Tomorrow's To Dos

Date night in DSM

Posted on January 29, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Fully recovered update: This weekend was filled with family, forts and a whole lot of Abu Nazir. Yep, I spent most of Sunday laying on the couch under the covers following the twists and turns of Homeland. I highly recommend checking this show out if you love second guessing and secretly wish you were a spy.

[Aunt Nini built Sidney her first fort]

[fabulous Homeland-themed vintage jazz records by designer Ty Mattson]

I’d like to give a very special shout out to my dear friend Erin who is celebrating her golden birthday today! These gilded gifts would be perfect for the birthday girl.

[charm necklace, french press, salad set, trinket box, c3po flash drive, earrings, tote]

I am really looking forward to a special date night this coming Thursday. It’s actually my birthday gift from Marcus – dinner and a show. A romantic dinner for two at my favorite eatery, Luna Bistro, and Book of Mormon following. It’s always nice to have something you are excited about to get you through the week.

Is there something that you are looking forward to this week?

Posted in Birthdays, Family, Friends, Gifts, Local Spots | Tagged fort, gold, golden birthday, Homeland, jazz records, musical, The Book of Mormon | Leave a comment

Fully recovered

Posted on January 25, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

The bug update: After a few long days, many aches and pains and a bottle or three of Gatorade, I am on the other side of the flu and feeling a whole lot better. After disinfecting the entire second floor with Lysol and Clorox and washing all the bedding, things are getting back to normal.

During my hiatus from the world, I was able to start watching two shows that I am now hooked on: Game of Thrones and Homeland. Definitely worth the catch-up and watch.

On my way home tonight I made a pit stop at Michaels and walked out of there with a bag full of goodies. Love that store.

I don’t really have many plans for the weekend, but usually that’s when I end up being the busiest. Here’s to a weekend filled with catching up on your magazines, creating to-do lists and most importantly, your health.

Posted in Local Spots, Shopping | Tagged Ballad Design, Claeys, Game of Thrones, Homeland, lemon drops, Martha Stewart Living, Michaels, twine | Leave a comment

The bug

Posted on January 22, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Three day weekend update: This past weekend was extra long and filled with lots of fun moments…

[Sid’s first trip to Bass Pro]

[a relaxing moment]

[playing in the snow]

[celebrated Marcus’ birthday]

And then one not-so-fun moment: on my day off yesterday I was struck down with the nasty flu bug that is everywhere right now. This was the scene near my bed yesterday and today.

Scary sight, huh? So on my to-do list for tomorrow, hopefully I’ll officially be over this bug and back to my regular self.

Posted in Birthdays, Family | Tagged Bass Pro, birthday cake, Django, german shorthaired pointer, Karl, Starbucks | Leave a comment

Three day weekend

Posted on January 18, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

What the HoQ update: As I type this I could not be happier that it is Friday and that this work week is officially over. Post-holiday craziness is at an all-time high right now, and I just really needed it to be the weekend. And it is an extended one at that since we have Monday off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Three-day weekend ALERT!

To wind things down, a group of us headed to check out new local eatery HoQ today for lunch. After receiving this tweet from them

in response to my blog post yesterday, I decided to go ahead and order the burger trio with root fries. The presentation was beautiful and the portion size was just perfect for lunch. Out of the three offerings (lamb, salmon, beef), I think I enjoyed the beef the best. I’m such an Iowa girl – although the lamb and salmon were both delish too. And don’t even get me started on those fries. Mmmmm, I could go for a pile of them right now!

I don’t have too many plans heading into his long weekend, but that is just fine with me. Do you have an extra day off too? If so, are you doing anything exciting with the bonus 24 hours? Either way, I hope you all have a great weekend!

Posted in Local Spots, Restaurants | Tagged HoQ | Leave a comment

What the HoQ

Posted on January 17, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Red, red twine update: I unexpectedly received a text from my sis Morgan yesterday, asking me if I wanted to attend the Smart Talk session tonight. Knowing that I didn’t really have anything going on, I replied “I’m in!”

Little did I know that it would turn into a fabulous little Thursday evening complete with:

our 177th check-in together on FourSquare,

a shopping trip to one of my fave East Village stores, Eden

a return visit to Luna Bistro to try out their new Interlude menu (which was amazing!),

and quite the show at the Civic Center (such a pretty interior – see below) with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts.

Who is ready for it to be Friday? [raises hand, arm and leg] What a crazy week its been at work. I am looking forward to a little r & r in the form of a lunch outing tomorrow (I usually workout over the noon hour) with my co-workers. We are heading downtown to check out new restaurant, HoQ (pronounced hawk I believe).

Based on everything that I’ve read, their menu changes daily and showcases Iowa ingredients while supporting local farmers. Can’t wait to check out their menu tomorrow and try out some homegrown goodness!

Posted in Local Spots, Restaurants | Tagged Civic Center of Des Moines, eden, FourSquare, HoQ, Luna Bistro, Smart Talk | Leave a comment

Red, red twine

Posted on January 16, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

In stitches update: According to VOGUE Daily, the monogram is having a moment. Well duh, I could have told you that! Guess that means my new hobby is ‘on trend.’ Check out what I picked up from Marshall’s to embroider for my mom.

[embroidered striped dish towel + today’s jewelry]

While out and about I found the perfect Big Night favor for the ladies. What do you think?

[La Source foot soak, World Market heart-shaped pumice, Ghirardelli squares]

Now I just need to continue my search for the perfect sea-themed favor for the guys, and then it’s on to the fun part – cute packaging. I’ve been seeing striped bakers twine everywhere these days, so I’m leaning towards using it to tie up the boxed goodies. Here’s what I’m thinking:

[buy red twine here, here and here]

Posted in Gifts, Parties | Tagged embroidery, favors, monograms, twine, Wrapping | Leave a comment

In stitches

Posted on January 14, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Upstairs and downstairs update: While out and about looking for Big Night favors this weekend, I ended up at one of my favorite local craft stores – Hobby Lobby. My mom and I spent close to two hours walking up and down aisles full of inspiration and ideas for me. But what I walked out of there with were flour sack tea towels, coral colored embroidery floss, a sewing hoop, disappearing ink pen and needles. Yep, new hobby commence!

After a brief stitching tutorial from my mom (and the internet) I forged ahead creating my very own hand embroidered monogram tea towels. As I finished my first one, I thought to myself how proud my Grandpa Dreiling would have been. You see, this was once a hobby of his back in the day (along with his woodworking). I even have my own set of days-of-the-week towels that he embroidered years ago.

I’ve totally been bit by the bug and now I can’t stop. After my trial towel, I went on to create more unique monogram styles to replicate and even went back and got more thread colors.

After I mastered my own insignia, I decided to forge ahead and create towels for my sisters with their initials while enjoying my Sunday evening on the couch watching my shows.

I was also able to enjoy a toasty fire, a little vino and a delicious oven-roasted chicken thanks to my fabulous husband. Not too shabby!

Now that the week is in full swing, I think I will scour a few stores and drawers for other things that I can monogram. Like these:

[cardigan, baby gowns, napkins, blankets, scarf ]

Posted in Accessories, Baby, Family, Gifts | Tagged chicken, embroidery, Grandpa Dreiling, monogram, Sunday dinner, tea towels | 2 Comments

Upstairs and downstairs

Posted on January 11, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Something’s fishy update: I plan on using the upcoming weekend to check out a few local spots and see if I can’t secure the Big Night dinner favors. I’m leaning towards the idea of sea salt – scrub for the ladies, grinders for the gents. Possibly something from one of my local faves, AllSpice?

Speaking of East Village hot spots, the Haas family gathered at my favorite Des Moines restaurant, Luna Bistro, tonight to celebrate one of our favorite ladies – my mom! We settled into our table and raised our glasses to cheers to her recent birthday and her brand new knee. Chef Kris always has something exciting in store for us and his recently revealed winter menu did not disappoint. I went with the grilled romaine salad, chicken kiev and chai spice creme caramel dessert. I know I say this every time I talk about this place, but you really are missing out if you don’t stop into this hidden gem.

Do you watch Downton Abbey? If not, you are missing out big time. I started watching the award-winning show last year after catching up and have been obsessed with it ever since.

SPOILER ALERT: Don’t continue reading if you haven’t started watching it this season.

So as you may know Lady Mary and Matthew FINALLY got hitched in the first episode of the season (hooray!!!) and from the small amount of footage, it looked absolutely beautiful. I am obsessed with Lady Mary’s jeweled headpiece and let’s chat about her flowers. Gee, they looked a little bit like ours – yellow and white arrangements spilling out over urns. LOVE IT!

[Left: Lady Mary and Downton Abbey wedding flowers, Right: my wedding flowers]

Episode two airs this Sunday at 8 p.m. CST and you best believe I will be glued to my couch with a glass of wine in hand. (Catching the Golden Globes red carpet looks and Tina/Amy opening monologue before and the season premiere of GIRLS on HBO after, obviously.)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Posted in Local Spots, Restaurants, Wedding | Tagged Downton Abbey, Flowers, GIRLS, Golden Globes, Luna Bistro, wedding flowers | Leave a comment

Something’s fishy

Posted on January 9, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Under the sea update: Yep, I didn’t really expand on my last post’s title did I? According to the chefs, the Big Night dinner this year is a little (actually a lotta) fishy. They will be preparing a seafood extravaganza for us and I, for one, cannot wait!

Going with the menu’s theme, I have come up with the following invites that are on their merry way via the USPS.

Now my attention can turn to the tablescape and favors. Wouldn’t it be fun to give each of the ladies a pair of faux pearl earrings tucked inside an oyster shell? That’s just one of the ideas rattling around my head. Here are more sea-inspired ideas that would also be perfect favors:

[ seafood set, pillow, pearl earring set, votive, body scrub, soap ]

Posted in Accessories, Parties | Tagged coral, favors, Invitations, Pearls, The Big Night, under the sea | 4 Comments

Under the sea

Posted on January 7, 2013 by tomorrowstodos

Sentimental Sunday dinners update: Don’t you just love when you try out a new recipe and it turns out better than you ever could have imagined? That’s how I felt at exactly 6:57 p.m. last night when I sat down with a bowl of white bean and chicken chili.

[white bean and chicken chili]

I received this recipe from my hairdresser, Debbie, as part of our wedding guest book and it did not disappoint. I didn’t want to do a traditional guest book, so I sent along a recipe card in each invitation we sent out asking to share a recipe they love with us, as well as a ‘recipe for a successful marriage.’ This year I’m finally dusting off the box and putting them to good use.

[white bean and chicken chili recipe]

[post soup bliss in the form of Downton Abbey returning]

It is that time of year when I start to get excited about our annual Big Night dinner (check out photos from year one & two). This year’s dinner is a little earlier so I need to get the invites out ASAP. Which is why tomorrow I need to design, print and mail them! Not going to lie, it kind of snuck up on me!

Posted in Parties, Recipes | Tagged Downton Abbey, soup, white bean and chicken chili | 3 Comments