, orange and red. So pretty. :)
It was nice catching up with family as we walked the course.
And one hour and one minute later, we crossed the finish line!
Then promptly came home to stuff our faces. :lol: Covering three miles before 9am definitely calls for egg casserole, fresh fruit and a Panera Pink Ribbon Bagel for breakfast.
These bagels are my FAVORITE.
And now that we’re all exercised, stuffed and sleepy…it’s time to drive home.
I headed WAY up north, nearly in Canada, to the Gunflint trail and hiked all day Saturday, enjoying solitude, beautiful fall leaves, fresh air, and so many lakes. The scenery was breath taking. Best. Weekend. Ever!
That is so much swag, like I don’t even know what to say! I love that you guys were out there supporting the women in Ben’s family! This weekend we decorated for Halloween, it was hilarious – I thought the husband was going a little overboard, but every time he put something else up, the little kid across the “street” in our complex squealed in delight!
I love races like that, that have a purpose! I’ve run the Ronald McDonald House 5k in Iowa City the past few years as a grad student and it feels good to participate in. This past weekend I went to an Oktoberfest celebration with my mom and we had a great time eating apple struesel and drinking German beer!
That movie is really funny, very different from your average comedy, but funny.
wow, that’s a lot of swag!!!
fun times this weekend: we took our dog to the pet walk! he loved it!
Ahhh! You were in CR?! I didn’t do the race, but if I had, I would have freaked out if I had seen you! So…maybe it was best I wasn’t there. :) Hope you had a great time in my stomping grounds!
This must be the weekend of races! Josh and I went to the Poconos this weekend and they were hosting an Iron Man competition. It was cool to watch!
Congrats on participating in such a great cause! That is awesome how many survivors his family has, obviously they’re warriors!
Geez!! I was there too!! This was my 8th year walking – it is always great to see the wonderful turn out. And ya gotta love the big pile of goodies!!
OMG! I thought the women in my family were the only ones who said “hilar” …. I love it!!!!!!
My sister and I attended our county’s first Farmer’s Market!! It was amazing. I walked away with pork tamales, granola, and vegan baked goods (a cinnamon roll & double chocolate chip cookies!). The weather was amazing and it made October 1st truly feel like fall. Live music too!
Great weekend for you!
We have had a football weekend with our school’s Homecoming game on Friday, we went to ISU to watch them get clobbered on Saturday :(, and my son played in his 6th grade game today. It’s been a beautiful weekend………….sorry to see it go but so glad that it happened!
This is wonderful, what a great thing to do on a Sunday :) You are so hilarious with getting all of that race swag, I do the same thing with free stuff like that!
Where did you find the adoreable spider planter? I must have it!!
It’s from a vendor at the Farmers’ Market! :)