Baby you’re a firework update: While the husband is away the wife will find new blogs to read. Well, it’s close enough to the original saying, right? Anywho, I’m in the market for some new lifestyle blogs to follow. Now that the wedding is over I have no real need to keep checking out Style Me Pretty, Snippet&Ink, and Once Wed on a daily basis. Do you have any blogs that you would like to recommend?

In other news, I finally got to try out the hot new restaurant in town, Americana. We did a little co-worker lunch outing today to welcome a newbie to the team, and the new digs did not disappoint the taste buds. I sipped on an Arnold Palmer while I enjoyed the Grilled Cheese Panini with Parmesan french fries. Man, did that hit the spot! I can’t wait to go back to try out their list of cocktails. Happy hour anyone?

Americana, 1312 Locust Avenue, Des Moines

Tomorrow is a big day for a special little gal in our lives. Ms. Mackenzie is celebrating her upcoming 5th birthday with a magical Rapunzel-themed fete at Grandma & Grandpa’s castle, aka Terrace Hill. I cannot wait to see how all the decorations turned out that her mom put together, and her birthday cake of course will be out of this world!

Check out these adorable, themed birthday parties from my favorite party inspiration blog, Hostess with the Mostess, for the kids in your life:

Arts & Painting birthday party

Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party

Super Hero birthday party