moving

Farm Report: 8.23.19

- Mel

I missed the Adel Corn Festival AGAIN because I was out on a weekender in Dubuque – my 3rd trip to the city since moving to Iowa. And I find more fun and interesting things to do there with each visit. Plus, it reminds me of Pittsburgh in a lot of ways, so it’s a big whiff of nostalgia for me. OMG THEY HAVE INCLINE?!

Dubuque incline
Just as terrifying as the incline in Pittsburgh.

the corn dog truth

Speaking of Pittsburgh, Hitchhiker Brewing made a collaboration beer: Hitchhiker x Walter’s Southern Kitchen team up for “Hard Corn”

Iowa brewer Court Avenue Restaurant + Brewing Company had a CORN DOG beer that coincided with the Iowa State Fair (of course!)… which was, sadly, sold out by the time I got my corn husks to the fair.

midwest shenanigans

I FINALLY WENT TO THE FAIR! The Iowa State Fair did NOT disappoint, and I can’t wait to go back next year. Obviously, it was impossible to see and eat everything in one day – so I look forward to more multi-day annual adventures.

Iowa State Fair - Heartland Transplant

In other Iowan news, we bought a house! Well… we bought another house! We found one for sale in a Des Moines neighborhood that we love – that is just outside of downtown, and I am positively thrilled. We closed this week and move in the first week of September. I am no longer a suburbanite and officially a Des Moinesian. Des Moiner? And OMG I can walk to Harbinger. 🤤

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 65

- Mel

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is sharing their Sunday Lately posts. The prompts for March 27 (Week 65) are: Completing, Visiting, Repeating, Writing, Scheduling. Read my past Sunday Lately posts and join the Tribe!

Completing: We are finally seeing the end of boxes and packing paper! Most of the interior of the house has been unboxed, if you can believe it. Around our Easter eating plans, we’ll be focusing on the unpacking what’s left in the garage. And then, all those dang boxes will need to be broken down.

Visiting: GUYS. Remember that gluten-free bakery that I was talking about that’s just a few miles from my house? Well, we visited Sweet Rewards Bakery in Waukee this weekend and I got my maple-glazed doughnuts. We also bought a loaf of French bread and a piece of angel food cake. SO GOOD.

Repeating: “I’m new to the area…” — this phrase has been used ad nauseam.

Writing: To-do lists after to-do lists. One for house needs. Another for little things that need repaired or cleaned in the new place. Still another for personal priorities, like registering the cats, and getting a new ID and car plates, and finding a place to get a massage (woof!). Now that my forwarded mail is starting to come to the new house, I realized how lax I was in changing the address on all of my accounts. WHOOPS.

Scheduling: This week, I’ve got the piano tuner scheduled to come back — he says the piano needs more work and he needs to find a replacement string — and our house cleaners will be visiting for a meet-and-greet. I have quite a bit of actual work to catch up on, too. And then I have an appointment with a recruiting firm. Another full schedule!

Weekly Therapy: Found somewhere in between boxes and cat toys.

- Mel

the week:
Movers delivered everything on Monday. New sectional was delivered on Tuesday. Piano tuner was here on Wednesday. I had an interview on Thursday. Errands to run and dinner plans on Friday. This was a little look into how my week was thus far. And a headache today, to boot. I have probably also had too much wine this week.

I have no clue what this label is supposed to mean. ?

A photo posted by Melinda (@melliesmel) on

weekend:
Well, because all of our stuff showed up and I want to get my house in order, I’ll be opening a lot of boxes and trying to clear out my garage! It’s also Easter, and since we won’t be traveling back to Ohio, we’ll be making our traditional foods and having our own fun little dinner party on Sunday.

And there’s still a chance that we might get into downtown. And maybe I’ll actually be able to settle into start a workout routine. I’ll definitely need to open up a new bank account, however.

seven things, seven days:
1. I gained five pounds already. :-/
2. Found a few broken items from the move, but nothing really to make a big fuss (or claim) over.
3. Have I mentioned how windy it is here? It’s really windy. And the thunderstorms are no joke.
4. I also experienced the first statewide weather alarm testing, which… blblblblblblblbbllbbl. OMG. I had no idea it was a random mid-week testing — it’s usually done on a Saturday. I freaked. the eff. out.
5. How much of our personality are we “stuck” with and how much can we change after 30? {via Science of Us}
6. Oooof, adding to the reproducibility crisis in the field of psychology — new research on the theory of ego depletion {via Slate}
7. On “idea debt” and procrastination and such: Stop thinking, start doing {via The Guardian}.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 64

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy).

Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into what’s happening — and I’m sharing along as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her online community, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our combined thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts.

30something therapy SUNDAY LATELY Week 64

This week’s prompts are: Updating, Remembering, Needing, Wearing, Being.

Updating: I need to get on updating to a new bank account ASAP, else I’ll be without a way to deposit my contracting checks. I think this upcoming week is the time that I need to make a lot of other updates: drivers license, car plates, vet and doctor appointments… Taking advantage of non-traditional work hours right now is imperative before I let procrastination rule my life again.

Remembering: I’m making an effort to remember my surroundings as I’m driving to/from my neighborhood. Thankfully, my phone’s Maps recognizes my house location (my car’s GPS does not). But I’m trying to pay attention and remember which direction takes me where. Admittedly, it’s been a little difficult, since immediately after pulling out of our housing development, we’re surrounded by acres of farmland!

Needing: A good night of sleep. I know there’s an adjustment period upon moving to a new house — getting used to all the different sounds and temperature adaptations and other outside-of-the-bedroom unknowns. I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night, after only a few hours of sleep. I’m also adjusting to a new bed, too, so yeah… I need some more sleep and less anxiety (and probably a less-empty house!).

Wearing: Until our moving truck arrives (which they’ve already said would happen on Monday morning!) and I have more of a social schedule, I’m hanging out in my pajamas and leggings a lot. I’m not mad. 😉

Being: Calm. At least, enjoying the calm before the storm. I am incredibly lucky to already have a friend here, who will be joining me for the movers madness on Monday. I’m done being bored, and once all of our stuff gets here, I will have *plenty* to do.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 63

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy).

Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into what’s happening lately — and I’m sharing along as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her online community, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts. If you’re new here, I JUST MOVED! And after driving 12 hours with 3 cats in the car, we’re HOME! 🙂

30s therapy SUNDAY LATELY Week 63

Week 63 prompts are: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving.

CREATING: Does it sound cheesy to say I’m creating a new life in Iowa? Or, at least the start of a new life. Does that sound like I’m making babies? lol (I’m not.)

FINDING: Well, for one, I need to find somewhere to have brunch. And then I need to find out how long it’s going to take for my new sectional to be delivered. And find where I packed the cat nail clippers. And my floss. I’m sure there are others.

SWITCHING: There was a time change overnight due to the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, but… now I’m on Central Time, so SHRUG EMOJI. The time change always messed me up, and I’m wondering if I’ll just sort of settle into CST without any issues. It was kind of weird to be driving in and experiencing 2:00pm twice, knowing that we’d have 2:00am twice as well.

FORGETTING: I’m sure that I’ll keep forgetting that I’m in Central Time Zone when talking to friends and family (and blogging) from here. I probably need to update a setting for my scheduled posts somewhere too.

CRAVING: An exercise routine. I was able to get a few workouts in last week despite the madness of packing some suitcases and over-socializing (worth it!). Hilariously, as I was unpacking the few boxes that I shipped and organizing my closet, my current wardrobe is overwhelmed by activewear.

Have a good week, everyone!

Weekly Therapy: So long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehn. Goodbye, Pittsburgh.

- Mel 1 Comment

the week:
Lots of “lasts” in Pittsburgh this week — last spin class at the Y with my girl Kylee, last run//yoga//run//club at Urban Elements with my tribe, last drink at the Pub (and my favorite salad in this city), last run through the Point (but definitely not the last cry), last massage (I’ve been seeing the same massotherapist for over 3 years!), last walk into downtown. People keep asking if I’m nervous (I’m not); I’m positively excited and anxious to get to my new home. That doesn’t take away at all from my amazing experience living in Pittsburgh for the last 5.5 years — I’ll miss the hell out of this place. And the reality of moving away from some wonderful friends struck me kinda hard this week.

Also, if you need to know the best (read: my favorite) place to cry in Pittsburgh, it’s at the Point, near the fountain at the top of the stairs… looking back out at the city. I don’t know how or why I always end up there when I’m feeling really freaking sad, but it’s become a special place for me.

30something_point state park Pittsburgh
Bye, ‘Burgh!

weekend:
Tonight is the last night in our Pittsburgh house, and we leave first thing in the morning. *waves*

By Sunday Lately, I’ll be publishing from Iowa!

seven things, seven days:
1. I’m a huge fan of overnight fridge oats, and this week I made a couple with the flavor packs that I received from Devotion Nutrition — swapping out my usual maple syrup for coconut biscotti and banana fosters Flex Flavors. SO GOOD.
2. I continue to get regular massages because my left IT band is almost always tight – and my shoulders and my glutes. But at this week’s appointment, my hip flexors are really messed up. Read: need to find a way to stretch my psoas? WHOOF.
3. Um, I intentionally and willingly ate gluten for the first time in over two years. (And the carrot cake cupcake was DELICIOUS.) So… I’ll be watching for any symptoms for a few days. I definitely got a headache that night, but it didn’t linger.
4. Speaking of all things gluten and not: I found a gluten-free bakery (donuts!!!) within walking (running?) distance of my new house.
5. I’m on the job hunt, so this article was incredibly eye-opening!: A top recruiter on what anyone can see after 30 seconds with your resume {via Quartz}
6. “Here’s the awesome thing about making choices and decisions – we get to make them. we get to decide and then change our mind when circumstance change. ” YES YES YES, ALL OF THIS, YES! Procreation Choices {via The New Wifestyle}
7. Good reference for any age group: 30-somethings should be doing a mix of interval training and lifting heavy weights — The best exercise for your age {via Huffington Post}

Sunday Lately for this 30-something: Week 62

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into the last week — and I’m sharing along, too, as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her Tribe, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts. Here’s what’s happening in my space and place for Week 62.

30 therapy SUNDAY LATELY Week 62

This week’s prompts: Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting.

Doing: Change of address! Shipping boxes! Packing boxes (thankfully, we don’t have to do a lot of this). But, generally, doing all the things one has to do preparing for a relocation.

Appreciating: I’m so greatly appreciating the opportunity to work remotely for my job on a contractual basis. My intent is to find an in-person job in Des Moines though, mostly so that I have some sort of social interactions (aside from talking to cats all day) but also because I really like working in an office setting.

Designing: Designing a week of lunches and happy hours and workouts around friends that I get to see once more before moving. I sincerely know some great people here, who I will miss incredibly.

Humming: I started binge-watching “Damages” from the beginning, since I never watched beyond Season 2. Naturally, I have the show’s theme song in my head.

Expecting: Totally expecting this week to fly by! Next Sunday, I’ll officially be a resident of Iowa. It still all feels really surreal, but my generalized anxiety is definitely at a high right now. I’m *really* trying to work on it by staying calm (but busy) and stress-free (which, hahahahaha). Seriously though, I feel OK about the move, but I think the anticipation and the excitement is partially manifesting in a negative way.

Weekly Therapy: That I am extremely hungover on my last day of work somehow explains everything.

- Mel

the week:
My last week at my job… at least, on-site. We’ve worked out an agreement so that I can stay on as a contractor until one of us: finds a job (me) or finds a replacement (them). The universe has also blessed me this week, to randomly (and separately) run into people who I haven’t seen in a while. These things have warmed my heart (and will keep my bank account warm as well).

weekend:
Tonight is our going away party, and then I’ll spend my last weekend in Pittsburgh (since we leave next Saturday morning). Yep, I thought two weeks would be SO long to wait out, but it’s positively flown by. I do need to get my shit together this weekend and ship some things out to the new house though, especially now that the movers have confirmed they will not pack/move any opened toiletry item. 😐

seven things, seven days:
1. Uber drivers who let you plug in your phone and pick your playlist are the best Uber drivers! I had our guy dancing in his seat. We had a good time.
2. Furniture shopping is a pain-in-the ass, you guys. And whomever actively promotes a 2-6 week delivery window can burn in a fire.
3. One last visit with friends to one of my favorite restaurants in the ‘Burgh: CURE. *sniff* (And we finally remembered to use our gift certificate from two Christmases ago.)
4. Speaking of tears, I had my first ugly cry about moving this week. 🙁
5. An economics trick that might help you with your motivation {via Quartz}
6. Being a thin person for 97% of my life, this research from the Cornell Food Lab is fascinating! {via The Atlantic}
7. This article had perfect timing for me (and will for any of you who watched the Olympic Trials and/or love to run and/or take same advice for running and life): What Does it Take to Win? {via Forbes}

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 61

- Mel

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into the last week — and I’m sharing along, too, as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her Tribe, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts. There’s a whole lot of chaos lately, but here’s what else is going on in Week 61.

30something SUNDAY LATELY Week 61

This week’s prompts are: Planning, Loving, Reading, Wishing, Feeling.

Planning: THE MOVE! I have to segregate the “essentials” from “non-essentials” in my closet to send to Iowa before we leave AND ship my costume jewelry (I guess movers don’t move that… WHAT?!). Since we’ll be without the bulk of our household for a couple weeks, and will be traveling with three cats (and all their stuff), we are severely limited at what we can take in the car. The next couple weeks will be hectic!

Loving: I didn’t wear most of my makeup in Florida, and I was loving how fresh my face felt (despite its imperfections). This weather is just killing my skin right now! But yesterday, I decided not to wear my BB cream under my powder to see if I can take another beauty product out of my regular routine.

Reading: Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before*. I got a little bit of reading done pool-side in Florida last week, but haven’t really dedicated my time to unwinding with a book. So… it’s taken me a while to get into this (so much for better habits! HA!). I *really* wanted to finish it though, but when she started talking about drinking diet soda… I just knew I could no longer connect with her message. I think I’m marking this one DNF and moving on to something else.

BTW, based on her framework, I’m considered an Upholder, which makes my not finishing my review copy a HUGE conflict for me!

Wishing: Honestly, I wish I was in my new house! The boyfriend got to spend the entire weekend there, torturing me with pictures of sunsets in the backyard — and all the windows open because it was 60 freaking degrees in Des Moines! — and his new beanbag chair on the living room floor (lol) and our new washer-dryer set. ARGHHHHHHHH!

Feeling: Sad, but excited! As I mentioned, I couldn’t be in Des Moines with my boyfriend to sign the house papers, so while he’s taking care of all the stressful stuff, I feel like I’m missing out. I even asked him if we could bump up our move a week because I want to be in my new house so bad. I know that’s something I would regret later, though, not taking the time to spend with friends before we go. I wrote my schedule out for the next two weeks, and, um… it will definitely be here before I know it.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Let’s talk about Iowa

- Mel

Best small cities to live in. Source: WalletHub

Can you find Iowa on the map?
Yeah, admittedly, when we went for our first visit, we couldn’t either.

While not specifically mentioned in my Life List, I wanted to move outside of Ohio in my 30s. Actually, I wanted to in my 20s too, which I did, albeit temporarily, to Phoenix in 2004. We relocated five years ago to Pittsburgh and have loved it immensely — first living downtown before the big “boom” of the Cultural District and then living in an amazing neighborhood where we were able to sell our house in 9 days (!!!). I wrote about my conflicted experiences about “home” last year, then removed the post, because… there was something that made me feel unsettled about it; and with time for reflection, I think I finally know why. I want to move.

This last year has proved overwhelming at living a city lifestyle. For some reason, my desire for a more suburban, smaller (quiet) life is at critical mass. Maybe it’s age? Maybe it’s my social anxiety? Maybe it’s the noise… yeah, it’s partially the noise and the feeling that I’m drowning in busy-ness constantly. Maybe it’s just that a vibrant city life has worn out its welcome (on, in my opinion, is experiencing a “too big for its britches” moment). Maybe I miss the Midwest? And horses. I miss the horses.

We traveled to Des Moines in January to start the conversation about possible relocation — to learn about the city, shop houses with a Realtor… we even scheduled an executive tour of the downtown area and its suburbs. And since you now know about our official announcement, we obviously fell in love with our new home! So, we’re on the horizon of a move that’s quickly approaching.

The expressions on most friends’ faces (and the WTF comments) when they hear we’re moving to Des Moines tells us that most people don’t know much about Iowa. So, here’s a few articles to get you started:

How America’s Dullest City Got Cool {via Politico}
Iowa’s Heartland beyond the campaign trail {via NYT}
I’m not a hipster, but… Do the most hipster thing possible and move to Des Moines {via The Atlantic}
30 Things to Know Before Moving to Iowa {via Movoto blog}