by Sarah | Jul 27, 2012 | All About Family, All About Indiana, All of Us, Blogging Life, Community, Indiana Family of Farmers, Table Talk, The Reluctant Hoosier
It’s safe to say that I’ve mentioned a few times before how much I love my neighborhood. It reminds me of a neighborhood I grew up in when I lived in Buffalo. We all know each other, our kids all know each other, we watch out for each others families and homes. There isn’t a weekend that goes by that you can’t find a group of neighbors gathered at someones house. This stands true through spring, summer, fall, and into the mildest of winter weather.
One surefire way to get a group over your house is to get out the grill. Usually when we plan on cooking out, we expect to end up inviting at least two of our neighbors to join in the fun. Hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, chicken – you name it we grill it. Someone is bound to bring mac & cheese (because you can’t have any food gathering without that) – and of course type of salad. Before you know it, our deck table is absolutely overflowing with food and our deck is overflowing with neighbors.
Usually after the kids settle for ice pops. You know, the stick-pops of juice you get at the local supermarket on the cheap. Every freezer in the neighborhood is jammed full of them.
This year I’m bringing something new and fun to the party.
A [amazon_link id=”B003U9ZCRO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Quick Pop[/amazon_link] bar. Make a base of their yummy vanilla yogurt pop and lay out the fruits and chocolate shell. In minutes the kids can have a yummy popsicle they made themselves – and it’s not just sugar water. Fruit’s involved which helps with the healthy points.
Yup, this year my Quick Pops will bring all the neighbors to the yard 😉
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This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received products. All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.
by Sarah | Jul 23, 2012 | All About Indiana, Blogging Life, Indiana Family of Farmers, The Reluctant Hoosier
I love the Fair.
But I never go.
Most of the time it’s a heat thing…or a money thing…or a distance thing. Seriously, we live in the outermost suburb & it’s a haul to get anywhere in Indy.
Two years ago Erik & I made the trek, but we went to see Jeff Dunham (who was amazing), and left. We got no fair food, and didn’t do much wandering.
This year we hope to change that by going twice (at least). There are so many amazing things to see and do – and we won’t go broke if I can control my urge to buy deep fried everything and anything.
One of the main reasons I want to go this year is because it’s the year of the Cow. I used to have a slight obsession and still have a box of cow decorations in my garage (for real).
Okay, the box of cow stuff is real, but my reasons for wanting to go are not. Why I really want to go is to help feed hungry families.
There are days when money is tight here and we wonder how we are going to feed the family for a full week – but when we face ourselves in reality there is always food in the cabinets and the fridge. We are not in so deep that our kids don’t think they will have to wait for school to start to get a square meal.
But there are thousands of families that are that bad off. Children and families going hungry.
The Indiana Family of Farmers is working with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH) to provide food to the hungry here in Indiana. For each person that finished the “Recipe Trail”, IFOF donates 1 pound of food to FIsH. Last year they managed to donate 2,000 pounds! This year, IFOF really increased its goal. They want to get 3,000 visitors to follow the simple recipe trail, pick up the cards and stop by the IFOF booth. You’ll not come out of it with nothing – you get a prize for finishing the trail and entered in both a daily giveaway and a grand prize of a Frigidaire® Chest Freezer.
It takes no time, and you can just sing in as you walk around the fair. Here’s an easy map for you to follow: Recipe Trail Map. All you have to do is make a stop at 8 points through the fair, and bring the recipe cards to the IFOF booth at the DuPont Pavilion.
To make it easier for you to help feed hungry families, you can win 2 tickets to the State Fair. Not just tickets to the fair, but a set of Dairy Coupons (2 milkshakes, 2 grilled cheese, & 2 kids meals). All thanks to Indiana Family of Farmers! Awesome, I know!
Entering is super easy (and for kicks I’ll give you multiple chance’s to win…but your first entry is super simple).
Easy entry:
Just leave a comment below telling me your favorite part of the fair. Is it the concerts? The animals? The FRIED stuff? Or maybe a demo-derby?
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Extra entries:
- Tweet about the contest (leave a comment w/ your twitter name)
- Facebook about the contest (leave a comment)
- Google+ the contest (leave a comment)
- Go to any of my friends blogs below and enter their contests (leave a comment for each one you enter)
That’s it! The contest will end at 11:59 PM on the 25th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or I will pick another winner.
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Other State Fair Giveaways:
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Disclaimer: I am an IFOF Ambassador and therefore this is a sponsored post. I’ll get the same Fair tickets and Dairy coupons as the winner does. However, while I do blog for cheese, milkshakes and fair tickets – I don’t sell my opinions. All thoughts and opinions expressed in the post are my own.
by Sarah | Jul 20, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Erik, All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Bucket List, Indy Geek Girls, The Reluctant Hoosier
[flickr id=”7604254726″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Ever since the Super Bowl back in January all anyone in Indiana can talk about is the zip line. I never stepped one foot in Super Bowl Village – but I wished I had just for the zip line.
About two months ago I found out about Go Ape! Right in my own backyard here on the West Side, inside Eagle Creek Park, is a place where you can zip line, do Tarzan Swings, and just climb through the trees like a monkey. You can really Go Ape!
So I rounded up some friends, my husband, a few of their husbands, and we swallowed our fears, strapped on a harness, and climbed.
Did I say fear? Yeah, fear.
After the “bunny hill” courses that are only a few feet off the ground – you climb and climb. High up off the ground you make your way through 5 courses of increasing difficulty – and as a bonus every course ends with the zip line.
I admittedly screamed at every one.
Out of pure joy.
[flickr id=”7604174320″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”] The last three courses have options for your routes. You can do “moderate” or “difficult” on course 3 – and on courses 4 & 5 you have your option of “Difficult” or “Extreme”.
I chose the difficult routes because I wanted to challenge myself. After all, I am wiping this sucker off my 45X45 list (“Do something daring”) – because it scared me. Holy cow am I glad I did. Knowing that I challenged myself, conquered my fear, and took the leap (literally on the Tarzan Swing) makes me feel strong and empowered.
[flickr id=”7604240872″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] The whole course left us feeling strong and empowered. Even my husband – who is terrified of heights, bridges, and couldn’t do the last Tarzan Swing (seriously, frightening stuff there) made his way through the course and felt so proud of himself for it – not that he’d do it again. ;).
It was a great ‘day date’ activity for us. It is an amazing team building activity too. Spending our time encouraging each other and cheering each other on (or is that daring each other?) to get through these courses cementing our bond of friendship.
[flickrset id=”72157630653559754″ thumbnail=”square” photos=”” overlay=”false” size=”small”]
We all left swearing to do it again.
After all, it’s in our own backyard and a combination of fun, adrenaline pumping, and an intense workout. Best of all? It’s $55 a person – and it takes you at least three hours to get through the full course. For teens it’s only $35, but you are responsible for them and limited to how many you can chaperone (Age limit of 10, height limit of 55″).
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*Disclaimer: Me & 10 of my friends were given free tickets for the day by Go Ape. All the fun I had and my opinions are all my own.
by Sarah | Jul 19, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Me, Blogging Life, Get Fit - Or Kill Myself - Whatever Comes First, Indy Geek Girls, Story of Me
[flickr id=”7598819772″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]*Showing off my new haircut. HUGE change here – took off 8-10 inches, people. Loving it!
Yesterday I turned 36. I’ve realized in recent months that I always demure “30-something” when referring to my age; and maybe it’s my new haircut, maybe it’s the events of the past year, or maybe I’m just growing up – but I realized I don’t like that I do that.
I need to own my age.
After all, my teenage years sucked. My 20’s were short-lived as I got pregnant right before my 21st birthday and had to become responsible for a young life that wasn’t my own. I became a mother three times in my twenties, a wife once. I bought a house, went into debt and started the isolation of a mom of very young special needs children.
Now I’m 36.
While we’ve had our struggles in our marriage (2 brief separations), Erik and I are finally reaching a new level of communication and cooperation. After 10 years my marriage is growing into a much stronger and powerful force.
My children’s needs and demands on my time have eased into a comfortable realm. While I still struggle with the demands on my time, and probably always will, there is now a level of relaxation in there. We’re “used to” the struggle and know how to power through it.
My 30’s have seen my return to my love of writing, I’ve found myself published, and I’ve written several novels that are either ready or almost ready to put out into the world to find a home.
While my 30’s have also seen me enter menopause (thanks to my emergency hysterectomy), and the failure of my body to maintain shape as I gave into the comfort of SAHM-hood…My later 30’s are seeing me return to exercise. My progress is slow and I fail, but I am working toward being strong & healthy again. Getting in shape is more important than the number on the scale, and I’m feeling the changes as they happen.
The best part of my 30’s has been the reintroduction of friendships – of a LIFE – into my life. My “fake” online friends have become real. I finally got to meet my BFF Jess in person a couple of years ago, and she’s returned the favor by coming here. Thanks to this blog (also started at the cusp of my 30’s) I’ve found a community of bloggers here in Indiana that are beyond comprehension in their awesomeness. We support each other, we help each other – and most importantly, we find ways to get together and develop that community in person. Girls nights, major events, smaller day trips. They are a real and present force in my life now.
I am 36.
I am in the prime of my life and proud of it.
by Sarah | Jul 12, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Me, Blogging Life, Bucket List
2012 is proving to be a year for me to Kick the Bucket…List.
So far, just this year, I have crossed off 6 items & I’m poised to cross off one more this week, and at least two more by September. Granted this is technically my 45X45 list – but I’m thrilled with my progress this year.
My favorite item that I crossed off is the all important #3. Seeing my name in print. And look at that…in print!
Without even realizing it, I’m putting myself out there and doing more things – and I’m crossing things off the bucket list without even realizing that they’re there! Of course, some of those achievements are thanks to my peeps…the local blogging community is great for putting things out there for me to hop on board with!
So 2 years after creating my 45X45 list and with 9 years left I’m 20% through it. Now I just have to figure out what I want to cross of next year! For that matter, I’d love to repeat a couple of them (like the blog conference – loved that…want to do it again!).
So what should I do next – that I haven’t already planned to do?
For that matter…what isn’t on my list that you think should be? Should I move my “done” stuff to the side and add in new challenges?
by Sarah | Jul 1, 2012 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Community, Indy Geek Girls
For approximate forever I’ve been wanting to see Cirque du Soleil. So when Emily hosted a giveaway I ran over to sign up to enter.
I literally bounced around in my seat when I got the email telling me I won.
My wonderful husband Erik was a no-go on tickets. For some reason the man has something against men in spandex. Me? I have no such qualms – but I needed a date.
Of course the first person I asked was the person I told I would ask if I won – Casey. Then, to give us a proper ‘girls night’, Emily’s husband backed out to leave room for Shireen – and our party was complete.
I’m not sure what I was more excited for – Cirque, or girls night.
For dinner we did Santorini’s with a little OPA!! (i.e. saganaki) thrown in. I shared the Chef’s special with Casey…and if there had been more of the Spanokopita we might have had a throw-down over it – it was that good.
Then it was onto Quidam.
Casey described it as a panic attack brought to life (the first half). While filled with impressive feats of strength and agility – the amount of disturbing images included left us a little disoriented.
The second half by far topped the first, disturbing imagery and all. I absolutely loved it and would go back again – just not to Quidam. I’d pick another show. While I loved all the artistry and amazing acts – I think my favorite was the Clown. He brought in some audience participation and laughs that were needed among floating zombie heads and gaping chest wounds (yes. You read that right).
Then again, my real favorite part of the night was getting out with friends. Laughing and sharing the evening with them. Spending time with people that are like me and share the same interests and struggles. It’s something I don’t think I do often enough. it’s easy to get lost in responsibility – sometimes we need to get lost in laughter with friends to make the rest of it possible.
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Photo credit to Cirque du Soleil. We weren’t allowed cameras 😉
It’s safe to say that I’ve mentioned a few times before how much I love my neighborhood. It reminds me of a neighborhood I grew up in when I lived in Buffalo. We all know each other, our kids all know each other, we watch out for each others families and homes. There isn’t a weekend that goes by that you can’t find a group of neighbors gathered at someones house. This stands true through spring, summer, fall, and into the mildest of winter weather.
