Race for the Cure?and Pupusas!

Good afternoon everybody!

It?s only 1:00 and I feel like I?ve done so much already today! Including?

Walking the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with my Mom!

This is our second year walking the 5K ? we?re hoping to make it a tradition for many years to come.

We got up bright and early to head down to the capital building, where the race and festivities were all taking place. 

The crowds were huge!

At the back of the capital, there were rows upon rows of tents handing out awareness information, pens, buttons, bags?and FOOD!

We immediately nabbed a Pink Ribbon Bagel, generously provided gratis from Panera. 

These were pink ribbon shaped bagels, studded with cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey and brown sugar. One of the best bagels I?ve ever had from Panera, actually!

I also snagged a Babybel cheese wheel. We always used to snack on these during synchronized swimming practice in high school. Yep, I was at one time a synchronized swimmer!

After standing in the sun for as long as we could (it was FREEZING ? 31 degrees!) it was time to line up for the start of the race.

The starting gun went off and the whole crowd got movin?! 

I believe there were over 30,000 people at the event. They said the actual number over the loudspeaker, but I was talking and didn?t hear. At any rate ? it was crowded.

The drink maker Fuze (pronounced fuse) was one of the sponsors of the event, and they were handing out capes that said ?I am a Fuze Hero." My Mom, not knowing what Fuze is, said ?I wonder what a Fuzz Hero is?? upon seeing these women in their capes. I juuuust about died laughing!! Maybe you had to be there?

About 50 minutes later, we crossed the finish line ? success!! Second year walking = complete!

I?m so glad my Mom and I made participating in the Walk for the Cure a yearly tradition. We enjoy it not only because it?s for an incredible cause, but also because it?s something that we can do together!

Since we were already downtown, we decided to hit up the nearby Farmer?s Market after the walk. All the gorgeous fall produce was in, including maaaany, many, many types of pumpkins, squash and gourds!

There were rows and rows of these mini guys. So cute!

Mmmmm?yikes, don?t know what?s going on with this fellow. It looked like he got peanut shells stuck on him. I shot from afar.

I?d never seen these perfectly spherical ?egg? pumpkins.

These Indian corn bunches were just stunning.

Aaaaand, what would be a trip to the Farmer?s Market, without a Pupusa?!

You may recall that I had my first pupusa a couple months ago at this very Farmer?s Market and vowed to have one every time I came back. I, of course, stayed true to my word and my Mom and I split a Cheese and Spinach Pupusa. INSANELY delicious!! Warm, chewy, CHEESEY?words cannot do it justice, really.

Lucky for us, the pupusa stand also had Warm Rice Pudding today!

Are you joking?! Creamy, sweet, spicy and chewy?unbelievably perfect to warm up on a cold, fall morning

I couldn?t decide if I wanted my last taste to be the pupusa, or warm rice pudding.

The rice pudding won

Whew ? see? That?s a lot for it only being 1:00!! What a terrific day so far ? and it?s only going to get better. The Iowa Hawkeyes are taking on Michigan State tonight!! I?m not going to lie?I?m nervous. I need to channel my inner Hawkeye football faith right now. EEEK!!

Have a great rest of your afternoon!!

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