Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was so much fun! I feel like we packed so much into such a short amount of time. While exhausting, it was a blast! Make sure to link up to your weekend snapshots at the end of this post.
Saturday morning I met up with Joanna and Jordan for the Lush grand opening in Omaha! I’ve been a big fan of their products for years and I was so excited for a brick and mortar store to open up near me! This picture is everything happy baths are made of.
They had a bunch of fun activities going on at their grand opening event, including free facials! It was crazy how nice my skin looked and felt after this. I definitely need to do these more often! I picked up a bottle of Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water and absolutely love it.
After our beauty treatments, Jordan and I went to Louie’s Wine Dive for girl talk and lunch. My kale chicken salad was ridiculously delicious. I wish kale salads tasted like this when I make them!
The rest of Saturday night was spent hanging out with Josh and working on blog stuff. Sunday morning Josh and I woke up early to head to the Iowa State Fair! We had never been before and had both heard amazing things, so we were pretty excited.
Driving to Des Moines is roughly two hours from Omaha. It’s a straight shot on the highway, but Josh and I enjoy exploring, so we had fun venturing through some small towns. I feel like this what people think of when they think of the Midwest.
Once we got to the fair (and finally found parking!) we got right down to business checking out the fairgrounds. Like these cute little goats that kept coming over to give me licks.
And this ginormous rabbit that had the cutest twisty ears.
Speaking of ginormous… check out this pumpkin! Could you imagine trying to carve that thing?
There was a fun sand sculpture that was perfectly themed for the fair.
I love the sheep just chilling on the corn. haha
The coolest part of the Iowa State Fair had to be the craft beer and local wine tents.
They were a great way to try some of Iowa’s best offerings, hear talks on the products, and even enter an old school grape stomping competition!
This is me with a root beer in the beer tent. 😉 I wish I liked beer.
Don’t worry, I made sure to save all my tickets for the wine tent. I found wines I absolutely love and cannot wait to pick up a few bottles at home.
Food wise, Josh and I tried not to go crazy but we had fun trying a bunch of different things. We went in there with no game plan and ended up making one up on the fly, as well as coming up with a game plan for next year. This pulled chicken and mashed potato sandwich is a good example. It was fine, but I’ll be skipping it next year in favor of the wood-fired pizza place by the wine tent. Cheaper and way more yummy looking.
Josh got fried cheese and cauliflower and while they were good, there were fried cheese curds at a different stand that we’re both eyeing for next year.
Same with this grilled corn in a cup. It was tasty, but there was a grilled sweet corn on the cob stand we saw that we have to try next year.
One food we’re really glad we tried? The fried mac and cheese. It’s so unhealthy, but I had to know what it tasted like. The guy working the stand was so sweet and did a half order for half the price which I really appreciated, since I did not need ten of these cheesy fried dough bites. They were super yummy and satisfied my fried mac and cheese urge. Next year I’m all about the chocolate covered cookie dough ball on a stick! It sounds phenomenal!
When we were driving to Des Moines, I noticed a sign for L.T. Organic Farm Restaurant. I made a note of the name and told Josh we should look it up as a possible dinner place for the night. After checking out the glowing reviews on Yelp, our mouths were watering and we decided to give it a go. We stopped at the farm on the way back to Omaha that night for dinner.
The weather was perfect, so we ended up sitting outside on their patio. It was so cool to be sitting having dinner in the middle of a farm. There were dozens of chickens like six feet away from us!
We were not sure what to expect at this restaurant, but what we learned is that it’s an organic restaurant owned by an Indian family. It has been in business for the last 15 years. Their restaurant is open in the warm weather months while their crops are fresh and growing. They serve one meal a day that can be modified to fit vegan or vegetarian diets.
I don’t even know how to describe this food except to say that I really, really wish I did not live an hour and forty-five minutes from this restaurant. Oh my goodness, everything was so fresh and so flavorful. The chicken was ridiculously moist and tender, which I learned is because it cooks for 12 hours! I wish I could eat the plate in this picture though the screen. If you ever find yourself in the Des Moines area, I highly recommend checking out L.T. Organic Farm Restaurant. And if you happen to live nearby please eat there all the time and think of me while you do. 😉
Questions of the Day: What was the highlight of your weekend? Beer or wine? Are you a Lush fan? Do you like to stop and explore on road trips or are you a get in the car and get to your destination kind of person?
That corn looks amazing! Glad you had fun at the fair 🙂
I had so much fun at the fair! I can’t wait to go back again next year!
So much good food!!!!! So jealous.
Aw thanks Morgan! It was a great weekend!
If theres anything I’ve learned since living in the Middle East is organic Indian restaurants are friggen awesome. It sounds like L.T. Organic Farm Restaurant is no different!!
Omg that restaurant was amazing!! I want to go back!
You’re so impressive every week with all your pictures! I have no idea how you do it because I never remember to take that many… sometimes I forget altogether. You’re a girl after my own heart – saving all your tickets for the wine! Wine > beer every time!! Happy Monday.
Aww thanks Claire! I love capturing memories with pictures. I should probably do it less!
Fried mac & cheese makes life worth living.
Omg it was ridiculously amazing!! I’m so glad I tried it!
I like beer and wine! Love fun fruity or full dark beers and just started liking white wine. The fair looks fun! I’ve never been to one.
It was such a fun fair! I can’t wait to go back next year!
My boyfriend of all people actually introduced me to Lush and I love it! Sadly, I don’t have a store near me though : /
I love Lush!! This is the first time I’ve had a store near me too! My favorite time to stock up on Lush products is the after Christmas sales. Their Christmas beauty boxes are buy one get two free!
The Iowa State Fair sounds amazing! I love the sand sculpture! I am always so impressed by people who can do that kind of stuff with sand. I know what you mean about wanting to go in with a food game plan to make sure you get to try all the good stuff. I mean chocolate covered cookie dough balls! I would have to have that. I am glad you guys had such an amazing time. Happy Monday!
I am DEFINITELY getting the chocolate covered cookie dough balls next time!!
Looks like you had a really fun weekend! I’ve had fried mac and cheese before – it was such a good guilty pleasure! Yum!
I’m so glad I got to try the fried mac and cheese! It was great!
All that food looks AMAZING! And yay for LUSH coming to town, one of my favorite stores <3
It is such a great store! I’m in love with their face masks!!
Ohhh I love Lush! It’s such a great store. And all of the food you experienced over the weekend looks delicious! Thanks for hosting the link up, Happy Monday!
I am in love with the Lush store! I’m so glad Omaha finally has one!!
Looks like you had such a fun weekend! State fairs are the BEST…we don’t have them here in New England!
I’m traveling out to Minnesota this weekend to visit my goddaughter and we’re going to the MN State Fair. I am seriously so excited!!
I hope you had a blast at the MN state fair! I find state fairs to be so much fun!!
That fried mac ‘n cheese looks INCREDIBLE! That’s nice of the man to let you have a half order 🙂
Oh man the mac and cheese was SO good! Such a fun thing to try!
Great photos.. That’s a fantastic way to remember a fun weekend. 🙂
Thanks lady! It was a super fun weekend!
It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend and all that food – drool – so good!
It was definitely a food filled weekend! haha
I heard the Lush store was opening!! How exciting — I love their products. That salad looks amazing, too!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Oh man the salad was so good! And I love the new Lush store!!
Looks like such a fun weekend! I have never been to Lush.
It’s a great store! If you find one nearby you should definitely check it out! Bath heaven. 😀
I adoreee Lush!!! <3 I wish there was one around here! *-*
State fairs are so much fun! 😀 Those sculptures are awesome!
I love Lush! I’m excited to visit my store more!
Seems like a great weekend with a lot of yummy food…my kind of plans!! 😉
It was an awesome, food-filled weekend!!
looked like such a great weekend! the animals are so cute! and all the food look yummy!
lifeisashoe
I want a bunny so badly!! haha
What a fun weekend. I especially like the farm restaurant. And your fair is definitely a cut above the one around here. No wine or wood-fired pizza at ours!
It was an amazing fair! I can’t wait to go back again next year!
That fried mac & cheese looks incredible! Happy you had a fun weekend!
The fried mac and cheese was the bomb dot com!!
That little bunny is so cute! I had bunnies when I was younger and the first rabbit I had was a lops whose ears never went in the same direction. You’d try to put them both in the same direction and then watch as they slowly flopped back to different directions. I loved it!
I would love a bunny!! They’re so cute!
Your weekend sounds awesome! I can’t believe you drove to Des Moines just for the state fair…although it is pretty great. I think Dave and I went for the weekend a couple of years ago and it was awesome. So. much. FOOD! Their farmer’s market is pretty awesome, too if you ever go there on a Saturday morning. (<-take me with you?)
Also next time you're in Des Moines, you should go to Zombie Burger. Crazy foodie options. 🙂
Ohh Zombie Burger sounds awesome! Definitely adding that to my list! Thanks so much!!
All of the fair food looks delicious!
It was so good!!
What a fabulous weekend!! And holy cow – fried mac and cheese – that sounds incredible. I’m a total vodka soda girl so neither beer or wine. 🙁 And I love making impromptu stops on road trips – especially when it involves food 🙂
The fried mac and cheese was amazing!! I’m so glad I tried it!
I’m glad you enjoyed the Iowa State Fair and being from Nebraska I really enjoy reading your blog, however I did not appreciate your dig at the Nebraska State Fair the other day. Have you ever been? Just because it’s not located in Omaha or Lincoln doesn’t mean it’s not a good fair. You need to get out and explore more of the state that you currently call home.
Hey Barbara! I think you took my comment a little too personally. There was no dig at Nebraska. I LOVE living here and make no bones about it on my blog. That said, the Iowa State Fair is the third best state fair in the country. It is the better state fair and all my (Nebraskan) friends here have told me that if we can only go to one fair to go to the Iowa State Fair for sure. I did not mean to offend you, but it shocked me that you think I’m putting down Nebraska. I love this state, way more than Iowa. This is where I live!
love that beer photo!
I recently learned that they have Root Beer Flavored Beer!! I’ve never had it, so I can’t give a good review, but maybe it is something you will like?
It looks like your weekend was a blast! I always love looking at Monday posts and seeing what people are up to! 😀
Looks like you really treated yourself this weekend 🙂
Looks like you had a bunch of fun this weekend. That kale salad looks yummy
Looks like you had an amazing weekend! I love trying local wines & beers! You never know what you’re going to get!!
What fun at the fair! That fried mac n cheese looks so interesting!
It looks like ya’ll had a blast!! Love the goats and sand sculpture, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around how one would go about transporting a 1000+ lb pumpkin- without damaging it!! -Dorrie @ Rt 1 US 1
I love state fairs, but I have to say, I consider my own, The Missouri State Fair, to be the best! 🙂 I loved seeing your photos, though. Yummy food! Visiting from Blog Meets Blog on FB.
Looks like you had an awesome weekend! I love the photos you shared! Your root beer looks delish! I am definitely a person who likes to get out of the car…not your point A to point B kinda girl. I typically leap out anytime I see furniture that could use a revamp!
Thanks for sharing your weekend with me!
Jacquelyn
Awesome photos, and all the food looks amazing!
The rabbit, the mask, all the delicious food, looks like such a fun time!
Looks like such a great weekend!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
It was a wonderful weekend! 😀
This look like a great weekend! I want to eat all of that food!
I want to eat it all again! haha
I love Lush products too! I don’t have a store near me, but whenever I find one I have to wander in. Have you tried their lip colors? My favorites!
I have not tried their lip colors!! Now I need to!
Looks like you had a great weekend- that pumpkin was HUGE! I always love visiting the state fair here in Georgia, but it isn’t as interesting as areas in smaller cities. I like the farm aspect of fairs since I grew up in a really rural area. Cute post!
Thanks Autumn! It was a great fair!
Very nice. I have heard that the Iowa State Fair was the best and your pics prove it. I have family (I have never seen) in Oelwein.
I can’t wait to go back again next year! It was so much fun!
The fair can be so crazy! You found food I’ve never even seen :). I’m a big fan of the beer tent myself.
GOING to look up that restaurant.
It’s an amazing restaurant! You should totally check it out!!
I need to get myself to the Iowa State fair! Great snapshots!
It’s an amazing fair!! Josh and I had so much fun!
I will have to remember this link up. I just don’t have anything that fits the theme right now and I think i am a little late to the party anyhow.
I would love to have you join in the future Crystal!
I am so excited that Lush finally opened! How amazing that you got to go to the grand opening too! I’ve never been to the Iowa state fair before but I’ve always heard it’s amazing. I also love the concept of that restaurant too! I think it would be worth it for a little road trip. Looks like an awesome weekend!
Oh you have to go to the Iowa State Fair next year! It’s amazing!
Love this! I wish I could have gotten Dave to go to the fair. I’ve never been!! And Lush…I had no idea one opened in Omaha! Gosh I’m out of the loop. Haha
Oh girl we need to go to Lush together!! It’s amazing!