Legoland

Last year at this time, we were planning a trip to California, for a college graduation in the family. While out there we were lucky enough to be given tickets to visit Legoland from a family friend.

Let me tell you something: this was such. a. good. time! Me, my girls, & my MIL had an amazing time. I am not gushing because I was asked to, I just loved so many things about this place. The atmosphere was lovely, I had someone asking how our visit was going every single ride we went on. The ride operators asked if there was any way they could make our visit better, but my kids were already so happy! They got to “play in line” on every ride. There are coral areas with large legos in every. single. line.

The food was good, and when going to check out in line, the cashier was helping us to save money by getting the family deal plan. After, while visiting the bathroom, there were complimentary toiletries, I mean who does that?!

I know if you had asked my girls what their favorite part was, it would have been the pirate ships though.  While on the pirate ships, you can shoot your water guns at the other ships while everyone is moving on a track about the place. THEN, you get to get off the ride, walk around the side of the ride, and there are water squirt guns on the side to aim at the people still on the ride.  We were soaked, but it was all good, it was a hot day, and we were happy. :)

When it was closing time, was anyone rushing us out the door? Oh, absolutely not! We had time to take a few more pictures, like the one above.

We WILL be back. We truly enjoyed every moment.

Varner’s Greenhouse

I know when you think greenhouse it conjures up images like this…

Or like this one…

But.. how about this?

Maybe this in a tropical area, but in Indiana?

Fresh Pineapple anyone? I wish this would grow in my backyard!

I have saved the best for last, however. This is the reason I go to Varners…

 

These beauties are my beautiful girl’s favorite. They are so pretty!

We have Asparagus!

Last year I planted asparagus, & the package says two to four years till harvest. So imagine my surprise when I was seeing little thin sprigs already year one.

So on Thursday, when I came home from work, I saw this, plus a couple more like it. WooHoo!

On Friday when coming home from work, I had all of these! I know it isn’t a lot, but I have them in a jar of water, awaiting a few more. I think I should have them within a few more days, which really makes me happy.

Getting my hands dirty

Bet you’d never guess what I been doing all weekend?!

I know I mentioned that I might not be doing a garden this year because of Europe… but I’m crazy like that I guess.

My thinking is that if I promise someone my harvest for that three weeks, they will come water for that time. What do you think? Even enough trade?

My Dream Garden

I normally do not like to use pictures that are not mine, or that I can not give photo credits to, but I am in LOVE with this garden!

Would anyone out there like to dig my backyard for me? I can’t believe how amazing the detail is on this garden! I think I have a section that I could recreate something similar, but how do I keep those darn bunnies away from something like this?! I also have been contemplating how much I want to do in my garden this year. If I am going to Europe for three weeks, how much attention is a garden going to get? hmmmm…

Holding my breath till summer

 

I’ve been withholding information from you…

It’s not lying, I promise! It’s just that I have been umm..

planning, AND uh waiting

AND making sure that…

…

…

OKAYI’MGOINGTOEUROPE!

Now that I have blurted that out, and it’s in the open, there is SO much to say!

Que the music: *I’m leavin’ on a jet plane….*

I’m so excited! I have been wanting to go since 5th grade. YES, I know exactly when I started thinking about a “world” outside of my bubble. It was in 5th grade when we had to do our project on countries. I picked Germany, now I am going to Germany!

Freiburg, Germany to be exact. My husband lived there for 7 years before he came to the states. Now I will finally get to see where he spend his teens.

I will also be going to Bosnia (of course) to visit his hometown. This makes going to Europe all the more exciting. I will not only be getting to see the other side of the pond, but also get to see where my husband lived his life before me. It has been a long time in the making I tell ya!

I’ve got to hear such wonderful stories from all the Europeans I have met over the last 13+ years. I almost feel as if I have traveled to some of these places, although it’s only been in my head. One place I was sure not to miss once I heard Bosnia was Mostar and Mostar bridge.

Isn’t she beautiful? Another place that my husband and family would go to visit was Croatia, and also another place I can’t wait to experience. Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea?! Com’on now! Get. out. I feel so spoiled.

Views like this! Who wouldn’t be amazed? Can’t wait to be that crazy tourist snapping a billion pictures. (Don’t worry I will share them with you!)

One more place that we will be lucky enough to experience is Italy. Whoot Whoot! We are lucky to know people that we can stay with there.

From what I understand this place called ‘Oliver’ is close by her home! Mouth watering? Yeah me too!

Such a lucky girl. #blessedlife

Frozen Herbs

I love to make, what I like to call, Faux-Chipotle every so often, but I feel like I waste so much cilantro, so I was on a mission. As usual, I turned to my best friend ever Pinterest, and found what I needed. You can freeze herbs!

The thing is, apparently you must layer it in a jar with sea salt. Why sea salt? Ummm I don’t know either, but if something works, why question it? :)

My thinking is it keeps too much moisture at bay, so that they herbs don’t get mushy. That sounds good, right?! Yeap that is the answer I am sticking with.

Also, I haven’t tested this on other herbs, yet, but I want to this summer. My plan is to have an herb garden this year, but we will see how many other things I get to planting. I get carried away every year.

Healthy Fast Food

As I was eating my Panera Bread tonight, I was thinking about the little amount of food options we have here in South Bend/Mishawaka area. We are getting a Whole Foods soon, but could we get a Trader Joe’s or Good Earth store? We are all trying to eat more healthy, and shouldn’t that include organic?

So, more importantly than all the above, when this mama wants a “night off”, I have basically two options. I could go to Panera, which is not organic. My kiddos do love salad from here though, so I feel good about this choice. The other option is Chipotle, there are organic aspects here, but there is a ton of sodium in these meals.

What I am getting at here, with my rant, is why do moms in this area not have more options? Is it lack of funds around the area to start up new places? Or is it the fact that people just don’t care enough about organics? I am starting to feel like the odd man out when trying to get my family to eat healthy.

It really brought everything full circle in my mind when people all around me are raving about how my daughters love salads. I want to scream at them, because my kids were not exposed to fast food non-stop. Yes my kids have had a happy meal, and yes they have played at the Burger King playland, so don’t think I am one of those moms. Everything in moderation though. We always went toward the healthier options. My daughters love salad so much, because this was going out to eat for them. What are we doing to our kids? What are we doing to ourselves? I eat less and less vegetables every year. This was my true wake up call, and the number one reason I started my garden.

Okay, rant over…

Porto’s Bakery

I was first introduced to this wonderful-in-everyway-place by my lovely sister in law. This introduction, unfortunately was over instagram. You see my SIL lives in LA. Once she finished USC (yes, extremely proud over here), she officially took the plunge of living the high life of a studio apartment *sarcasm indeed*. What is not sarcastic however, is that I am living vicariously through her. Who wouldn’t want to be young, with tons of fun friends, on your own, in Los Angeles? So when we went to visit this past summer my only wish was to go to this place. It’s obviously the closest I was going to get to being young and fun in LA, with children behind me. haha So off we went:

The architecture inside and out was so pretty. I wanted to take tons of pictures, then redecorate my house accordingly.

Tell me one thing in this case that me, my husband, and my two girls wouldn’t want to take home?! Every. single. thing. I wanted to buy and smuggle on the plane.

This is what my husband and I settled on: Tiramisu on the left and mochachino on the right. Mine is the right, good thing, cause it was the most delicious one! I could use one right now, this 1200 calorie diet I’ve been on needs to be blown up!

Frederik Meijer Gardens

I had been wanting to go to the Frederik Meijer botanical garden & sculpture park for a couple years before we finally did. You know how that goes, right? You keep saying ‘Next year we really need to go to *insert some new place, not too far away*. We all know, you just never genuinely make an effort to get there though.

I had my couple of true excuses though. First off, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a ‘guy thing’ for my husband. Secondly, I wasn’t sure it was going to be ‘cool enough’ to drive so far for.

Two summers ago, my girls and I had a “girls day out”. I decided if it was a disappointment, it would only be a true disappointment for me this way. I didn’t play it up to the girls, just told them we were going to take a road trip to look at some pretty flowers.

When we drove up the long drive and this was in front of me, I could tell it was going to be amazing! I was in love instantly, and immediately didn’t care about the two hour drive I had just made.

Do you see that big greenhouse? Wait till you see what amazing things are inside!

Orchids and Venus Flytraps, amazing tropical flowers, and cacti.. oh my!

Outside of the greenhouse was this little beauty… thinking she’s not so beautiful? Here name is “mad mom”! Now you’re looking at her a little differently aren’t you? LOL I know I did!

There were other sculptures as well.. this one was my favorite! Yes that is my then 3 yr old under the horse…massive huh?

This was another cute little sculpture I took a picture of. The most important part about this one though? Umm it was in the Children’s Garden!

Yes, there was a whole other level to this garden & park. I am telling you guys, I was amazed around every new corner! See the ‘door’ on the side for the kids? A-door-able :)

This little guy is awaiting the children on the other side. He reminds me of Stewart Little.

A little ways up the path, a fountain.. and don’t worry guys, I am NOT giving everything away in this long post… there is so much to see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Like a treehouse?! Yes a two story, amazing treehouse  with a bridge and other “features” I won’t give away on here. There is just so many awesome things to see.

I just felt like it kept going and going, but in a good way.

I mean, how adorable is this alone? I wanted to take him home to my garden.

Did I mention that there is a farm here? Yes, a full on farm, sans people and animals living in it, but very cool none-the-less. There are bathrooms in the farm, but the rest is not for walking through.

I hope your mind didn’t “drift off” in this extra long post, but there is just too much. I loved every. single. last. thing. As I said earlier, I promise there is so much more to see that I haven’t given away on this post. I couldn’t find enough pictures before we went to put together if I wanted to drive so far, but believe me, it is so worth a long trip to see this place. Be sure to put on your walking shoes & sunscreen, and bring a stroller for any toddlers. My girls were “out” before I made it a mile down the road, but they still talk about it two years later.

Oh Sweet Summer

 

Short and sweet today.

With this rainy, wet, foggy, slushy, yuck outside I am wishing for this…

St. Joseph, Michigan… how I can’t wait for your sunshine!

Baby it’s cold outside..

So why not make it feel like summer inside?! Literally this weekend it got down to 13! Burr..

I was asking myself what can I make to get the ambiance of summer in my home for a night? Mango salsa was weighing heavy on the brain, so I had to pick one up at the store. I must also tell you, I had some visitors over Thanksgiving from Alaska, namely my first cousin & her family. She is such a lovely person, and to show how lovely they are, they came bearing gifts…halibut & salmon, yummm. Do you see where I am going with this?

Mango Salsa made ahead, because we all know it tastes so much better after marinating for a couple hours.

Add to this halibut, on a bed of rice? Yes please!

                    

Although my family didn’t appreciate this meal. (My 5 year old daughter told me the top part “just tastes too crazy mommy”) I am sure you will, right?

Pipe Dreams & Pipe Cleaners

*I need to first put a disclaimer on this about safety and such… help your children to make sure all sharp ends are away from eyes (obviously right?!)

When we were given pipe cleaners after story time at the library, my oldest daughter says “Let’s make glasses mommy” I thought, ‘hmmmm, why not?’

So when we went to the art festival this summer and there were pipe cleaners out on one of the craft tables, guess what was asked for once again?! Only this time it caught on! I saw many children asking there moms to make them as well. I was asked several times where we made them too. I was thinking in spirit of missing summer (again) I would share with you all my special memory.

Chicago - Navy Pier

As much as I love the peace and quiet of Indiana {haha}, sometimes you just have to get to “the big city”… my personal favorite being Chicago. No really! I can honestly say that Chicago is my favorite city I have seen thus far. It is easy to find your way around downtown, there is just the right amount of people around without feeling crowded, and the buildings and streets are still lovely and clean {as clean as you can get in a city}. Of course, being a woman, that LoVes to shop, Magnificent Mile is my favorite, but Navy Pier is a close second. One thing you have to know about me, is I truly do like crowds, as long as they are not “bumper to bumper”. You may have noticed from all the festivals we go to, I just genuinely enjoy being around people. Navy Pier? Like a constant festival!

There is lots to do for kids, & adults alike. Inside there is a children’s museum and a stage for puppet shows and magician shows. There is a ferris-wheel and carrousel.

There are fun things for adults to do as well… A few restaurants {like Bubba Gumps} as well as a food court, and a ton of little tourist trap shops. There is also a garden upstairs as well as a stain-glass museum in the back. There are dinner cruises, which I am sure are lovely {I am guessing}, at least the ships & the views look lovely.

BUT this mama’s favorite? Margarita to go! Yummmm…

Farmer’s Market <3

I have to admit, before this weekend, I hadn’t been to the farmer’s market in far too long. Believe me when I say, I am sooo happy that I went, and honestly, you could tell my oldest daughter was digging it too! I am very proud to say that Alisa, herself, picked out this bouquet of flowers. Are they not the most lovely?  For $5 I found it practically a steal, after all it is pre-arranged and everything! Do you have a farmer’s market in your area? What is your favorite things to purchase at your market?

These tomatoes are mini heirloom tomatoes. They were delish with our lunch… we also had a green zebra one not pictured here, Maya & I couldn’t resist. I am proud to say that my whole family are a bunch of tomato lovers. I am most proud that my girls are veggie lovers all the way around. They are still young, so I hope they don’t grow out of this, or worse, get talked out of it once they start school.

As for these blueberries? I am not sure what we are gonna do with this yet? I would love to maybe put them in pancakes in the morning?!