We ordered four dozen cupcakes from Lovely Sweets and they were DELICIOUS and absolutely beautiful,…read moreexactly what we were looking for. Jena was responsive, easy to communicate with and even offered delivery which was a lifesaver. I wish I could eat cupcakes all day - ha!

I was looking for something to do, and I found this potter painting shop! It was a relaxing way to…read moreget out my creative energy! When I walked in, they showed me where to get the pottery, how to use the glaze paint, and an instruction card with how to paint it! I chose a mug, and painted potted plants all along the bottom. I may not be a great or even good artist, but it was nice to try something new! You pay for the time and the piece, so prices will vary and they are labeled under the pottery pieces. I painted a regular mug, and for spending an hour and half, I only paid less than $30. Highly recommend!

I had a rough idea of a project to make for my granddaughter and the staff was thoughtful in…read morelistening to my questions and very helpful in creating my design. Big kudos to Matthew for taking an interest in bringing my vision to life.

I've filled the same vessel twice here at the Candle Bar, and both times the scents have been…read moregreat! They walk you through the whole process, from picking what your candle goes in, choosing your scents, and pouring and storing your candle. I chose a large, two wick glass that cost $32 both times I refilled it. They have tons of options for glasses, and options for wax beads/scent oils. They have a punch card, so after 5 refills you get up to 20% off the next candle. The candle lasted me about 3 months because I lit it constantly. The scent never got weaker, it smelled great the whole way through. This is perfect for a girls day, I already have plans to visit again for a third time!

Nestled in the great area of Valley Junction. This fun place is bright and full of smiles. Parking…read moreis like any place in Valley Junction. Street parking is available, or you can find a lot close by. You almost get knocked back when you walk in the door with all the smell. That is to be expected when you are making smelly things. LOL Happily they have coffee beans to help your nose along the way. Our friend set up the appointment for a Thursday evening. We got there on time minus one. It was just a girls night out of 4. We confirmed with the staff that we were not going to hold up anyone if we started late. There was no worry. Lots of room and time. The staff was great and walked us through the steps. You get to pick out your vessel. If you don't want a candle they also have room spray and diffuser options. Then you pick out your 4 favorite smells. Our 4th showed up around this time and we chilled while she got caught up. There was 2 candles and 2 room sprays being made. Our instructor was great help. We all started with the same basics. You get a little tray with all your needed items. She helps you combine 2 of your 4 scents that you liked. We giggled as we "huffed" the scents to make sure that was what we wanted. Then you get to color your sticker for your item. The sticker on your vessel will allow you to bring it back for discounted refills. With the room spray she brings out the distilled water and witch hazel. She walked us through the proportions to put into our bottles. Then to complete with the water and witch hazel. Simple and easy. It was ready to take home. A few extra steps for the candles. You put in the wicks, the mixing of the oils smells into the wax. It gets mixed and then it has to sit and get picked up the next day. Overall its a simple process but there are so many smells to choose from that are offered at the store. It was a fun girls evening activity. If you do a candle it can be $20 and up depending on your vessel. The room spray was just at $19. So you can have this fun without breaking the bank or go crazy and get multiple options.

This place is really cool! I found Five Monkeys through Yelp after searching art boutiques. I'm…read morefrom out of town and have been working in Des Moines for the last few months. I have started collecting local paintings from the places I visit and was desperate to find a piece from Iowa. Five Monkeys did not disappoint! This place is adjoined to a music store that sells vinyl records. Five Monkeys features clothing, paintings, jewelry, pottery, and other local trinkets. A lot of the jewelry is very unique and different. Many of the pieces from the various designers looked like one-of-a-kind items. I opted for a pair of glass earrings and a painting called "The Little One", which I could be wrong, but may have been painted by the owner of the boutique. She was very helpful and friendly. The painting was just what I was looking for! In the back of the store, there is a paint-your-own-ceramics studio, where people can pick out items to paint and then pick them up after they've been fired in the kiln. I thought that was really cool, and saw everything back there from unicorns to mugs to tiki shot glasses. I wish I had known about this place months ago, but I'm glad that I at least went there before leaving town. If you haven't been to Five Monkeys, then you need to go!

Really had a great girls day here! Pricing is reasonable, staff is friendly & helpful. They have a…read morehuge stock of available pottery for painting. From what we were told they get regular shipments allowing for a diverse range of projects to choose from! I can't wait to see my finished piece. They also ship, if you're worried about how you'll get your project after completion.

This is such a great place to create! Families can walk in and pick a project right off the…read moreshelves and start creating. From simple projects like painting a piece of pottery (you take it home THAT DAY!), to projects that are more intricate, there is something for everyone! Owner, Stacy Schuurmann is so creative and offers many ideas for kids and adults to have fun with art!

We were so excited to come in and make our own pottery for a reasonable price. The class was fun…read moreand we were given the option of painting it then or we could come back at a later time and paint it with studio paints and make designs, so we chose that option this class was in November). We went to paint these on February 13. We did very detailed pieces with flowers and intricate designs. The studio told me that they would be done within two weeks to a month. After a month passed, I called to see if our pieces were done, they weren't. After this, I called every week as the studio never followed up with me. Our pieces were finally done on April 3rd. So, I went in on the 4th to pick them up at opening. I waited an extra 15 minutes after opening and they had no one there, I knocked on the door and no one came. They did not have it anywhere that they were closed. I finally picked up our pieces and this studio absolutely destroyed our pieces. They melted the glaze and did not heat them in the proper temperature and ruined all our work designing them. So after 6 months, our pieces are going in the garbage. There was no apology for trashing our pieces or offer to reimburse us or to come in and redo them. It was so unfortunate that the team did not care to make things right.

Bella Flora made magic happen--again! They decorated my wedding 16 years ago, and over the weekend,…read morethey brought my mom's wedding vision to life at Hyperion. From the very beginning, the team took the time to truly understand what she wanted and delivered it beautifully. Just like the verse says, "Love is patient, love is kind," that's exactly the kind of care and dedication the Bella team brings to every bride. Their work is thoughtful, personal, and stunning. 10/10 recommend!

Cannot thank Boesen enough! I ordered an arrangement online for a going home service for the mother…read moreof a very dear friend and accidentally put the wrong date for delivery. I didn't realize till after the service my mistake. I called Boesen and explained my situation and asked if I could have them delivered to the family instead since I messed up on the date. I was pleasantly surprised when they informed me they cross check the dates for services and had delivered the flowers on the appropriate date. Thank you Boesen for excellent customer service!

Update: After my…read moreoriginal review, the owner finally reached out to me and we had a conversation about the issues with the wedding flowers. We discussed the color concerns and ultimately agreed on a $1,000 refund. I appreciate that he eventually contacted me and worked toward a resolution. However, it took over a month to receive a response, and the process was much more difficult than it should have been. We will also be using part of the refund to pay our photographer to edit the floral colors in some of the wedding photos so they better match the wedding color palette. My original concern has never been about the quality of the flowers themselves. The bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces were beautiful. The issue was that the colors used did not match the burgundy/wine, dusty rose, and blush palette that was discussed and approved during the planning process. I wanted to update my review to reflect that a refund was provided. At the same time, I think it's important for future couples to know that while the flowers were beautiful, the final colors were not what we had planned, and it took considerable follow-up before our concerns were addressed. **** The flowers for my daughter's wedding were beautiful, and the bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces were all well put together. Communication throughout the planning process was also very good, which is why this experience was ultimately so disappointing. The biggest issue was that the floral color palette did not match what we had discussed and approved. During our meetings, we reviewed a specific palette of burgundy/wine, dusty rose, and blush tones, along with fabric swatches and inspiration photos. However, the flowers used on the wedding day included noticeable lavender and fuchsia tones that were not part of the wedding color pallet. After the wedding, I reached out to the wedding coordinator, to ask why the colors were different. She apologized but said the flowers were "magenta" and "bright wine," not purple. I sent a photo comparing the flowers to the approved color palette, but never received a response. I also reached out to the owner and did not hear back. What disappointed me most wasn't just the color issue--it was the lack of follow-up and accountability afterward. Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events, and the details matter. While the flowers themselves were beautiful, the overall design was not what we had planned, and no real effort was made to address our concerns. I've used Boesen for years, both personally and professionally, which makes this experience even more frustrating. Based on the quality of the flowers alone, I would have given a much higher rating. Unfortunately, the lack of communication and resolution after the wedding left a lasting negative impression.

Held every every three months or so at the Iowa State Fairgrounds by Callahan Promotions, Inc. this…read moreis an Arts and Crafts show that you don't want to miss. 100+ vendors fill the Varied Industries building. My gf and I like to sneak in on the Friday nights when the show first opens. Normally it's held Friday PM and all day Saturday and Sunday. There are arts and craft selections for men, women, and children. My gf buys a lot of the hard goods, but for me... It's like the state fair.... I go to eat! Glazed hot nuts, freeze dried candy, wine vendors, breads and dips, salsa, honey, meat and cheese, salsas, hot sauces, Erick's Enchilada's out of Omaha...etc. She brings home seasonal door hangings and such. I bring home steam punk lamps, or something like that, and a bag of groceries! Lol Keep an eye on the Iowa State Fairgrounds Events Calendar https://www.iowastatefairgrounds.org/event-calendar and their Facebook page for coming dates and details https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064668970712