Blowouts, Berkus and Bike rides weekend

Yesterday was one of the hottest days in Iowa's history, clocking in at 105 degrees. Today marked the 10th day this year we have hit 100 degree or above weather. This week will definitely be record breaking for Iowa heat (and I'm sure many other states as well). If you are experiencing this extreme heat, the dust storms or any other natural disaster this year, please stay safe!

This is the type of humid, heat that as soon as you step outside, you are sweating like a pig. Outdoor activities are pretty much impossible unless you are sitting in a pool of cold water. I have been wanting to go on that bike ride, but I'm unsure if it's even safe!

This week is Iowa's annual organized bike ride across the state called RAGBRAI and I hope all of the riders stay safe and hydrated. I cannot imagine how hot it will be on those flat, open two lane highways across rural Iowa, but I admire the determination of all that are participating despite repeated warnings to stay inside and stay cool. Someday I hope to participate in Ragbrai, but I'm secretly glad that I did not choose to do so this year...

So, this past weekend my friend Angie and I headed up to Minneapolis for a quick overnight trip away from Des Moines and to see some good friends.

Saturday morning we got up and hit the road by 9am and arrived in Minneapolis around 12:30. Lesli, Angie and I all had appointments for blowouts at a new blowout bar called Blast in St. Louis park at 1:45, so we had some time to kill. We decided to grab a margarita and some chips and salsa at Rojo, a Mexican restaurant down the street.

 {Angie, me, and Lesli getting our hair done!}

Once we were done with our snacks and we got to Blast and we had, well... a blast! Both Angie and Lesli got curly blowouts where I got a full, voluminous blowout with a little curl at the ends. I wanted curls, but I was worried my hair would look too short, because my length right now is only just past my shoulders. Looking back, I wish I would have gotten curls. Either way, it was really fun and I would definitely get a blowout again for a special occasion!

{Me and Angie after our blowouts}

After that we headed back to Rojo for another "snack" since we were all hungry! I got the chicken tortilla soup and it was delish! While sitting, sipping our margaritas and enjoying girl talk, we notice someone seated alone next to us on the patio who looked just like Nate Berkus. We were convinced he was Nate Berkus, but... he was just a look alike and apparently very annoyed at being mistaken for the cute talk show host. He wasn't very friendly! We all decided the real Nate Berkus would never be that be unfriendly!

{The Nate Berkus look-a-like}

After Rojo, we did a little shopping and then headed to downtown Minneapolis to meet up with our other friend Donna for dinner at Joe's Garage. I've always wanted to try this place because Lesli loves it so much! It was delicious and I really enjoyed it, but I was so full from chips, margaritas and soup earlier that I could hardly eat!

{Right before dinner at Joe's Garage}

Once we finished dinner we were pretty tired and decided to check into our hotel and lay down for a bit. Before we laid down though... we had to check the bed for bed bugs. Angie has a new(ish) obsession/fear of bed bugs and was kind enough to check our beds and make sure that we didn't have any of the creepy crawlies. Luckily, we didn't. Although... this (very nice) hotel WAS listed on the online registry for having bed bugs at one time.... Gross, right? I'm not holding it against them though, I'm pretty sure every hotel has had them. (And yes, there is an online registry for hotels with bed bugs. There's an iPhone app as well. You are welcome.)

{Ang checking the bed for bedbugs}

Well, us checking into the hotel in the early evening so we could lay down and rest, turned into us falling asleep at 9:30 pm! You know what happens when you fall asleep at 9:30 pm? You're up at 6:30 am the next day! I figured since I was up so early, I would go for a run. I'm not a really a fan of downtown running, because the distance is so deceiving, but I did not want to deal with the hassle of getting my car out of the garage and then finding a location to run.

I did a quick 2.5 mile lap around the block (I was worried about getting lost) and headed back to get in the shower about 25 minutes after I had left. I was hoping to run more, but I just wasn't feeling it. We had reservations for brunch at 11am and we still had a couple hours to kill, so Angie and I decided to rent a Nice Ride bike from Minneapolis's bike sharing program and go for a ride by the river. We ended up biking for an hour and biked 7 miles. I was really happy that we got in so much exercise while away from home because I always feel SO MUCH BETTER when I have worked up a good sweat. I did not feel guilty for the decadent eggs benedict that I ordered an hour later at Hell's Kitchen.

{Ang and I right before heading off on our hour long bike ride}

Lisa organized brunch at a popular breakfast joint downtown called Hell's Kitchen. This place reminded me a TON of Americana in downtown Des Moines and I loved it. They had live music and the wait staff dressed in themes (Sunday was pajama day). I ordered Portebello Benedict with hashbrowns and fruit and it was so good! I ate almost every last bite. After running and biking that morning, I was so hungry!

After breakfast, we said our goodbyes and Angie and I hit the road back to Iowa.

 {All five of us at Hell's Kitchen for brunch}

I love small overnight trips like this because it really refreshes me. I don't mind staying in hotels, I love seeing friends that I don't see often and I love trying out new places. Even just a short one and a half day trip leaves me feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle whatever is coming up the following week.

What celebrity do you think you look like? When I had brown hair, I got Kelly Clarkson all the time. Now that I have blonde hair, sometimes I get Reese Witherspoon and they both leave me feeling so tickled! (Although, I don't really see it!)