Are you in West Des Moines and looking for some good eats? Look no further! My sister lives in Iowa, so we make our way over there a couple times a year. We've spent some time in West Des Moines and let me tell you, we have found some great food and great coffee. Let's dive into the list, so you can pick what place you'd like to try!

If you like delicious tamales, you definitely need to try El Fogon! It is a Mexican restaurant situated near West Glen Town Center. The restaurant has a super relaxed atmosphere and is decorated so well! My husband ordered enchiladas with their cheese sauce and he enjoyed them a lot!

This is a great place to eat if you have some shopping to do. There's countless stores in this area! The restaurant is super kid friendly and our service here was awesome. You should definitely check this place out if you're in West Des Moines!
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Don't be fooled by the outside of this place. This cozy coffee shop is attached to a gas station, but the space is still separate and DREAMY on the inside! Picture a roaring fire place, dark but inviting wall colors, and vintage tables for seating. 

This was the perfect spot to post up and get some work done. The black coffee was affordable and the lady at the register was a sweetheart! A few drinks I'd love to try when I go back are: Sweet Georgia Brown or their Turtle Mocha.
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In December, we were in Des Moines for a wedding and in need of a snack before the ceremony started. We stopped at Blue Shark for appetizers and this place was so fun! The restaurant has multiple TVs and plenty of high top seating.

We ordered spinach artichoke dip and pretzel sticks. They were a hit! The food came out super fast too. I'd love to visit this place on a Saturday, they do some awesome deals that day!
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I am a big fan of West Des Moines! It is such a nice place for a weekend getaway. The area felt very safe, so it could be a fun option for a family trip. Anyway, thanks for stopping by Bliss Junkie!

I love creating these guides for you. I don't always have my camera, but that won't stop me from snapping pics with my phone and making posts like this! 

Heading to Des Moines soon? Pin this post and save it for later!

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Trigger Warning: Infertility

The last two years have been painful. My family and I went through some devastating experiences. I've had good faith in Jesus for most of my life, but during these moments, it can very hard to speak to anyone or be hopeful. I do know however, He has started healing the cracks in my heart and these are the verses I will refer to when things feel hard.

Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day.
Psalm 139:12

​Nothing is scary to God. One of the scariest moments I encountered was waking up from surgery in Tennessee. My gynecologist believed I had Endometriosis, but during the surgery to look for it, they found nothing. For a period of time, I really thought I was making up my pain and being delusional. I was heartbroken and scared that no answers were coming.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that I deserve freedom. Freedom from my physical pain. Freedom from my guilt. Freedom from the things I missed out on. God has taught me my freedom is worth fighting for and that when I ask Him for help, He will give me rest. 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 
2 Corinthians 4:8 

I love the visuals of this verse. It is especially cool how it describes different stages of pain. We may be pushed to extreme circumstances, but God is not far.

I remember mornings when my eyes would sting and feel sore, because of how much I cried the night before. If you have been hurting for a long time, healing is still possible for you. You can let Jesus in, even if it's only one piece of you at a time.

Thanks for stopping by. Healing is tricky and not really that fun, but I thought I'd fill you in on what God has been teaching me.

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