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Category: Local – Central Iowa

Everything you can find, see and do in Central Iowa

The Pump and Dump Comedy Show Coming to Des Moines!

I am so excited about this fun and hilarious show coming to The Funny Bone Comedy Club! The Pump and Dump Comedy ShowOr better know as The Pump and Dump: A Parentally Incorrect Comedy Show and Night Out For Once 🙂 89C6E490-221C-4C69-9B35-9F8F0C048DC7

On Thursday, January 28th at 7:30 pm you will be able to see Shayna Ferm and Tracey Tee kick-off their SECOND nationwide tour, right here, in Des Moines! The night will include a hilarious evening full of original music, stories, games and prizes.

The Pump and Dump all started with two women comics who put together original music, comedy and prizes and a way for moms to laugh their kid-filled days away. This show was first performed in a small bar in 2012, and has sold out residency at Comedy Works in Denver since 2015. Now, they are expected to laugh their way through 17 cities and make 10,000 moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts and more the next several months.

Check out a little teaser of their show here!

Buy tickets here! Purchase them soon before they sell out!

I hope all of you mothers, grandmothers, aunts and more will take an evening out to celebrate and laugh! 🙂

If you can’t make it to the show, check out their site and super fun Kickstarter campaign to see the manys ways you can Pump and Dump it + spread the mom karma all year long.

FB/IG/TW: @thepumpanddumpshow

Share the Love: Drop-Off Location!

Share the Love is an awesome program that connects cloth diapers with families in need. There are so many families through-out Central Iowa, who cannot afford basic necessities. Share the Love helps with taking one of many expenses off their shoulders, diapers.

Drop-Off Location!

To be able to connect families with cloth diapers we need DONATIONS! Do you have cloth diapers at home, that you no longer use? It is okay if they are not in the best shape, we can make them work!

We now have an official drop-off location! Little Padded Seats, located in Valley West Mall, was gracious enough to offer their store as a drop-site for donations. If you come across any cloth diapers or accessories (i.e. wet bags, cloth wipes) bring them into the store and place them in the Share the Love basket! 

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Are you a family in need? Please follow this link and fill out the application. We will get you connected with diapers ASAP!

Learn more about Share the Love: Central Iowa here!

FREE 10-day Intro to Perfectly POSH

I am so excited about a skin line I discovered!

UnknownMidwest Mom & Wife strives to bring you information about living a natural-lifetyle whether it be everyday for yourself, during pregnancy, or for your entire family. Perfectly POSH is a skin care line that fits into our everyday natural-lifestyle!

Perfectly POSH is a pampering brand, that you can use daily! There are NO parabens, NO phthalates, NO petroleum products, NO sulfates, NO soy-gluten!

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Vegan-friendly and made in the USA!

Check out all the ingredients Perfectly POSH uses and details!

Perfectly POSH offers all spa-quality products and uses essential oils, so you aren’t inhaling harsh chemicals. Their products work to nourish & protect skin and tighten & brighten your beautiful skin.

This product line is truly re-creating a spa like atmosphere in your home every day. Whether it is creating a luxurious, bubbly bath at home or soothing and brightening your face with an all-natural face mask, there is something for everyone!

Best yet, it’s affordable! All products are $25 or less! Buy 5 items get 1 FREE and flat $5 shipping rate!

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Since, Perfectly POSH is new to Des Moines I am offering a FREE 10-day Introduction to Perfectly POSH! This is an online event, but don’t worry, you will be able to check out plenty of samples. I will offer an open house event where you can come check out and play with the products. If you cannot make the open house, I will send you samples for FREE!

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The Introduction to Perfectly POSH will begin Thursday, January 7th and run until Saturday, January 16th.

Join the event here!

Please SHARE, SHARE and JOIN! There will be loads of information, giveaways, questions answered and more!

Let’s start the new year off with a bang and treat our skin to all natural products!

Iowa Doula Agency: Iowa’s First Statewide Doula Resource!

If you have been following Midwest Mom & Wife, you know that I believe  it is very important to hire a doula!

Iowa Doula Agency

Living in Central Iowa, we are blessed to have many doulas available and the Iowa Doula Agency is Iowa’s first statewide doula resource.

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The Iowa Doula Agency’s (IDA) goal is to connect expecting parents with doulas that best fit their specific needs. It is important to know, that not one doula may be the perfect fit for every family. The IDA strives to help guide you and make the right choice for you.

Here are a few reasons why hiring a doula through the Iowa Doula Agency is best:

  1. Some women when they hear the word doula, feel that a doula is only needed if they plan to have an at home birth, an un-medicated birth , or cesarean birth. The IDA provide doulas for every type of birth. The doulas provided “are free of judgement and provide judgement-free birth information”.
  2. Reaching out and hiring a doula when you discover you are pregnant, can be the best thing for your pregnancy and birth. The doulas provided by the IDA provide evidence-based information. When you become pregnant you may not know what you want. A doula can help share all the information with you and you can work together to create the plan that best fits you.  At any point, your doula
  3. A doula encourages you to use inform consent throughout your pregnancy and birth. It’s important to remember you are in charge of your pregnancy and birth. Your doula is there to help make your voice heard.

Check out The Scope of Practice of doulas from the Iowa Doula Agency. This will give you a detailed explanation of what you can expect from your doula.

Another great benefit of hiring a doula from the IDA is you can get discounts and deals from local businesses including: Fadeaway Floatation Center, The Family Tree Yoga & Massage, Powerful Mamas, Basking Babies, Blessings Photography & Birth Services, and Balance Chiropractic & Wellness. After you contract with IDA, you will receive a welcome packet that has all the details!

Right now, IDA has seven contracted doulas! Check out their bios and introduction videos here.

Pricing varies on experience. The IDA provides a great chart, that breaks down price categories and descriptions of each category here.

Are YOU expecting and ready to hire a doula for you!?! Every second Monday of the month the IDA hosts a Meet the Doulas. This is a great opportunity to meet all the doulas, ask questions, and get more information!

Make sure you follow Iowa Doula Agency on Facebook!

 

Babywearing Exercise Classes in Central Iowa

It is International Babywearing Week!

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Babywearing has been a blessing in my life. It has kept me sane as a parent with small children. I was introduced to it when I had Monte and fell in love even more when I had my daughter!

There are so many options with babywearing and living in Central Iowa, we are truly blessed with the amount of resources available to us, to learn. If you have not checked out our local Babywearing International of Central Iowa group, you NEED to. It is a great place to ask questions about wearing, certain carriers, support, and to just meet other like-minded parents! They offer several meetings in different locations in the metro area, so check out their Facebook page!

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Since the babywearing community has grown and lots of parents are wearing, there are fun exercise classes being created right here in Central Iowa! I am so excited to share information about these classes with you!

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Pied Piper Studios & ClubFit Studio

Created by Caeli Esser of ClubFit, she is bringing fitBaby to you at two different locations! You can check out her babywearing class at Pied Piper Studios or at the ClubFit studio. Baby wearing optional. Stayclose to your baby, while giving yourself some love. We’ll safely guide you through exercises to improve posture, give your metabolism a boost and leave you feeling energized and ready for anything (whether or not you got any sleep last night).

Locations:

  • Pied Piper Studios – 3892 NW Urbandale Drive
  • ClubFit Studio – 2614 Beaver Avenue, shared space with Livable

Times:

  • Pied Piper Studios – Sunday; 10 am – 10:45 am
  • ClubFit Studio – Monday; 5:15 pm – 5:50 pm

Prices: Check out here for details on pricing options!

Roots Healing Movement Class

The Family Tree Yoga & Massage

Enjoy great music and easy to follow moves and stretches in a supportive atmosphere. Open to all women and safe for pre/postnatal students. Baby wearing welcome.

Location: 3900 Ingersoll Avenue Suites 106 & 108

Dates & Times: 

  • 4-week session begins Wednesday 10/21 weekly thru 11/11 from 11 am – 11:45 am
  • Offered once monthly on Saturdays from 10:30 am – 11:15 am on 10/31, 11/21, and 12/12.
  • A minimum of 4 registered students are required to hold this class. You will receive an email the evening before if we do not have enough participants

Prices: $25/class for Saturday drop-ins (may be used with 4 week class pass and Monthly Unlimited Memberships), or $89 for the four-week class series. All participants receive a complimentary guest pass with purchase!

Check out other classes they offer and sign-up here!

Babywearing Dance

Uplift Fitness Studio

This class is a wonderful activity to help you be fit, give your metabolism a boost, and leave your body feeling energized all while having fun with your baby or toddler! Dancing to music is beneficial to your body, soul and your baby! Whether you have danced in the past or only dreamt of it, these 45 minute classes are open to everyone! Each class includes simple stretches and dance moves designed to give you and your tiny dancer a bonding connection and fun time together. This class is also great for expecting mothers.

Location:  300 SE Grimes Blvd.

Dates & Times: Saturdays; 10:30 am – 11:15 am & Wednesdays; 10:30 am – 11:15 am

Prices: Check here for all pricing packages and to sign-up!

Make sure you keep an eye out! I will be checking out all three of these locations and doing a Featured Post, so you know what to expect!

 

 

National Diaper Need Awareness Week

This week is National Diaper Need Awareness Week.

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Never heard of it? I hadn’t either; in fact I didn’t even know that diaper need was an issue for families across the country until I attended MommyCon a couple years ago. Low income families can qualify for many assistance programs like SNAP and WIC that help cover the costs of food and formula but that still leaves the cost of diapers. We all know diapers are expensive!

When I had my daughter 7 years ago I was introduced to cloth diapers and soon realized that not only are they super cute but they saved me a ton of money and I never had to worry about how I was going to make diapers last until next payday.

According to Share the Love, an organization that provides cloth diapers to needy families, 1 in 3 moms have struggled to pay for diapers. The truth is 8% of moms have used or attempted to use a disposable diaper longer by leaving the baby in a wet diaper or attempting to reuse a diaper that is meant for single use which can cause health issues like rashes or yeast infections. There are many great organizations that provide diapers to families in need like Share the Love. The thing I love most about this organization is that it was started because the founder of CottonBabies, Jenn Labit, started the organization based on her personal experience of not being able to afford diapers.

How can you help? Visit Share the Love to find the closest host site to donate cloth diapers you no longer use or to buy new diapers to be donated for a family in need.

Midwest Mom & Wife is an official Share the Love host!

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Written by Kara Bush

Expressing Motherhood Is Coming To Des Moines

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As you’ve heard by now Expressing Motherhood is coming to Des Moines February 20, 2016 at the Stoner Theater (inside the Civic Center). Ashlen from The Kidsperts is the local producer and co-director of the play. We’re just two short months away from our submission date (October 19) and people have been asking a lot of questions about submissions and the play in general! Here are the need-to-knows of Expressing Motherhood:

  • Expressing Motherhood is a National play, founded in 2008 by two stay at home moms in Los Angeles. The play has traveled to Boston, New York, Chicago, and (this fall) San Francisco and Sioux Falls, SD. The show consists of around 10 people performing their stories about motherhood on stage. You don’t need experience to be in this play–it was made for the amateur performer (and really, there’s all a little amateur performer in all of us).
  • Submissions are accepted ONE DAY ONLY on October 19, 2015. Send submission pieces to desmoines@expressingmotherhood.com.
  • Submissions should be a specific story telling your experience with motherhood. That being said, you don’t need to be a mom to be cast, just have a story about motherhood. Monologues, skits, songs, and dances are all welcome to tell your story. Your story can be sad, funny, embarrassing, etc. as long as it captures the aspects of motherhood.
  • Submission pieces should be around 5 minutes long when read aloud.
  • Before you submit your work, make sure you are available for all rehearsals and shows. Rehearsals will be held Thursday February 18, 2016 from 10 – 2 and Friday February 19, 2016 from 10 – 2. Showtimes are Saturday February 20, 2016 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets will be on sale soon through Ticketmaster and/or at the Civic Center box office (221 Walnut St., Des Moines, IA 50309).

Read more about Expressing Motherhood on their website and find Expressing Motherhood on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (using the hashtag #exmoshow). Also be sure to check out creator Lindsay Kavet’s new Podcast on iTunes, where Lindsay speaks with creative moms about their projects and how they balance life.

If you have any additional questions regarding the Des Moines Expressing Motherhood shows, please email Ashlen at desmoines@expressingmotherhood.com or ashlen@thekidsperts.com. Keep up to date with the latest news regarding the Expressing Motherhood show in Des Moines, follow the Kidsperts on Facebook and/or sign up for our newsletter.

About the Author

1423869052310-300x236  Ashlen Sheaffer is a proud Des Moines resident who was born and raisedhere. Ashlen wears many hats: mom, wife, daycare provider at her in-home daycare, blogger and co-owner at The Kidsperts, children’s book aut
hor, and co-director and producer for the upcoming play Expressing Motherhood play. In her free time Ashlen enjoys exploring all DesMoines has to offer, road trips, and adventuring all with the kids in tow. Ashlen is super excited to be able to share some of her family’s adventuring with other Iowans and get other families out into the community.

Follow her:

Website: www.thekidsperts.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlen.kidspert

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshlenSheaffer

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashlen_at_the_kidsperts/

Share the Love: Central Iowa

I am so excited to announce that I am officially a Share the Love host for Central Iowa! What is Share the Love? I have mentioned it a few times since I returned from MommyCon Minneapolis, but I wanted to wait to go into more detail.

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Share the Love is a National Cloth Diaper Bank. In 2012, Share the Love was created and began in St. Louis, Missouri. The sole purpose of this program is to distribute and provide cloth diapers to low-income families. A study was done, that one in three American families were forced to choose between food, household items and diapers. Jennifer Labit, owner of Cotton Babies, wanted to help change this.

“It feels like yesterday that my family was in this situation,” Labit said.” Ten years ago, I had a $30 weekly grocery budget and a WIC check. My family had to choose between diapers and food. If it wasn’t for a friend who generously sent my family cloth diapers as a gift, I don’t know what we would have done. Her gift helped my family and changed our lives, and I hope Share the Love will do the same for others.”

Since 2012, there have been host sites created in all 50 states across America. Many states have several host sites. To receive diapers, eligible families must apply for assistance. All of the diapers that are donated to Share the Love sites, are donated from other families who no longer need or use their cloth diapers.

So, what can YOU do?

  1. Donate! You can donate any cloth diapers you no longer use. If they need a little tending to, that is okay. We will make sure they get put back into working condition, before they are distributed to families. You can also donate cloth wipes and/or changing pads!
  2. Be a drop site! Do you own a business or work within a business that would be a great place for people to leave their diapers for donation? We are looking for several places in Central Iowa to leave baskets and information about the program. We would provide the basket & materials and would pick-up as often as needed!
  3. Help spread the word to low-income families! Do you know of a great place or organization that we can spread the word about Share the Love? Share the Love is new to Central Iowa and many low-income families may not know of this option. With your help, we can help ease the minds of these families by getting them cloth diapers!

If you can help in ANY of these areas or have questions about the program please contact me at SharetheLove@cottonbabies.com.

 

Farm Baby Foods – Fresh & Local!

Amelia has sampled some awesome baby food from Farm Baby Foods. She loved it and I loved it because it was so easy to get it delivered to our doorstep.

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After Julie Burroughs, owner of Farm Baby Foods, had her twin girls, she quickly learned that providing fresh and tasty baby food was not very easy. She learned she needed bigger equipment and her commitment to providing fresh, healthy baby food for her girls grew into Farm Baby Foods.

Farm Baby Foods provides Stage-1, Stage – 2, and pouches of baby food. Only all-natural, seasonal, organic produce and ingredients are used to make tasty combinations of baby food.  Julie and the staff of Farm Baby Foods believe that every process of making their baby food is important. They make all the food in their licensed, commercial kitchen. They are Green Restaurant Association endorsed products, freezer safe, and all the food containers are BPA free.

If you have not been won over yet, the ordering and delivery WILL win you over!

  • Go to Farmbabyfoods.com and select “Store”
  • Select which baby food you would like to purchase. Amelia has tried the Apple/Pear and Squash/Carrot/Nutmeg. She has enjoyed both!
  • Select your delivery preferences (YES, it IS delivered to YOU!)
  • Select “Add to cart”
  • When you are finished adding food to your cart, click the cart symbol at the top of the page, and checkout.

That is it! Pretty simple, huh? If you have any questions at all, Julie provides you with a phone number you can call or an e-mail address. She is AWESOME at answering questions and making sure you are happy.

Some other things to know and remember:

  • On all foods, EVERY ingredient is listed
  • You must have a $20 minimum purchase, which is VERY easy to hit
  • You can store the baby food in your freezer for up to 6 months
  • Do not store the baby food in your refrigerator for more than 72 hours of production date
  • What is offered changes often due to what is in season and available

Of course, we are doing an great giveaway, to give you a chance to try Farm Baby Foods for yourself. Make sure you follow all 3 steps to be entered in to win a $50 certificate!!! That’s a lot of baby food!

I will announce a winner on Sunday, April 26th on my Facebook Page!

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Exciting News!

I have been holding in some exciting news and it is finally official!

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Midwest Mom & Wife now owns Des Moines Parent. Have you ever checked out Des Moines Parent? It is an awesome blog that was created and developed by Thomas Brogan, to keep parents up to date with fun events and activities in Central Iowa. I am so excited I get to take over and continue to do the same!

Midwest Mom & Wife will continue to have awesome information about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, babywearing, natural parenting, and more! While, Des Moines Parent will have all the fun events and activities to do an see in Central Iowa. There is an event calendar of Des Moines Parent, which is an awesome resource, that lists dates and times of fun things to do. Check it out!

During this transition and I learn to juggle TWO blogs … blog posts may slow down a bit for the next couple of weeks. Do NOT worry though, I will return with awesome posts and information for you.

Make sure you visit and subscribe to Des Moines Parent and also “like” Des Moines Parent on Facebook.