A Few of My Favorite Bloggers

One of my favorite parts of blogging is the wonderful people I've met while blogging.  So, today I'm taking a moment to share about my recent meetup with long-time blogging friend Cryslyn, her husband Andy, and baby Emilia, my meetup with Kathleen and her husband Gordon, and an awesome giveaway I won from Carrie!  I'm also going to answer a few questions from Paige.

Meetup with Kathleen and Gordon Franck

I met Kathleen indirectly through blogging, as she was at many of the same campaign events as I when I did my series on the presidential candidates.  I later interviewed her here.  She's also shared a recipe for Coffee Time Cake, which I posted on my blog.

Meetup at Plaza Veracruz

Nela Holmes, who blogs at Beloved Star, and I have been friends for the past six years.  Occasionally we meet up to chat and review a restaurant.  Recently, when I asked her out, she recommended the Plaza Veracruz in Hampton, Iowa as a great place for some authentic Mexican food!

When we arrived shortly before 5:00, we were apparently the first customers to show up for dinner.  A lady showed my grandma (Yai) and I to a table, and brought us menus, water, chips, and salsa.  Nela soon joined us.

Interview with Kathleen Franck

On the campaign trail, you run into many interesting people.  You start to recognize all the news reporters and camera-people, and then there are the familiar faces you see here and there and everywhere, and yet can't seem to place.  

Photos in this post are courtesy of Kathleen Franck.

One of those faces was that of Kathleen Franck.  Eventually she came across some of my photos from events she attended on Facebook and sent me a friend request.  "I know this lady," I thought, "but who is she?!"  It turned out we had both been at the same places to see Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, and Carlee Fiorina!  We finally met after listening to Ted Cruz in Waterloo.

Random Summer Highlights + A Blogger Meetup!

Meet-up with Happy Elf Mom Christine

I had the pleasure of meeting the Happy Elf Mom, Christine, from Homeschool and Etc. at the Iowa Open!  We compared notes and discovered we actually were both at the tournament last year, but had not met each other.  Christine is a lovely lady with an awesome sense of humor.

Meetup with Cryslyn & Andy!

We did it!  Cryslyn and I finally met!  A year ago I read a post about how she had travelled into Iowa for a Wissmann concert, so I emailed her mentioning that I'd like to meet up some time.  We exchanged phone numbers and chatted once, but didn't find any other concerts that would work for both of us to travel to.

Yours truly with Andy, Cryslyn, and her brother Noah.

Bloggers' Night Out

The first time I visited the Coffee Attic and Book Cellar in Iowa Falls, Iowa was for a meet-up with my dear friend, Nela, who blogs at Beloved Star.  Not long ago, we decided to go out for dinner at the Princess.  We were there an half hour before the restaurant opened, so we walked over to the Book Cellar again to chat and wait.

The front of the building is devoted to the Coffee Attic, where you can purchase all types of coffees, as well as tea, chai, cream sodas, and smoothies.  During lunch hours there's also a soup and sandwich menu.  Baked goods, coffee beans, cards, and books are on display.    

The Bontragers!

Sunday evening part of my family and I listened to the Bontrager Family Singers (from Kalona, IA) at New Hope Christian Church in Marshalltown.

I had heard them once before (last year), and earlier this month my sister heard them when she went to their annual Turning Hearts Celebration.  Unfortunately she had a seat in the far back and wasn't able to see them very well, so she talked Papa and I into coming to this concert.