Summer Evans
Summer has one amazing little girl, Charlotte, whom she and husband Luke are just head-over-heels in love with! Marketing & Communications Director for the City of Waukee by day, and ecstatically goofy mama by night, she and her family enjoy all things Iowa State, music, photography, and blogging (Random Acts of Summer).
Give a Jar of Memories
If the parents/grandparents in your life are like those in mine, they are hard to shop for! My husband’s parents especially seem to have everything they could ever need or want, and they usually...
5 Quick Reads for Busy Moms
Before I was a mom, I read for fun quite often -- usually in my hammock with a glass of wine. Fast-forward to pregnancy, during which I read every birth and baby care book I...
Best Ice Cream in Des Moines
To me, ice cream and summertime go hand-in-hand. I remember the Dennis the Menace-branded twist ice cream cones and the lime push-ups at Dairy Queen fondly. We weren't as conscious about fats and sugar back...
Don’t Be a Marriage Martyr
I've been married for nine years now. Nine years! How is it possible that we are this old already?! Next year, we will celebrate a decade of matrimony. Has it been easy? No. Do...
She’s a Girl, but That Alone Does Not Define Her
This post is part 5 of 7 in the series Sugar and Spice & Everything Daughters.
Growing up, I was a girly girl. I loved all things Barbies and makeup and glitter. I've grown to...
Fun Ways to Display Kids’ Artwork
Kids make their first piece of art as early as day one when they place their tiny footprints in ink at the hospital. They continue to churn out artwork for years to come. Some...
My Kid Favors Me over Daddy and It’s Not Pretty
From the start, my daughter was a mama’s girl. In her first year it made sense since I was the milk machine, but she still strongly favors me. Don’t get me wrong. The fact that...
I Failed Valentine’s Day (but Won’t This Year)
Hi. I'm Summer. And, for two consecutive years now, I've failed Valentine's Day at my daughter's daycare. She was only eight months old the first time. I ran across some cheap Valentine cards a...
I Think about My Kiddo While I’m at Work
I don't feel guilty about working outside of the house full-time. I'm really proud of my career, and I enjoy my job. I try not to beat myself up when I drop my kiddo off at daycare (although...
To the Low-Income Mom at Christmastime
I see you, mama. I know that you're worrying about disappointing your kiddos this holiday season. I know you're wondering how you'll pay this month's bills before you can even consider buying Christmas presents....