Caribou Coffee is Open!

Caribou Coffee opened today in Ankeny (909 SE Oralabor Road).  It's kind of a big deal in my book.  I've been anxiously awaiting the grand opening...for a few months now (I first blogged about it here in October).  Every time I drove on Oralabor, I drove on the furthest south lane just to get a look at it.  The shop is beautiful (I forgot to take a shot of the beautiful pendants...you can kind of see them in the photo below) and smells like new construction and coffee...which is a glorious combination.  I got my usual warm coffee drink: skim vanilla latte.  Because it was the first day of being open, I wasn't sure if they'd get it right, but the team nailed it.  I am so happy Caribou has finally taken roots in Ankeny, and I look forward to enjoying lots of drive-thru (and sit-down) cups over the years to come.

Happy Day

Yesterday, when I was at a stoplight on my way home from the doctor's office and Walgreen's, I spotted a very wonderful thing:  a sign indicating a Caribou Coffee is opening in Ankeny.  Oh, happy day!  My dreams are finally coming true!  If only the new HyVee would open right by house, I'd be set!  And who knows, maybe the new HyVee will have a Caribou (because there are already three Starbucks locations in Ankeny - we don't need another one).

Having a Caribou within a seven-minute drive from my house is truly a wonderful thing!  I hope they'll carry Joia sodas, too.  That would be even more spectacular! 

On that note, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and National Bullying Awareness Month - thanks for the heads up, Ellen), which means my favorite tea is for sale at Caribou - Amy's Blend.  If you haven't had it before, you're missing out.  It's delicious - almost like chai tea without all the crazy calories.  I like to stock up on it since they only carry it in October...which is my birthday month in case anyone needs ideas...for my birthday...which is on Tuesday.

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Upon further research, I learned the property located at 909 SE Oralabor Road in Ankeny (thanks to the City of Ankeny September Building Report) was purchased in 2003 by Denny Elwell Co., and they've been sitting on the property since then, hoping the economy would improve.  I'm guessing the opening of Caribou is good news.  According to the property summary, Caribou is scheduled to open in Fall 2012...which I'm guessing is pretty darn soon!  I plan to be there with bells and whistles on...just wait for it.

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Just An Ordinary Day

Have you ever heard Ordinary Day by Vanessa Carlton?  I got the CD in high school, and this was probably one of my favorite songs.  Maybe it's the piano.  Maybe it's because I always wish I knew how to play the piano.  Maybe it's her soothing voice.  Anyway, I feel like every day is ordinary, but it's what you make of it that makes it special...or not. 

Today was a pretty nice day.  I started the day remembering an admired professor after a sudden death.  Maybe that's what made today special...appreciating today for what it is and not dreading it.  Today was what I would consider to be an ordinary office day, if there is such a thing.  I had nearly three straight hours of meetings this afternoon, and during them, I couldn't help taking a picture of how we made it through the meeting:  Laffy Taffy. 

This week, I spent the whole week in the office.  I think this is a summer record.  I don't think I've been at my desk for this long in about three months....maybe four.  It was a nice change of pace.  Anyway, earlier this week, I went to a meeting, and came back to find my co-worker's office looking like this.  It's pretty typical to do little projects at our desks.  I've polyurathaned projects, stained wood, and used a hand saw at my desk.  It's just what we do, but I couldn't help but capture the moment.

While I was at work today, my mom called and asked if she could go over to my house and make me an apple pie.  Um, yes?  I actually forgot about it during my marathon meetings this afternoon, so walking in my door and being greeted by the aroma of fresh apple pie was quite a treat.  I ate two pieces for dinner.  It was amazing.  Honestly, I'll probably eat a piece of it for every meal until it's gone.  It's that good.

The crust she used was one I had on hand from Gluten Free Pantry.  It was delicious - flaky and buttery - unlike any other gluten-free pie crust I've tried.

Then, I took Sophie on a walk.  I love my neighborhood.  I love walking around the little lake.  Sophie loves it, too.  There are lots of smells for her to explore.  I hope to live in our neighborhood forever.  Once they build the HyVee a couple of blocks from the house, it'll be even more amazing.

Shake It Up

Today, I thought I'd try a new smoothie place in Ankeny.  I had a 2 o'clock appointment, and was about 30 minutes early, so I thought I'd take advantage of the time gap and test out the smoothie place.  When I imagined this smoothie place, I had visions of fresh strawberries and oranges and bananas...you know, somewhat Jamba Juice-like...and I imagined I'd spend plenty of summer days drinking these fruit-filled smoothies.  It took me about 10 minutes to find the joint (thanks, Google maps, for failing me yet again).  It should have taken me about two minutes.  The place is called Thrive, so naturally I assumed there would be fruit displayed (and maybe some wheat grass growing in the windows).  Um, no.  Rude awakening.  It's a protein shake place that sells Herbalife.  I thought I was surely off the hook when I said I was gluten-free, but, alas, I was wrong.  They mixed powders together with ice and vanilla Silk to make me an Elvis (banana and peanut butter - no bacon) smoothie.  I also had a shot of aloe vera (SO much better than I imagined it would be!), and a glass of raspberry tea.  The tea and aloe vera were de-lish.  The protein shake...not so much.  The moral of the story:  it's good to try new things.

Their gluten-free powder costs $37.85.

Photo Ready

Today I had a photo shoot at my house.  My co-worker had been looking for a dining room, and rather than create a set to get the environment he needed, he asked to use my dining room.  The large sliding doors create lots of great natural light, and he knew I'd be a great homeowner.  The best part - they took down the giant mirror that filled the majority of the back wall in the dining room. 

This is a picture of what the room looked like when we first moved in the fall of 2007.

This is before we installed our new floors in January 2009.

The new floors really updated the room.

I painted the walls from green to blue, and then to blue.

And now, the mirror is finally gone.  No more awkward stares while eating dinner.  No more awkward mirror checks mid-conversation.  Thank God.  I'll post photos once the photo shoot is done (and I have made the room my own).  I can't ruin the surprise of the story!  It will appear in the winter 2013 of the magazine.  You'll just have to wait.

Prop boxes

I had to let out the hem in the curtain panels to lengthen them.

And then I hemmed the panels.

Primping the model and the set.

Wade taking photos of photos.

Some of the photography equipment.

Luncheon

Last Saturday, I spent the morning at a luncheon at my church.  I decorated an eight-person table and served dessert (the g-free pineapple upside down cakes).  I mentioned here how I was determined to make a friend at the luncheon.  And, I guess I did.  There were two ladies I didn't know at my table (in addition to Minna, mom and Dina).  One of whom was also gluten-free.  I'm not best friends with this lady, however I was able to find common ground with a new person.  For that, I say I accomplished my goal.  We're probably not going to be besties, but it's nice to get to know someone new, and have one more friendly face at church.  It was also nice to spend a morning serving others (almost one of my 30 before 30 items).  And the rave reviews from the delicious dessert were rewarding.

The mini g-free upside down cakes turned out!

My table fully decorated.

Mom and Dina came!

My bookclub ladies - Angel, Crystal, Misty, me, and Minna

Detail of the place settings.

The overall table.

Ladies Event

Tomorrow is a ladies event at my church.  I'm not really involved in my church, though I would love to be (I have to calm down every time there is an opening to teach a Sunday School class).  When Josh and I attend the second service on Sundays, we're typically late and then we leave when the service is done.  I really like my church, and I like the pastor and his wife.  I have been wanting to make friends there ever since we started going in November of 2010.  Last fall, I attended a ladies retreat.  It was great and I loved the ladies in my room, however I already knew them (two of whom don't attend my church), so I don't think I accomplished my goal of making friends.  I did make a friend crush.  She is about my age, married without children, and super sweet.  I was so nervous to say hello after our group's ice breaker, that I didn't say anything.  I hate it when my shyness overcomes me.  Anyway, I'm determined to make one friend during tomorrow's event. 

Jill, Misty, me, Minna and Angel at the WELL fall retreat

About two months ago, I saw in the bulletin a note that there were openings to decorate tables for the upcoming ladies event.  So, I volunteered to decorate a table.  Since I've never used my talents to do anything other than for work and projects for friends' weddings (and decorating with Grandma Bev every Christmas), I am really looking forward to doing something for a greater good.  Here's a picture of one of the place settings at the table I decorated.  I'm also supposed to make mini pineapple upside down cakes.  I hope they turn out!

My theme is Old Fashion Summer Fun

My BFF's baby

One of my best friends used to live about 5 minutes away from my house.  Then, her husband got transferred to St. Louis.  That's not exactly in my neighborhood.  It's actually 309 miles from my house (unless I drive some random way thanks to Google Maps).  Anyway, I hate living so far away from her.  Especially when she had Baby T.  He is probably the cutest little nugget I've ever seen.

What a dreamy little guy!

These are more of his newborn pictures.  I keep a tab open on my computer so I can see what he looks like at any given moment.  I miss him (and his mommy and daddy).  I hope someday we can live in the same hood again.  Those were the days...