15 Things I Can't Wait to Do in Des Moines!

In only a few days, I'll be moving back to Des Moines for the summer! It's kind of crazy to think how fast (and slowww) this school year went by. This fall felt like it dragged on for years, while this spring felt like it was gone in a flash. Maybe it was because I was better adjusted, or just happier, this spring. Who knows!

While I'm going to miss my friends from school desperately, I'm also super pumped to be spending the summer in one of my favorite cities! So here's a list of the things I'm excited to do this summer in Des Moines!

1. See my mom more often -- We'll be sharing an apartment when she's in town, so I'll get to see her at least a week a month, maybe more!
2. See J & Leif more often -- This is a given, haha.
3. See my friends in the Des Moines area -- I have so many friends still in the area, and hopefully I'll be able to visit with them all at least once before I move back in the fall!
4. Work at the best law firm in Iowa everrr: the Fiedler Law Firm! Full of smart, strong, ambitious people who I love and respect, fighting the good fight!
5. A Dong's -- Easily the best Vietnamese in the state, and I'll be live about 2 minutes away. Dangerous...
6. Fong's Pizza -- All day, every day.
7. Visit the Blank Park Zoo -- Assuming I have time, this would be SUCH a great summer activity!
8. Go to Zombie Burger for the first time -- Yeah, I've lived in the area for years since it opened and never eaten there. We're gonna fix that this summer.
9. Walk around the East Village & try not to spend all my money - especially at Hill Vintage and Raygun. Eeek!
10. Visit the Art Center -- I haven't been there in years, and there's nothing like art to put your life in perspective.
11. Sakari Sushi Lounge -- I love this place in Des Moines! You can always count on girls in tight, leopard print dresses for people-watching and cheap, delicious sushi.
12. The Des Moines Farmer's Market -- I'm going to be living for half the summer about a block from Court Ave, so this is my #1 priority every Saturday. You haven't seen a farmer's market until you've seen the one in Des Moines. Plus, Saloo's Indian makes the best vegetable cutlets in the world. Proven fact.
13. The Royal Mile & The Hessen Haus -- Strongbow on tap & themed bars. Yep.
14. Van Dee's Ice Cream -- I grew up on this ice cream, and I've definitely been in withdrawal!
15. Start training -- I told J he should train for a half marathon, which turned into him refusing unless I did it too. So I'm going to start running seriously again this summer. Given that I haven't run further than 5 miles in one time, this is going to be an interesting summer, haha.

Do you have anything else for the list? Did I forget something obvious? 

Are you excited for this summer?

Life Lately {vol. 20}

I gave blood for the first time a few weeks ago! I almost fainted a few times, but I survived. ;)

 Completely obsessed with my homemade Tom Yum soup recipe! 

Since I'm moving back to Iowa for the summer, I decided to switch up my winter & spring/summer clothes. This is literally 90% of the clothes I own, haha.

My friend Ally had a Beer Olympics-themed party a few weeks ago, and my friend Brendan & I went as Scotland. I hear we won. No big deal or anything. Don't mess with Scotland!

I've been using my food processor to make the most delicious green smoothies!

My mom came visit me in New Hampshire for the first two weeks ago! She wanted a shot of me with the UNH Law sign, and it turned out pretty great. :)

Isn't my mom gorgeous?!

I think busts of famous dead people are SO cool. Photographs are obviously great, but it's not 3D. Looking at busts of Thomas Jefferson & George Washington was kind of magical, like being face-to-face with a huge part of American history.

I had an immediately connection to this girl. The caption said she was pretending she was a mom & the cat was her baby, but I feel pretty confident that girl just really loves her cat.

Mom and I had tea at the cafe in the Museum. Super over-priced, but the tea was delicious.

Snapchats from J are always precious, but this Easer one with him and Leif completely melted my heart!

Last Monday I got the chance to argue a summary judgment argument in front of a mock-judge, which went really well! Afterwards, I went over to my friend Jay's place to watch "Game of Thrones," and Tyler made us - get this - celery margaritas! AND THEY WERE SPECTACULAR.

On Thursday, I gave the same summary judgment argument to audition for Moot Court! It said "courtroom attire," so naturally I wore a fox scarf as a tie. Say what you will, but I felt like a badass all day. What does it say about femininity in the law when a "tie" makes me feel strong? Maybe it was just that it was a risque move...

Last Friday was my last day of 1L classes! :O I rewarded myself by going to Starbucks.

This week, after studying all day in the library, I relaxed by watching American Horror Story and eating healthy tortellini soup. :)

One of the great things about having "long" hair is being able to do kinda weird stuff with it. I pinned it to one side this week and loved how it looked!

James has been super snuggly all week!

I should have been born in the '80s. Crop top, high-waisted purple velvet pants, an oversized demin shirt, and super puffy hair. Yeah.

Yesterday a group of us went to Live Juice for lunch and wheat grass shots, and to take a study break!

If you all didn't know, I'm in the midst of finals right now, which is the #1 reason I haven't been posting very regularly! I just had my Property final this morning and I think it went well! :) I guess we'll see when I get my grades back, haha. I still have my Sales final on Tuesday and my Constitutional Law final on Friday, so lots of studying left to go!

And then after my finals, I start driving back to Iowa on Saturday! How is summer this close already?!

Life Lately {vol. 19}

Even the harder days at law school are worth it when I come home. I love my little room. :)

So far, the best part of living in New England is all the seafood, including New England Clam Chowder at school!

Look at this perfect little guy! :)

I re-colored my hair last week and LOOOVE how it turned out!

I try to go quite a while before getting more groceries, but that leads to lugging big ol' bags upstairs, haha.

Last Saturday was the Barrister's Ball (aka law school prom), so I got all dolled up! :D

Abby and I before Barrister's Ball! I went with her and her husband, Andrew, since J is still in Iowa.

Aren't they a cute couple?! :)

A bunch of the 1L ladies at the hotel before the Barrister's Ball!

James is my kitty soulmate.

Law school has been pretty great these past few weeks, not gonna lie! The hardest part has been that a lot of motivation for homework is gone. Trust me, I'm still trucking through it and taking notes, but it's been a lot harder to get started this time of year! Especially because it's started being sooo beautiful out. It makes me want to go for walks, or at least open my windows and lay in bed all day, haha.

How have these past few weeks been for you? Have you been experiencing a lack of motivation? How do you get over that motivation hump?