Based on crime, extreme weather, natural disasters, house depreciation, foreclosure rate, air quality, threat of terrorism, environmental risks, life expectancy and job loss numbers, Des Moines was rated the SECOND most secure U.S. place to live, among metro areas of 500,000 or more, according to Farmers Insurance Group.

This is an annual survey using data from www.bestplaces.net.

Photo from www.seedesmoines.com, by Colby Clark.

Posted in Des Moines Events, Life in Des Moines, New Students, Prospective Students | 3 Comments

DMU has teamed up with Variety-The Children’s Charity to host a new annual event: Dodgeball Derby @ DMU. If you’ve ever played dodgeball or seen the movie “Dodgeball,” you know this event will be fun. And when you consider that costumes and themed-teams are encouraged, you can imagine the riot this will be.

Variety is a great organization that helps underprivileged or at-risk kids around our state.

So mark your calendar for January 23, 8-5, at DMU and sign up your team now! Each team of 6-8 people costs $75 and that includes a t-shirt for each player.

Posted in Community Service, Current Students, Des Moines Events, DMU Events, DMU News, Life in Des Moines, New Students, Podiatric Medicine, Prospective Students, Student Life | Leave a Comment

So, didja eat anything yummy over holiday break?

Check this out: Metromix lists the top 100 restaurants in central Iowa, per 17,000 votes!

Any of your favorites make the list? Any you are surprised by their ranking?

Posted in Current Students, Life in Des Moines, Student Life | 1 Comment

Our campus is closed today so I’ll keep it lighthearted as I imagine most people are busy today… So if you have a few minutes, enjoy these videos on our site.

These lil puppies bark you a holiday greeting:

Posted in Life in Des Moines, Student Life | 2 Comments

…so stay indoors where it’s toasty warm & watch some Christmas videos!
(If you’re reading this via email, click here to view on our site so you can actually see the videos!)

First up, a few renditions of “Baby it’s cold outside,” one of my fave Christmas songs. The first one is Selma Blair & Rainn Wilson which I enjoy just cause I think he’s hilarious. The second is a scene in the movie “Elf” with Zooey Deschanel & Will Ferrell. (If you haven’t seen “Elf,” please rectify that situation immediately & watch it.)

Posted in Current Students, Life in Des Moines, Student Life | 4 Comments

I’ve never met a muffin I didn’t like, but despite their relatively healthy appearance I know that a big bakery muffin (you know the ones I’m talking about, the cakey ones with the big pieces of granulated sugar sprinkled on the top) can have just as many calories as a glazed donut. So, this recipe for low-calorie cranberry walnut muffins seems like a great addition to a holiday brunch. I’m not a huge fan of walnuts, but I’m sure you can substitute them for pecans or leave them out all together.

Here are some more low-calorie muffin recipes.

Cranberry Walnut Muffins

1  cup all-purpose flour
1/2  cup white whole-wheat flour
1/4  cup quick-cooking rolled oats
2  tsp. baking powder
1/2  tsp. ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
1/4  tsp. salt
1  egg, lightly beaten
3/4  cup fat-free milk
1/2  cup sugar
3  Tbsp. canola oil
1/3  cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/4  cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Directions

Posted in Healthy Cooking | 4 Comments