Week in Review

You know what I love, weekends that are wonderful. We all look forward to the weekend but how often can you say you had a fantastically lovely weekend? This past week was also pretty great, so coming to work on Monday was not so hard!  We need more of these in our lives!  Can I put my order in for this week and weekend already?

Recently, I said good luck and see you soon to a new adventure for a dear friend and co-worker of mine, Jodi. She has been part of the Hy-Vee Dietitian group for over 12 years and I have been so lucky to have known her for the 8 years I have spent with the company. Jodi is someone I admire professionally and personally. She is smart, kind, hilarious, fun and inspiring. I am so proud of her and hope this new job is everything she is looking for in her professional life. They are so lucky to have her and I am so lucky to know her. 

I got the chance to get in the kitchen this past week and whip up a delicious low-lactose pizza for an upcoming blog I wrote for the Midwest Dairy Council for February, which celebrates Lactose Intolerance Month. My secret to a delicious, flavorful and gooey pizza:  Asiago Cheese! 

If you know me, you know how much I love all kinds of music. At the perfect time, a friend of mind shared their new magically artistic melodies with me. I couldn't be more excited for what their future holds!  I am just grateful for them sharing it and the experience with me. Looks like it will be occupying my playlists for awhile....

I also had the joy this week to witness Oskaloosa Elementary School's 1000 students, Food Service staff and Physical Education staff be awarded the Healtheir US School Award for excellence in nutrition and physical activity. So much fun!  Their Food Service Director, Julie Miller, works so hard in proving healthy food and worked diligently to apply for this award in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Education. Congrats to this amazing team and school! 

Friday, I was very fortunate to spend the morning with various Iowa farmers at Iowa Farm Bureau's F.A.R.M. team training. It was great meeting and talking with farmers about what consumers are looking for in the grocery store, how farmers and dietitians can partner, and trends for 2016. I love farmers and the more we can work together, the more it just makes sense. I also got to meet a special family that has 2 dietitian daughters and one on her way to becoming one!  Passion for health starts at home and I just thought it was so awesome how this family raises delicious veggies and passionate dietitians. 

Now to the weekend...I was so excited my mom came to visit and we spent a whole weekend together!  We had a wonderful weekend of conversations, smiles, laughter, shopping and food!  I took her to one of my favorite Des Moines restaurants, Noah's Arc. We yummied down a delicious cappuccino, pizza, homemade ravioli and rolls. Pure foodie heaven! We then hit the town and shopped away, finding some very fun things. 

Sunday we headed to brunch and delicious Bloody Mary's at Django with my friends Amanda, Justin, Jason and his mom, Connie. I couldn't help but think what joy my mom and friends give my heart!  I am so thankful for the time with my mom and couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I am also so proud to be the daughter of my beautiful mother.   There could not be a better comparison! 

A New Addition to "Things I Love"

I love working with and meeting fabulous people in my community. Over the past 4 years, I have had the opportunity to work with a really amazing person, Michelle Sams. Even though most of our contact has been professional, I have also gotten to know her personally. The last time we talked, she told me about this new adventure she is on by opening her own online boutique of clothing and accessories for women. She knew I would be immediately smitten with the name: Pixie Dust and Heels Boutique and then add in the pink logo, I was hooked. 

For those of you that know me, I am a little bit of an online shopper and I love fashion. I think Michelle's passion for fashion really comes out in the products she offers. She personally has a beautiful sense of style that is reflected in her boutique. 

Here is a little bit more about her online boutique and her fashion journey: 

Pixie Dust and Heels is an online women's clothing boutique that offers the latest fashion trends on a wide variety of clothing, stylish heels, and accessories to suit all your wardrobe needs.  Our Pixie Stylists also offer consulting services; please click here to find out more. 

The boutique was created with lots of love, attention to detail, and a sprinkle of pixie dust to bring it all together.  We want your experience with us to be wonderful, and we hope you love our selections just as much as we do!  Our Pixie Stylists are always looking for the next best thing to add to our collection so be on the lookout for our new arrivals and ever changing selections.

More about Michelle: 

Since I was a little girl I have loved fashion. My Barbie’s were always suited up with the finest ensembles, and I might have dressed up my brother’s G.I. Joes a time or two as well. I kept that love of fashion through college where I received my bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and design. While my friends were taking calculus and chemistry, I was taking classes like: Asian Fashion and Stitchery 101. After college came the real world where I faced fears about how to make money and have a “real” job, so I went back to school and pursued and achieved my Master’s in HR. Through the years I have always held my love of fashion near and dear to my heart and kept dreaming that someday I would have the courage to pursue that dream. So that, my friends, is where Pixie Dust and Heels Boutique came in and I am so excited to be able to do what I love.  To all of you out there who have fears about trying something new, I say bite the bullet and go for it. What is there to lose? Have the courage to pursue your dreams; because all you need is a faith, trust, and a little pixie dust.

Ready to shop?  I hope you are!  I am heading there right now to get my shop on, here is the website for you to do the same.  

http://www.pixiedustandheels.com/