Wandering the Web: Have an amazing weekend!

Happy Friday, everyone! Is it just me, or did this week creep by at a major snail-like pace? Oh well, I'm just happy the weekend is within reach now! Tomorrow Adam and I are going to a Beer, Wine and Food Expo for the first time and we're both really excited. Then, after such a busy week, we're hoping to take it easy and relax on Sunday, maybe watch a little football.

What are your plans this weekend? Anything exciting? Here are some links from this week, and I hope you have a great one!

1. This app turns watching Netflix into a group game, and it sounds awesome! (Business Insider)

2. What we assume when we first meet someone new. (Time)

3. Ten best websites for women leaders. (Daily Worth)

4. "Almost everything you see is an idealized version of someone's life." (Cupcakes and Cashmere)

5. What do you think of adult coloring books? I really want one! (Refinery 29)

6. Are you following Twitter Polls? It's hilarious. (Twitter)

7. James Corden's update of "Ironic" with Alanis Morissette is TOO FUNNY. (Rolling Stone)

8. The psychology of logo color in business. (Inc)

My Travel Guide to Des Moines

Today I am very excited to share with all of you one of the projects I've been working on for the past couple months! When the lovely Susannah of Feast + West asked me to prepare a travel guide for Des Moines as part of her Hidden Gems series, I practically jumped for joy. Partially because I love writing guest posts and working with fellow bloggers, but also because I just love the city of Des Moines so much.

I had a lot of fun writing the post, which you can read in full here, but the hardest part was narrowing down the list of places to go. There are just so many things to recommend here! And there are even more that I haven't had the chance to do yet.

Des Moines may not be the biggest city, but it has so much to offer. I hope you enjoy my travel guide — it includes some of my favorite bars, restaurants local shopping and other things to do — and if you're ever in the area, look me up! :)

Have you ever been to Des Moines If you're from the area, what would you put on a travel guide? I'd love to hear! 

P.S. Another guest post: The Tipsy Traveler

Do you like casual dating?

I love romantic comedies. So, naturally, many of my favorite movies and TV shows revolve around people dating other people. Friends, New Girl, Seinfeld and Will and Grace are just a few shows where a group of people are constantly dating new people in search of “the one.” And while I wouldn't trade my current relationship for anything, watching the ups and downs of those TV dating lives always makes me feel just a little left out, because I’ve never really had similar experience in that sort of dating, where you might see a person a few times and then break it off. 

I’ve gone on “dates,” obviously, but I’ve never been a "casual" dater. Most dates I’ve had have led to relationships, whether they lasted a month or a year. But I can count on one hand the number of guys I’ve had less than five dates with and then never spoke to again. I think that’s why watching this type of show is so interesting to me, because it’s such a normal experience — a rite of passage for young adults. It's something I came to expect out of adulthood when I was younger, but I still can't actually relate to it. 

The other part of it is that I don’t really know many people who have casually dated a lot either. Many of my friends have similar situations to me, where the majority of their dating experiences have led to relationships. Maybe it’s my age group, or maybe it’s more of a location thing, and people here just don’t do as much casual dating? I can’t say for sure one way or the other, but I feel pretty confident in saying that the dating scene around Iowa is definitely not close to the ones shown in the aforementioned TV shows.

So I’m curious — what do you think of the concept of casual dating? Is it more normal for you? Do you know people who have dated a lot? I’d love to know…

P.S. How to make your relationship feel new and how to fight successfully

Grandma's homemade apple pie

Last weekend, I spent my Saturday learning how to make my favorite thing in the world: my grandma's homemade apple pie. Let me just start out by saying, my grandma makes THE BEST apple pie in the entire world. At 84 years old, she's had a lot of time to perfect the recipe. But the funny part? She doesn't actually have a recipe. Which is what I learned when I asked her to teach me how to make it.

Wandering the Web: Have a fun weekend!

Happy Friday, everyone! How was your week? Mine was okay, but I'm so looking forward to the next few days because I have the whole weekend off, which never happens. Tonight I'm planning on cocktails, tomorrow I'm going to my grandma's to make my first apple pie (!) and Sunday I'll be doing a little shopping for my NYE dress — can you believe it's already time to start thinking about New Year's?! I can't pretend I'm upset about it though...this is still my favorite time of year :)

I hope you all have an amazing, fun-filled weekend, and here are some fun things I clicked this week...

1. This dad packs the coolest lunches ever. (My Modern Met)

2. What do you think about Twitter’s new heart button? I'm not a fan. (Time)

3. What it’s really like to donate your eggs. (Cosmopolitan)

4. One commonality among Rolling Stone covers — made me laugh. (The Cut)

5. Jenna Lyons and the watermelon skirt that changed her life. (Lenny)

6. This apple cocktail would be perfect for Thanksgiving. (Glitter Guide)

7. Crushing on these sequin leggings for the holiday season — only $40! (Viva La Jewels)

8. This would make a fun table setting for fall. (Pinterest)