I filmed this special Friday Find a few weeks ago, before schools and everything else had shut down. I’m sharing it today because it highlights a really important program that provides support for students, families and schools in our neighborhoods. And even though school’s not in session now, the By Degrees team is working hard […]

As you know, I love supporting local businesses. They are the heart of our community and what makes Des Moines such an amazing place to live. I feature local businesses on my Friday Finds series and choose to shop local as much as possible. I have so many friends and fellow entrepeneurs I respect and […]

For me and my family, we are taking social distancing very seriously.  That means a lot of time together indoors and out, but not interacting with our friends or neighbors. If you are like me, you are juggling working from home but also keeping your kids from going stir crazy while schools are closed down.  […]

As the world nervously watches the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the pandemic has begun prompting responses from every industry, and nearly every level of organization in the country. So, how has COVID-19 affected the real estate market, especially as we enter what was primed to be an especially hot spring?   Lawrence Yu, chief economist […]

What should you do if your home appraises low? This is something that can happen to you whether you are the buyer or the seller since almost all home sales are subject to an appraisal.   There are a lot of different factors that go into a decision if your home appraises low and you aren’t […]

Today’s Friday Find takes us to one of the coolest shops I’ve been in, KIN. KIN is a modern mystical shop in the East Village specializing in ethically-sourced crystals, apothecary and estate jewelry. One of the things I LOVE about KIN is it’s a woman-owned business that carries goods made almost entirely by women entrepreneurs […]

I think we’re pretty lucky to have this fun ice skating rink in the heart of downtown Des Moines. It gives the most gorgeous, picture perfect backdrop of our city skyline! If you’re looking for something fun to do in our city during winter, give Brenton Skating Plaza a visit!

So what is it like to build a home from the ground up?  This is my favorite type of build to do because you get to customize everything the way you want it.  But how does it work?  And what is the process?  This of course depends on the builder and since I work with […]

If you’re looking for the perfect wings that are crispy but not too crispy and spicy but not too spicy, look no further. 😉 Gerri’s Bar and Grill across the street from the fairgrounds have, what I would argue are, the best wings in Des Moines. Come for the wings, grab a beer and stay […]

Des Moines natives, rejoice! THE Hiland Bakery is back and better than ever! A new family has reopened this beloved bakery, which closed last summer after more than 70 years in business. All the fabulous recipes we’ve come to know and love – including my FAVORITE cake of all time – are back too. Stop […]