Winter Fun in St. Adel Iowa

For a farming town I wouldn’t expect so much to be going on for the holidays! I was quite impressed with the sheer amount of festive fun planned this year for St Adel!

Sip & Sample Adel
The Adel Public Library
December 2nd

The Adel Public Library will be hosting Santa and Mrs Claus along with childrens activities from 3:30-5:30pm. City Hall is providing hot chocolate and cider for this event.
At 5:00 the business open their doors to welcome you in the sip or sample their favorite holiday recipe along with recipe cards.
AT 5:30 Chauffeurs of Distinction will be picking up Santa in his bus and moving him to the southside of the square for visits til 7pm.

Festival of the Trees
First Christian Church
December 4th

The Adel First Christian Church will host their annual Festival of Trees on Sunday, December 4th. Enjoy a Bottomless Bowl of Soup, Delectable Tearoom Desserts, or both!

festival_of_trees

Penoach Winery Christmas Open House
Peonach Winery
December 3rd and 4th

There will be wine tasting plus hot spiced apple wine, Christmas goodies, wine and wineries specials, and several wine themed gifts under $25.

ADM Academic Decathlon Bookfair
December 10th

Know someone who has books on their Christmas list? Come to Barnes and Noble, 4550 University Avenue, on December 10 to fill their wishes and help out ADM’s Academic Decathlon team. Just mention ADM at checkout, and the team will get a portion of the sale at no extra cost to you. The team will be at the store from 1 to 5 pm with coloring pages to help you de-stress during the holiday season, and they will also be working the gift wrap table to save you some time at home (and to keep those gifts safe from any prying eyes).

Santa’s Workshop
December 3rd, 10th & 17th

 

Need a break?… or extra shopping time? …or time to wrap your gifts. If so drop off your child off at Santa’s Workshop for holiday fun!
Located  at 1601 Rapids Street (Rapids Street Baptist Church location), your child will make the following items when they are at Santa’s Workshop :

  • Christmas/Holiday Card
  • An ornament
  • Make a ‘present’ to take home for a friend or family member
  • Enjoy a snack, story time, song time, and a fun holiday game

The following dates are being offered for Santa’s Workshop from 1-4:30 pm:

  • Saturday, December 3: Reindeer, Reindeer
  • Saturday, December 10: Oh! Christmas Tree, Oh! Christmas Tree
  • Saturday, December 17: Santa Claus is coming to town!

santas_workshop

Waukee WinterFest

Santa Claus is coming to town! Come early and help Santa light the holiday tree in Triangle Park and then warm up with hot chocolate and cookies. Join the downtown businesses for soup and open houses and enjoy a scavenger hunt, ice sculptor and light tour!

Winterfest
West Central Valley Middle School in Redfield
December 3rd

A craft fair with breakfast and lunch available, a visit from Santa, silent auction, train rides, chili cook-off at the American Legion in the evening with the lighting of the Christmas tree in the City Park.

Breakfast with Santa
Community Center, 2200 Walnut St., Granger
December 3rd

The Granger Fire and EMS personnel will be serving pancakes, sausage, donuts, coffee, juice and milk. Proceeds from this free-will donation breakfast will be used to purchase supplies and provide training for the fire department. Each child will get the opportunity to visit Santa from 9-10 a.m. and receive a special treat from him. There will also be a vendor fair from 8 a.m. to noon featuring a large selection of vendors allowing you the opportunity to do some one stop holiday shopping.

breakfast-with-santa-2

Old Fashioned Christmas
Dexter Roundhouse
December 4th

Fun, games and activities for kids of all ages 1 to 101. Visit with Santa, check out the craft and activity tables to make and take Christmas ornaments and fun gifts. Take some goodies home from the cookie/candy walk, sing carols and enjoy cocoa.

 

Dallas County Christmas Bird Count
December 17th

Come join DCCB and RRWA (Raccoon River Watershed Assoc.) for a day of birding with a purpose. Each year local bird clubs gather around the Christmas holiday to take a “snapshot” of what birds are in their area. This information is sent to the National Audubon Society which looks at the long term health of bird populations over the last 100 years. Participants are divided into groups, each with an experienced birder in a different location in the county. We usually hike in the morning and drive the area in the afternoon. It does not matter if you are a beginning or experienced birder, the day is filled with beauty and opportunities for learning. Registration is required for this free program.

bird_count

Voas Nature Area
November 1st – December 31st

There are certain years when the best snow comes before winter actually starts. If that happens this time around, they take  advantage of it! Selected weekends and school holidays in November and December, if there are 4 or more inches of snow on the ground and a naturalist is available, there will be a ski program.

This post is sponsored by Adel Chrysler.

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Things to Do This Holiday Season in Dublin Georgia

Just because it’s a bit cold outside doesn’t mean the fun has to end – there’s till lots of fun to be had across Dublin!

Feast at Ristorante Da Maria
November 18th – 19th
875 James Currie Rd, Dublin, GA

Take a culinary tour of Italy each Friday and Saturday night at Dublin Farm’s Ristorante da Maria in Dublin GA. This five course Italian feast celebrates the finest in regional Italian cuisine with a different offering each evening. $39 per person

feast

Herrin Compound Motorcycle Racing
November 19th – 20th

453 Hillbridge Road, Dublin, GA

Experience a rush as Herrin Compound hosts motorcycle racing November 19th and 20th. Spectators are welcome Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $5 per car with Laurens County plates, $10 for all others, and kids 12 and under are free.

Boggy Branch Christmas Tree Farm
November 24th – December 25th
2130 Hobbs Road, Dexter, GA

Delight in the smells of the holiday season with a fresh and growing Christmas tree from the family owned Boggy Branch Christmas Tree Farm in Dexter, GA. Hand select from Leyland and Murray cypress, Virginia Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, and Spruce trees, and cut it yourself with provided saws beginning Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.

boggy_branch_christmas_tree_farm

Dublin Christkindlmarket
November 26th – December 18th
311 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Delight in a mix of unique gift ideas, old-world charm, and holiday cheer as the Dublin Christkindlmarket brings a taste of Germany to Dublin during weekends in November and December.

Lights on Bellevue
November 26th – December 31st
100 Church Street, Dublin, GA

Light up the Christmas season with visions of sugar plums and gumdrops as Bellevue Avenue in #DublinGA brightens your holiday with over 2 miles of magic during Lights on Bellevue. Beginning November 26th at 6 PM, businesses and residences along Dublin’s premier historic district will flip the switch to dazzle you with a Christmas light display unlike any other!
Over a mile long in each direction, Lights on Bellevue will shine nightly from 6 PM to 9 PM daily from November 26th through December 31st.  Experience the wonder of Dublin’s vast collection of historic homes transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Dubbed Millionaire’s Row by locals, Bellevue Avenue features every architectural style. Imagine the sparkle in children’s eyes seeing their favorite homes festooned in bright holiday gaiety! Bring the whole family out to enjoy this fun, free event!

Shiver Christmas Lights
December 1st – December 31st
212 Flanders Court South, Dublin, GA

Brighten up your holiday nights with a brilliant lights display featuring over 60,000 animated Christmas lights from December 1st through December 31st from sunset until 9:30 PM at Shiver Christmas Lights at 212 Flanders Court South in the Holly Hills subdivision.
Tune your radio on 93.5 and feel the holiday spirit come alive as the lights dance with the music. Admission is free, but please drive slowly and watch out for pets.
Each year, the Shivers set out a donation box, and in the spirit of the holiday, donate the proceeds to a local charity.

Jingle and Mingle in Dublin
December 2nd
306 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Jingle all the way during Jingle & Mingle. Kick off the evening at Dublin’s annual Christmas tree lighting at Founders Park, next to Morris Bank with the tree lighting and live entertainment at 5:30 PM.  The celebration continues into the night with extended shopping hours, children’s activities, caroling, warm drinks, and sweet treats. Welcome Santa Claus at 6:00 PM then watch as the Christmas tree is lit at 6:15 PM.

While strolling the decorated sidewalks in downtown, children and their families will enjoy giving their list to Santa Claus at the historic Fred Roberts building with J. Keyton Salon & Spa, face painting at G Rhythm Performing Arts Center, making reindeer food at The Exchange, and hot chocolate and cookies at Bank of Dudley, among others.

Downtown Dublin Christmas Parade
December 3rd
314 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Kick off the holiday season with The Exchange Club of Dublin’s Christmas Parade. Stretching over a mile through the Bellevue and Downtown Historic Districts, the Christmas Parade adds a touch of wonder and delight!

77th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes
December 4th
306 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Discover a world of architectural magic during Dublin’s Christmas Tour of Homes. Now in its 77th year, this tour flings the front door open wide as Dublin’s architectural delights bedeck themselves in holiday finery.

christmas_tour_of_homes

 

 

The Nutcracker
December 11th – 12th
314 Academy Ave. Dublin, GA
Theatre Dublin

Purchase your tickets now for a night of wonderment.  Theatre Dublin’s production of the famed The Nutcracker has it all — a cast of more than 75, glorious sets and costumes, magical special effects, beautiful music, and exceptional dancing by professional and amateur dancers. Don’t miss the hottest holiday ticket in town. Showtimes are Saturday, December 11th at 2 PM and at 7 PM and Sunday, December 12th at 2 PM. Tickets range from $15 to $25. Tickets will be available for sale online beginning November 7th.

 

This post is sponsored by Dublin Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

 

Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

Festivals & Fun in Coffee County Georgia

This is my favorite time of year – the holidays are here. Turkey and Christmas walks, parades, holiday markets and more! There’s a ton going on in Coffee County Georgia in the next few weeks and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. 

First and foremost the 53rd Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade is December 3rd at 6:30 – but that’s not all; there’s tons of fun leading up to the main event:

christmasparade2016

  • November 15th Tree Lighting Ceremony – 6 p.m. at the Coffee County Courthouse
  • November 19th Community Thanksgiving Concert & Toy Drive – 4 p.m. Martin Centre & Central Square Complex
  • November 20th Holiday Open House – 1 – 5 p.m. Downtown Douglas
  • November 26th Shop Local: Small Business Saturday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Downtown Douglas
  • December 4th Christmas Concert – First Baptist Church
  • December 10th Christmas on the Pond – 5 – 9 pm. General Coffee State Park
  • December 17th Winter Recital – Expressions Dance Studios
  • December 24th Candlelight Service – 6 p.m. First Baptist Church
  • December 24th Live Nativity Scene – 6 p.m. First Presbyterian Church

Some other great places you don’t want to miss this holiday season:

Greene Tree Farms – Greene Tree Farms is a multi-generational family business in northern Coffee County. Bring your family to select and cut down your own live Christmas tree.

christmastreefarms

Branhill Plantation – Branhill Plantation offers group and individual packages for hunters as well as luxury lodging and on-site home cooking!

Southern Home Vintage Market – It’s time to go “junking” and find treasures in Douglas, Ga.! An event that started as a vintage kitchenware sale, has turned into a two-day general vintage and antique sale. Over 50 vendors from the Southeast will be showcasing their vintage and antique merchandise. Collectors will find everything from vintage kitchenware such as Pyrex & FireKing, to painted antique furniture, old doors and windows, vintage costume jewelry, repurposed wood and metals, fine jewelry, old coins, collector pocket knives, primitive antiques, vintage home decor’ and 1950’s-1960’s mid-century modern housewares. In addition, an informational class is scheduled for collecting vintage glasswares, and concessions will be onsite.

If you are looking for a one-day or weekend road trip there’s some other great festivals happening around Georgia – check them out!

34th Annual Kingsland Catfish Festival – November 19th, Downtown Kingsland.
Enjoy this down-home festival with crispy southern-fried catfish and all the fixings sure to please! Festival goers can feast on this and much more during Kingsland, Georgia’s Annual Catfish Festival. The fun begins on Saturday, November 19, 2016, and lasts throughout the day. This event will include a night parade, Pokémon Go Lure Party, a children’s amusement area, 5K run, and live entertainment! This year, we are combining the festival with the ‘Runabout in the Royal District Auto Show’ and there will be many classic beauty’s and modern hot rods to admire! Throw in arts & craft booths, a variety of food booths, antiques and collectibles and there will be something to please everyone in the family!

Ruins to Rapids Full Moon Hike – November 14th, Sweetwater Creek State Park
This 1.5-mile hike is moderately difficult and goes down to the Civil War-era textile mill ruins of New Manchester and follows the lovely rapids (up to class IV) of Sweetwater Creek. A flashlight and sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. No children under 6 or dogs. Meet inside the Visitor’s Center. Reservations required. Enjoy the Super Moon!


mill_ruin

Annual Sugar Cane Festival – November 19th, George L. Smith State Park
Enjoy a fun day in the park with fresh cane syrup, fresh ground corn meal, and a wide variety of food and crafts vendors.

Food Truck Festival – November 20th, Skidaway Island State Park
Hurricane Matthew can’t get the best of Skidaway! Join us and our food truck pals as we celebrate the re-opening of the park. We’ll have music, crafts, a huge scavenger hunt, birding, biking and — of course — yummy food trucks. Bring cash for fast and efficient entry, plus a picnic blanket.

Christmas in the Mountains – December 3rd, Cleveland Courthouse Square
A White County tradition, the Christmas in the Mountains Festival & Lighted Parade kicks off a month of holiday activities and events in White County. It features a holiday market of craft, food and children’s activity vendors. Pictures with Santa are part of the celebration, too! The festival is followed by an exciting parade full of lighted floats presented by the county’s organizations and businesses. The 2016 festival includes a tree lighting with music in Freedom Park, along with a luminary lighting presented by Enotah CASA.

30th Annual Victorian Christmas Festival – December 8th & 9th, Downtown Thomasville
Historic Downtown Thomasville, an award-winning “Great American Main Street City,” invites you to come and make a memory at the 30th Annual Victorian Christmas Festival this year! Take an unforgettable journey back in time to the 1890s when life was simple and true Christmas spirit reigned. Enjoy a Victorian Carousel, horse-drawn carriages, strolling carolers, a Live Nativity, holiday shopping, musicians, museums, food and holiday delicacies, and of course, Santa!
Victorian Christmas is held on Thursday and Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Both evenings feature the same great events!

trthomasville-1_277_768837a

This post brought to you in part by Coffee Chrysler Dodge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Woman in Your Life

Whether you are shopping for your wife, girlfriend, mom, Grandma or friend – this is a list of some awesome gifts for the women in your life. I’ve talked to numerous ladies and nearly everything on this gift guide is on their wish list. Check it out – and if you have any thing to add, feel free to leave in the comments below.

First and foremost on the list for nearly every single woman that I know (and every single coffee lover) is the Ninja Coffee Bar System.  The New Ninja Coffee Bar System is a better than a coffee house experience, at home, that you can’t get anywhere else.
It provides integrated frother, six brew sizes, five brew types, including the Ninja exclusive Café Forte – which amplifies the natural subtle flavors of your favorite coffee, for a sensationally different and delicious coffee experience!

ninja-coffee-bar-e1475560567353

Next on my list is another Ninja product – the Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl DuoIdeal for the health conscience woman in your life – with just a touch of a button the Nutrient Fusion creates a blend of food containing nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and other foods – transforming diverse, fresh ingredients into flavorful meals, snacks and desserts.
Nutrient Extraction unlocks existing hidden vitamins and nutrients by blending whole fruits and vegetables, including portions that are normally discarded, and breaking them down to create an array of delicious, nutrient-rich juices and smoothies.

nutri-ninja-nutri-bowl-duo-with-auto-iq-boost-nn101

Another great gift idea would be the Shark Rocket Complete with Duo Clean TechnologyI always thought giving ‘household appliances’ as gifts were lame until I got older – now I beg for them! This Shark is no exception – the DuoClean™ Technology has the power of 2 distinct brushrolls spinning in unison to pull in large, small and stuck-on particles on floors and carpets – that’s Triple Particle Cleaning! It’s lightweight  making  it versatile for floor-to-ceiling cleaning. It also has a powerful LED lights make it so easy to see hidden dirt.

shark_rocket_duo

If the woman in your life has hardwood floors, the Shark Genius Hard Floor  Cleaning System may be a better fit.  An evolution in hard floor care, the new system offers a flexible, tailored, all-in-one solution that delivers improved and easier cleaning than before. Cleans the dirt you can see and sanitizes floors when and where you need it.

shark_genius_hardwood_floors

Something else I found that is totally awesome is the Sound and Sleep Mini Machine.
SOUND+SLEEP MINI is a sleep therapy system that helps you sleep better. It offers 12 unique categories of natural sounds with 48 non-looping sounds engineered to promote deeper sleep and relaxation. Some of the Sound Stories include Ocean, Rain, Brook, Fireplace, Meadow, and Waterfalls. The MINI also includes 4 fan sounds & 12 white/pink/brown noises. The MINI is able to run from AC, USB, or battery power. The product is small and light so makes for the perfect travel companion. Also with the line input jack the MINI can play music or audio from your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or MP3 player. Sleep Better. No Prescription Necessary. The SOUND+SLEEP MINI redefines the science of sleep. Patented Adaptive Sound technology has the ability to continuously and automatically “listen” to your background for unwanted and disruptive ambient noise. in less than a tenth of a second, the MINI responds to intrusive noises by remixing sound profiles and adjusting volume to neutralize outside sounds.

sleep_and_sound_mini

 

 

 

Posted in Deals, Holidays | Leave a comment

Kick the Holiday Stress to the Curb with Savesta

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Savesta- though I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.

The holidays are always super stressful to me – year after year I keep telling myself that I’ll plan ahead more; not take on so much work, keep away from those extra cookies and still stay on my workout schedule. Yet every year I continue to do just the opposite. It’s kind of hard to say NO right??

That’s why I love the products from SavestaSavesta is a all-natural supplement developed with the expertise of the Savesta Advisory Board, which includes some of the world’s most renowned Ayurvedic physicians and scientists. They have something for whatever may ails you.. including the holiday funk!

There are a few products that I love for the holiday season that have helped me to stay well balanced, focused – and ready for whatever the holidays (or my family) may throw at you.

My favorite is the Savesta Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha by Savesta 60 Capsule Living with stress is part of living in todays world. Stress is your bodys natural response to everyday physical emotional and environmental demands. You cant avoid this stress altogether but using Pegasus combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle changes can help minimize its negative effects. Helps to manage normal daily stress Supports healthy brain function. Ashwangandha is an Ayurvedic herb also known as Indian Ginseng that has been in practice for hundreds of years

Benefits

  • Helps to manage normal daily stress
  • Promotes relaxation and more restful sleep
  • Supports healthy brain function
  • Powerful antioxidant
  • Boosts Immune System

My second favorite would be Savesta’s Gymnema – Gymnema from Savesta also known as Gymnema Sylvestre helps to maintain normal blood sugar level and promotes healthy function of pancreas. Gymnema sylvestre, also know as Gurmar and Meshashringi, has been used in Ayurveda for centuries to regulate sugar metabolism.

Benefits

  • Helps to maintain blood sugar levels that are already within normal range
  • Abolishes the taste of sugar, thus neutralizing the craving for sweets
  • Supports pancreas health

Last (but surely not least) is Savesta’s Turmeric; For centuries, Ayurveda has recommended turmeric to maintain joint health and comfortable range of motion. Science has identified curcuminoids as the source of the systemic antioxidant effect-which also helps maintain balanced immune cell function and cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, this youth promoting herb is not always digested efficiently. High concentrations are required to ensure consistent benefit. Savesta™ Turmeric is standardized to 95% curcuminoids to optimize absorption. Tumeric standardized to 95% curcuminoids A natural and safe herb for optimum joint health

Benefits

  • Supports healthy joint function 

The combination of these 3 have made the last few weeks less stress – and I think I’m ready for whatever the holidays may throw at me!

Posted in Fitness/Health | 1 Comment