D is for...

...days of delicious delightfulness. As you will see, there are many, many yummy foods that begin with D. Plus, I just have food on my brain lately. I'm on day 11 (of 21) of a liver cleanse that I was hoping would increase my energy. (No luck yet on the energy front). I have to avoid certain foods during this cleanse that hinder detoxification, and that means that I had to avoid the food table at our annual MOPS spa day this morning. All of our spa day foods include chocolate, which is one of my favorite foods on earth. However, as refined sugars to not help to detoxify my liver, I couldn't partake. Also, I just finished reading Portia de Rossi's Unbearable Lightness, which was all about her years of suffering from anorexia and bulimia. She's a great writer; I highly recommend her book. However, the combo of all that craziness going on has led me to be thinking about food far more than I'd like!

Places to go that start with D:
*towns/cities in your area that start with D (ex. Des Moines!)
*Dairy Queen
*Daylight Donuts
*Dippin' Dots
*Domino's
*Donut King
*Drake Diner
*Dunkin Donuts (are you detecting a theme emerging yet?)
*find an area dam to visit (one of our favorite "D" days consisted of having a picnic of Ding Dongs at Saylorville Dam while we watched people water skiing in the lake)
*Des Moines Farmer's Market (every Saturday morning from May-Sept.)
*Des Moines Playhouse Kate Goldman Children's Theatre
*Des Moines River Walk (you can cross the awesome footbridge or check out the Chinese Pagoda)
*Disneyland or Disneyworld (might as well dream big)
*Dollar days at I-Cubs games (the following all cost $1 each: general admission tickets, small popcorn, small pop, and inflatables on the concourse)
*downtown skywalk system (best in the evening or weekends to avoid business crowds)
*Drake University (go to a sporting event or just walk around campus)
*go to a drive-in theatre (this may be a good date night for you and your spouse once the kids are in bed!)
*parks starting with D (Dean Park)

Things to do that begin with D:
*read books beginning with D (Danny and the Dinosaur, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, any Dr. Seuss books)
*have a special day with Dad
*have a dance party in your living room (or better yet, in your DEN)
*pick dandelions
*play in the dark (with flashlights or glow sticks)
*wear denim
*read devotions
*practice diving (or learn to use a diving board)
*draw things that begin with D (dinosaurs, dragons, dogs, etc.) with colors beginning with D (dandelion yellow, denim blue)
*dress up dolls
*eat at a drive-thru like Sonic or an old-fashioned A&W
*play Duck, Duck, Goose (or as we called in growing up: Duck, Duck, Grey Duck)
*feed ducks at a local pond
*play games that start with D (dominoes, Don't Break the Ice)
*watch movies that start with D (Dumbo, any Disney movie)
*listen to music starting with D (artists like Dave Matthews Band or songs like "Da Doo Ron Ron," by The Crystals, "Dancing Queen," by ABBA, "Daughters," by John Mayer, "Daycamp," "Doctor Doctor," "D-O-G," "Dad Caught Stars," or "Do You Wanna Go," by Justin Roberts)
*have playdates with friends that start with D (Drew, Dorie, etc.)
*try to talk like Donald Duck
*watch TV shows that start with D (Dinosaur Train, Dragon Tales, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood)

Foods that start with D:
*Note: If you plan properly, you may be able to celebrate the letter D on National Donut Day, which is held the first Friday of June. I know for sure that Krispy Kreme Donuts gives one free donut of choice to each customer (no purchase necessary). It is possible that other donut shops do something similar. :)
dark chocolate
dates
deep-dish pizza
deli sandwiches
Denver omelette
deviled eggs
devil's food cake
dill pickles
Ding Dongs
dip(s)
divinity
donuts (again... they seem to be my theme)
Doritos
Dots candy
double stuff Oreos
Dove chocolates
Dreamsicles
dried fruits
Drumsticks
dumplings

Favorite "D" Bible Verses:
Discipline related verse: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." Proverbs 12:1 (and then I have to explain that somehow it's okay for the Bible to use the word "stupid" even though we do not allow our children to use it...)
"Don't ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; for anger doesn't make us good, as God demands we must be." James 1:19
Doubt related verse: "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything." Philippians 4:6a

As far as our photography ABC summer went, we were able to find two different spots at the Jester Park natural playscape that looked like D's. The third picture is my daughter's play high chair attached to a table.

I'm going to attempt to post more than once a week, but I can't make promises. ;) Next up, letter E!

*For those new to my blog, check out the beginnings of ABC Summers here.*