Showing posts with label Surf Ballroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surf Ballroom. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Falling out of Summer

I don't know about you, but I'm loving this time of year!  The busyness of summer has ended and at the same time, the harvest pace of fall hasn't begun.  It is the perfect few weeks to just stop, relax and reflect.  One thing I got to thinking about this week was our family's Summer Bucket List we made at the beginning of the summer.  So with a few weeks left before our family gets into harvest mode, let's check out to see how we did!


  1. Go Camping at Beed's Lake or Pine Lake - We didn't get this accomplished but we did do a lot of backyard camping.  So I'm calling this one half-way done!
  2. Host a Baconfest on our farm - This didn't happen and won't be happening.  I guess we'll just have to go to area Baconfests this winter to make up for it :)
  3. Check out RAGBRAI Bicyclists as they come through North Iowa - We didn't do this either!  We saw RAGBRAI support teams but decided to stay away from as much RAGBRAI traffic as we could.
  4. Have fun at a Surf Ballroom Rock "n" Tots lesson - We not only had fun at one Rock "n" Tots class but the entire summer's worth of classes.  This was a great program that we look forward to participating in again next year!
    Surf Ballroom Rock n' Tots
    LP channeling his inner Buddy Holly
    while playing his rubber band guitar
    on stage at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake
  5. Watch one of the Fireworks Shows during the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) convention - We had good intentions to go up and watch a show but never made it!  Next year!
  6. Go to an Iowa Cubs Baseball Game - We didn't get this accomplished either!  Maybe I shouldn't have looked at our bucket list...
  7. Shop the Des Moines Farmer's Market - I got to do this with my Mom and one of my sisters earlier this summer!  I enjoyed everything from my breakfast burrito, to picking up some salsa, to purchasing some cute clothes and toys for the kids.  The Des Moines Farmer's Market really does have a bit of everything!
  8. Visit a Science Center or Children's Museum - I am happy to say that we have gone on a couple two-day getaways this summer and one was to Des Moines a couple weeks ago.  We visited the Iowa State Fair, the Blank Park Zoo and the Science Center of Iowa.  The entire family had a great time!  There were so many hands-on activities at the Science Center.  We will definitely be back and will be sure to check out more science centers on our travels.
    Hands on activities at Science Center of Iowa
    LP testing his Lego car at the
    Science Center of Iowa
  9. Go on an Iowa Ice Cream Trip - Throughout June's Dairy Month we traveled to an Iowa ice cream destination weekly.  We had a lot of fun visiting Decorah's Whippy Dip, Hudson's Hansen Dairy, LeMars's Blue Bunny, and Mason City's Birdsall's.  I think we might just have to do this again next year! 
    Visiting LeMars - the Ice Cream Capital of the World
    MP enjoying her own ice cream cone at Blue Bunny in LeMars
  10. Continue our Tradition of going on a Family Vacation - And this is going to be happening soon!  We are excited to get away for a few days in South Dakota.  I'll be sure to post about our trip afterwards!
So, we didn't do as well as I thought we did, but nonetheless, we've had a great, fun-filled summer.  Did you make a Summer Bucket List?  How did you do?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Family Summer Bucket List

With Memorial Day behind us and the 1st of June a couple days away, it seems like it is time to announce my family's Summer Bucket List!

Family Summer Bucket List - Exploring Iowa and the Midwest

This year our family came up with a list of 10 things to do this summer that lead us to explore our backyard of North Iowa, some places across Iowa, and to travel the Midwest.  Combine this list with our Family Summer Bucket List from last year, and it looks like we have a fun summer ahead of us!

  1. Go Camping at Beed's Lake or Pine Lake 
  2. Host a Baconfest on our farm
  3. Check out RAGBRAI Byciclist as they come through North Iowa
  4. Have fun at a Surf Ballroom Rock "n" Tots lesson
  5. Watch one of the Fireworks Shows during the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) convention
  6. Go to an Iowa Cubs Baseball Game
  7. Shop the Des Moines Farmer's Market
  8. Visit a Science Center or Children's Museum
  9. Go on an Iowa Ice Cream Trip
  10. Continue our Tradition of going on a Family Vacation

We are so excited to check these items off our list and to share our experiences on the blog!  What is on your Summer Bucket List?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wordless Wednesday - North Iowa Baconfest

On Sunday, My Farmer and I attended the 1st North Iowa Baconfest at the iconic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.  My favorite bacon samples were the Cookies BBQ Infused Bacon from Fareway Grocery Stores and Webster City Meats and the Peanut Butter Banana Bacon Cupcakes from Grandma Sugar's Cupcakery of Mason City.  We had a great time and look forward to seeing the event get bigger and better for next year!

Enjoying some BACON!
Got Bacon???
My Farmer and I made sure to wear our bacon/pork shirts to the Baconfest

Do you want to learn more about Bacon?  Be sure to check out these other posts on bacon then:


Have you ever been to a "Baconfest" before?  Do you have a favorite bacon treat?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!