We have a winner! 🎉 Head over to desmoinesdigest.com/giveaway to see who won the $25 local restaurant gift card. Since I'm out of town, the winner will be contacted via email by the end of the week — keep an eye on your inbox!

And before you go... next Monday's giveaway is going to be big. 👀 We're teaming up with some amazing local spots for an incredible lineup of prizes:

💇 Salon Au (Ankeny) 🍽️ Suzy's Kitchen & Gifts (Altoona) 🥂 Aura Restaurant & Lounge (Clive)

More details drop in next Monday's edition — you won't want to miss it. Stay local, stay awesome. 🙌

🗓️ The 'Monday Reset' Ritual

Start the week by having your student spend 10 minutes on Sunday evening organizing their backpack, checking their planner, and writing down one goal for each subject. A calm Monday morning starts with a Sunday evening reset.

🧠 The Two-Minute Rule for Homework Resistance

When kids resist starting, use the two-minute rule: just do two minutes of the assignment, then decide whether to continue. Almost always, starting is the hardest part — and momentum carries them through.

📵 Phone-Free Focus Blocks

Try 20-minute study sprints with phones face-down and in another room. Studies show even the presence of a phone on the desk — even face-down — reduces cognitive capacity. Try it this week!

💬 The 'Teach It Back' Method

After reading a chapter or finishing a lesson, have your student explain the concept out loud as if they're teaching you. If they can explain it simply, they actually understand it. If they struggle, that's exactly where to focus.

Do you want more tips like this?

Need more than just last-minute study tips? Camp Homework offers affordable K–12 tutoring with real human tutors — not AI — starting at $150/month. camphomework.com

Kari grew up on a cattle farm outside Van Meter. She spent eight years fixing diesel engines. Then eight more working with racehorses at Prairie Meadows. By any measure, she had already built a life.

Then one night she was driving home from chores and a fire truck blew past her in the dark. She called a fire chief the next day. He told her it was basically a show-up-and-have-a-pulse situation.

It was anything but.

Today Kari is a full-time firefighter and paramedic — working shifts at three different departments across the metro. She has three cardiac arrest saves. She has delivered a newborn on a call. She has walked into situations where the information was wrong, the stakes were real, and the only option was to figure it out fast.

She'll tell you it's the greatest job she's ever had. She means it.

But there's one thing she said in this interview — something quiet, about what happens after the hardest calls — that stopped us cold. It's not what you'd expect from someone who does this work every day.

Click here for the whole story

🤝 Be part of our community spotlight!
Share your story and inspire others → Apply Now

There's a wealth management advisor working out of Jordan Creek who will sit down with you, build you an 80-page financial plan, and charge you absolutely nothing for the conversation. His name is Joshua Johnson, and before you assume this is just another pitch from a guy in a suit, you should know why he does what he does.

Joshua grew up in Fulshear, Texas, watching his father run a successful business. Then his dad got sick. Cancer, then remission, then cancer again. By the time it was over, the family that had been thriving was on food stamps. Not because his father didn't work hard — but because nobody had ever helped him build a plan for the worst case. No protection. No contingency. No one asking the hard questions before it was too late. That experience became Joshua's entire reason for getting into this business, and it shapes every conversation he has with a client.

Now based in West Des Moines at Northwestern Mutual, Joshua works primarily with business owners — especially folks in the trades like plumbers, electricians, and contractors — who are great at running their business but have never thought about what happens if something goes wrong. He's helped clients restructure liability across company vehicles, build tax strategies that can save six figures at the time of a business sale, and create financial plans that cover both the "what ifs" and the long-term vision. And he does it all as a fiduciary — meaning he's legally required to act in your best interest, not his.

Before you go read the full story, here are two quick things Joshua says everyone should know:

Ask your advisor if they're a fiduciary. If they hesitate or give you a vague answer, that's your answer. A fiduciary is audited by a third party and legally bound to recommend what's right for you — not what pays them the most. Many advisors you'll encounter are not held to this standard.

If your advisor isn't talking about taxes, find one who does. Real tax planning isn't just putting money in a retirement account. Strategies like tax loss harvesting can bank losses over time and offset major future gains — including the sale of a business. Most people never hear about this because most advisors aren't doing it.

There's a lot more where that came from — including the client story that made Joshua realize exactly why liability planning matters for anyone with employees on the road, and the quote about investing that he says he came up with himself and has never heard anywhere else.

Read the full story

Northwestern Mutual — Joshua Johnson · 1245 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266 · By appointment

Saturday, May 9, 2026 · 7:30 PM · Casey's Center, Des Moines

One of country music's most electrifying live performers, Cody Johnson brings his powerhouse show to Casey's Center this Saturday. Known for his raw, honest sound and high-energy performances, "CodyJo" never disappoints. Whether you've been a fan for years or are just discovering him, this is a night out that'll have you singing all the way home.

Saturday, May 9, 2026 · 11:00 AM · Temple Theater, Des Moines

Looking for a perfect Saturday morning for the littles? Des Moines Performing Arts' Wellmark Family Series presents Aesop Bops! — a lively, music-filled performance that brings Aesop's fables to life in a way kids (and honestly, parents) will love. One-hour run time, kid-friendly, and a wonderful introduction to live theater for the whole family.

Thursday, May 7
🎤 Live Concert at Lauridsen Amphitheater | Water Works Park |

Friday, May 8 – Saturday, May 9

🎡 Iowa State Fairgrounds Event Weekend | Iowa State Fairgrounds |

Saturday, May 9

🤠 Cody Johnson – Live Country Concert | Casey’s Center |

🛍️ Downtown Farmers’ Market (Opening Day) | Downtown Des Moines |

May 16 – 17

🌱 Think Green Spring Garden Event | Greater DSM Botanical Garden |

Tuesday, May 5 – Friday, May 8

🌸 Spring Exhibits | Greater DSM Botanical Garden |

Wednesday, May 6

🧩 Puzzling Adventures Scavenger Hunt | Downtown Des Moines |

Saturday, May 9

🎭 Aesop Bops! (Kids Show) | Temple Theater |

🏃‍♀️ Girls on the Run Spring 5K | Des Moines |

🧶 Shelf Love BYOC Craft Club | Des Moines |

Every Sunday

🍦 Sunday Sundaes | Big Grove Brewery |

We want to hear from you! Des Moines Digest exists to help locals find the best things to do, see, and explore across the metro — but we can only make it better with your input. Tell us what sections you love, what you skip, and what you wish we covered more. Whether it's a hidden gem, an event type, or just a quick "keep doing this" — we're all ears. Your feedback shapes every issue, so hit reply or click below and let us know. This digest is for you, Des Moines! 💬
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Thanks for starting the week with us, Des Moines. See you Thursday! 🌱

— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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