The Svoboda family is gearing up for the holidays in Bondurant. (Photo: Little House on Main) |
For a great gift, head to Little House on Main |
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By Libby Nichols
At Little House on Main in Bondurant, holiday shoppers can find gifts with more meaning than what’s available at the big box stores. With vintage charm and a curated mix of handmade goods, handwritten notes and cozy apparel, this boutique offers a thoughtful inventory while giving back to families throughout Iowa.
Founded by Amanda and Zach Svoboda, the store reflects their belief that business can and should build connections. Amanda was raised in a family of entrepreneurs and watched her parents create businesses filled with passion and purpose. So she wants Little House “to be more than just a business,” she said. “There needs to be a vision and a mission that people feel they are a part of.”
This vision is especially apparent during the holiday season, when the boutique runs its “Give Back” program and donates a portion of its profits to support Iowa families who are struggling through illness, housing insecurity, the loss of a loved one, or another of life’s challenges. So with every purchase, customers help make a difference for folks who are going through a tough time.
Zach sees the store as more than just a place for retail. “Anyone who walks in here isn’t just a transaction to us,” he said. “Everyone has a story, and our hope is that this space is a welcoming one that’s full of love and meets every guest where they are.” Zach is also a musician who performs locally as Zachary Freedom, so if you visit the store, don’t be surprised if you hear him strumming through a laid-back acoustic set while you shop. It’s just one more way the Little House feels personal. Especially during the holiday season, the shelves are stocked with products to bring comfort, joy and connection, no matter who’s on your shopping list.
Check out a few of Amanda's gift recommendations — for coworkers, besties and family — online at dsmmagazine.com.
Contributor Libby Nichols is the creator and founder of Meet DSM, an Instagram account and brand dedicated to showcasing Des Moines businesses and events |
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WEEKEND SECTION PRESENTED BY CATCH DES MOINES |
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Y'all have a merry Christmas, ya hear? Dolly Parton's holiday musical heads to Ames. (Photo: Jesse Faatz) |
Have a holly Dolly Christmas |
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Dolly Parton’s heartwarming country musical is heading to Ames just in time for the holidays. Adapted from the 1986 movie musical of the same name, Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol” takes the stage at 7 p.m. Monday at Stephens Auditorium.
This fresh reimagining of “A Christmas Carol” moves the classic tale to the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains, where Scrooge is a tight-fisted mining company owner who’s forced to confront the magic and meaning of the season. (Spoiler: He sees the light.) Filled with atmosphere, humor and several of Parton’s signature tunes, the show offers a cozy, nostalgic story for all ages. |
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Correction: Last week's newsletter incorrectly noted the Ankeny Community Chorus' next concert. The group will celebrate its 25th season with a concert on April 24 at Ankeny's Lutheran Church of Hope.
“Home Alone” with Macaulay Culkin, 7:30 tonight, Vibrant Music Hall. Where’s Kevin!? He’s right here in Waukee to chat with audiences before a screening of the famous Christmas movie from 1990.
Dessa, 7 p.m. Friday, Wooly’s. The singer and writer takes the Wooly’s stage to share a few tunes and thoughtful lyrics.
“Jury of Her Peers,” 7 p.m. Friday, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Fleur Cinema & Cafe. Catch the world premiere of the Iowa-made film based on a true, unsolved mystery from 1900, when a Warren County farmer was murdered in his sleep.
The Peppermint Trail, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, the Avenues and Roosevelt Cultural District. Hop on a free trolley along the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand and 42nd Street to snag some deals at local shops and restaurants.
Last Call Holiday Art Market, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Mainframe Studios. Pop into the lively holiday market where the studios are packed with artwork and gifts.
Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, 4 p.m. Sunday, Westminster Presbyterian Church. The chorus celebrates the season with a program called “Radiant Angels, Shining Light.”
There are many (many!) more cultural events around town this month. For more ideas, we recommend the calendar maintained by Bravo Greater Des Moines, which this week announced more than $6 million in grants to support more than 80 arts, cultural, heritage and interpretive science organizations across Central Iowa. |
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Heads up: It’s a bird! … It’s a plane! … It’s a whole fleet of planes in perfect formation. Catch Des Moines announced on Tuesday that Des Moines will host the 2027 Iowa Air Show, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, on May 8-9, 2027, at the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines airport. It’s Central Iowa’s first major air show since 1991.
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Butter hurry: Iowa State Fair butter sculptor Sarah Pratt plans to discuss her world-famous job during a Statehood Day celebration at the State Historical Museum of Iowa on Dec. 27. Participants will get the chance to sculpt their own mini-masterpiece using a stick of butter. Registration is required (and usually fills up fast).
Meet your neighbors: Hope Ministries Center for Women and Children will welcome the community for a Christmas open house 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Guests can enjoy a live nativity, photo booth, resident art displays, family activities and guided tours of the center, including decorated resident rooms. Located at 3800 E. Douglas Ave., the center opened in late 2024 and now provides shelter and long-term recovery support for up to 100 women and children.
Oakridge honoree: Oakridge Neighborhood announced Sister Margaret Toomey as this year's honoree of its Oak Society, which supports the neighborhood through philanthropy. A Dominican nun, Toomey chose to live at Oakridge Neighborhood when she moved to Des Moines in the 1970s and stayed there for 25 years to befriend and help her neighbors.
Making history: The State Historical Society of Iowa is seeking nominations by March 1 for its board of trustees. The society is also accepting nominations for its 2026 Excellence in Iowa History Awards, which recognize outstanding publications, local history initiatives and major achievements in Iowa history. Book nominations are due Jan. 5; all others are due Feb. 1. Find the details at history.iowa.gov.
Iowa Stops Hunger: KCCI reported a new food pantry opened this week at Olmsted Elementary School in Urbandale, created in partnership with the school district, the Food Bank of Iowa and Hy-Vee. It’s the second school pantry Hy-Vee has opened this year. |
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Lars Peterson, a licensed social worker, helps people ease their worries. (Photo: Duane Tinkey) |
Three tips to stop the worry spiral |
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By Kendra Esau
It’s an all-too-familiar refrain: Did I say the wrong thing? What if I can’t finish this project in time? Is my child doing all right in school? Is this person thinking negatively of me?
At a certain point throughout the day, we probably find ourselves worrying about something or another. For some it may be only an occasional issue, but for others, these worries can turn into cycles of rumination and overthinking. When a worry gets stuck on “repeat,” it can cause anxiety and negative feelings. And the more your thoughts spiral, the harder it can feel to get back on a positive track.
Lars Peterson, a local licensed independent social worker, studies these cycles and their effects. He offers solutions to break these patterns in his work with clients, and in his webinar “Reduce the Power of Worry & Rumination and Live a More Fulfilling Life,” recorded for Employee and Family Resources and available on YouTube. He recently shared three key takeaways to help overthinkers break the cycle of chronic worrying. While nobody can totally stop worrying, these strategies can help the next time a worry-spiral begins.
1. Understand what you can influence (and what you can’t). In his webinar, Peterson points out the many reasons we might worry. For one, it may feel like you’re doing something helpful, using worry as a strategy to plan or prevent mistakes. However, this can quickly become counterproductive.
To keep yourself from getting trapped in a rumination cycle, he recommends asking yourself, “What part of this problem can I change, and which parts do I just need to accept?” Acknowledging the grief or uncomfortable feelings that come along with that acceptance may be difficult in the moment, but it will allow you to move forward from whatever is bothering you.
For example, if you’re worrying about something like an upcoming deadline, take steps to ensure you’re on track and trust yourself to follow through. That’s an area you can control and solve. If you’re worrying about something you can’t control, like the weather forecast ruining a special day, try to accept that you can’t change the outcome, and instead focus on where you can exert control, like wearing weather-appropriate attire or rescheduling an activity. 2. Create a safe space for yourself. When asked about coping methods for excessive worrying, Peterson highlighted the importance of building or finding your “safe space.”
“Focus on cultivating and maintaining healthy relationships, a safe space where one can be heard and validated,” he said. “Secondly, I would point people toward the value of being in nature. There are a growing number of medical journal studies that support this, and it has definitely been true in my life.” He also added that, for many people, pets can be calming influences that “take us out of our head.”
Whatever it looks like for you, finding a space, person, pet or activity that helps you feel safe enough to unwind and relax is key to breaking the cycle of rumination. 3. Know when to ask for help.
Sometimes your worries may be too big to handle on your own, and that’s OK. If you notice your worrying is affecting your daily activities or presence of mind, it may be time to talk to a professional. “Anxiety, worry and rumination all respond very well to mind-body therapy approaches,” Peterson said. “Seeking out someone who specializes in these approaches can be very helpful.”
Contributor Kendra Esau is a junior copywriter for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. |
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Kick off the new year with dsm |
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Jan. 13: Unveiling party. Start the new year with a copy of the next edition of dsm magazine, which we'll release at Soma Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetics in Clive.
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