Moms, here’s a little secret: you don’t have to wait until summer to give your kids that “beach day” feeling. When the weather is freezing outside and the playgrounds are icy or muddy, there’s a warm, cozy, super-fun escape waiting for you: The Sandbox for Kids. Think of it as a beach day, sans the water, cold toes, and clean-up hassle, where kids dig, build, explore, and imagine, while you relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy watching them create.
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Feeling underappreciated? Feeling unseen? Feeling like you are just a bank account or a glorified maid/nanny? You are not alone. One in three married people over 45 says they feel lonely in their relationship. Why? It’s not just one thing but a combination over time. Contributing potential factors include parenting overload, unresolved conflict, distractions from technology, unmet emotional needs, falling into a routine, lack of emotional connection, and lack of quality time together. The question is, can it be saved? The quick answer, yes! Will it be easy? No. You will need to undo bad habits and stop placing your relationship on the back burner; it needs to be the priority. And it starts with this one thing!
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The hilarious new musical & Juliet flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asks: what would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.
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Date Night!! The two words every couple looks forward to, especially those with kids. It means a night away from the kiddos, to reconnect with your spouse, to remember why you fell in love in the first place. It is easy to get caught up in the responsibilities of adulthood & parenthood. That is why it is so important that you step away from it all for a few hours and have some fun, remember fun, that thing you did before you had a job, mortgage, kids, you know, before you had major responsibilities!?
April showers bring May flowers and lots of fun family-friendly festivities in Toledo!! The weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer, and everything is blooming!! It is officially that time of year when everything comes back to life, including your family’s social life. Though let’s be honest, May should come with a warning, before you know it it’s summer, and then you blink and school is already starting back…so don’t blink!! Don’t delay; call up your playgroup peeps, neighborhood friends, family, etc. coordinate schedules, and get these awesome festivities on the calendar today!
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There are so many benefit to shopping small, not just on Small Business Saturday, but every day!!
Benefits of Shopping Small, Shopping Local…..
Source: https://co-opcreditunions.org/6-really-important-reasons-to-shop-on-small-business-saturday/
Here are just a few of the many awesome local small businesses located in Toledo & the surrounding area. Please be sure to show them your love and “like”, and/or, “follow” them on social media, and be sure to stop in to the brick and mortar shops, introduce yourself, & inquire about deals, yes, small businesses also have some great bargains!
Phone: 567-455-5939
Address: 5627 Main St, Sylvania, OH 43560
Website: www.bowinklesboutique.com
Hours: M-F: 10AM – 5:30PM, SAT: 10AM – 5PM, SUN: CLOSED
Shop local this holiday season with Bowinkles. New Fall and holiday arrivals plus all sales items Buy 2, Get 1 Free!
Website:https://www.etsy.com/shop/harperleejewelry
Raw metal transformed into custom keepsake jewelry!
Phone: Call or text 419-442-8037
Website: https://m.facebook.com/JuliasOrnaments/
Email: jmelvis@aol.com
All ornaments are handmade and hand painted….custom orders welcomed, such as names, birthdays, current year, player number for sport related ornaments, and colored glitter. Ornaments cost $10 & $2 to personalize.
Owner: Emily Sicilia
Phone: 419-806-9242
Website: www.facebook.com/lularoeemelizabeth
Clothing for all ages and sizes! Visit the facebook shopping group to enjoy weekly specials throughout the holiday season! Also contact Em to set up an appointment to shop the Toledo Boutique to take advantage of in person specials!
Phone: (419) 593-0093
Address: 2856 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43613
Website: https://nevermore-used-bookstore.business.site/
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-6pm & Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Find that hidden gem or a favorite popular fiction or nonfiction book for a great price!! They carry books for the entire family…kids, teens, tweens, young adult, adult. They also take clean, good condition books on trade for in-store credit which buys you 25% off purchases!!
Phone: (419) 474-4740
Address: 4100 Secor Rd, Toledo, OH 43623
Website: https://www.regers.com/
Hours: Mon – Fri 9:30am – 5pm & Sat 9:30am – 3pm
Get all your Advent & Christmas products here! Reger’s Christian gift store serves all denominations of the Christian faith, including churches, clergy, and individual Christians.
Owner: Stephanie Bird
Phone: (231) 736-8315
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/StellasLotsofKnots
Stella’s Lots of Knots is offering free shipping through the holidays or local pick up! Also, use coupon code LOCAL during checkout to receive 20% off your order!
Phone: (419) 261-9166
Address: 2746 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43613
Website: https://www.facebook.com/LavenderBayLLC/
Hours: Mon-Fri. 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, & closed Sunday
Thistle and Thorn is a locally owned full service florist and gift shop. See coupon below to save $10!!
Show the following image at checkout to receive $10 off any Fall Arrangement!
Phone: (419) 475-7368
Address: 2850 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43613
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Twice-But-Nice-359138284202297/
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm & Sunday 11am-5pm
Show the following image coupon to receive $5 off of $30 or more!!
As the old saying goes: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Three big principles of any solid financial plan are to save, spend and give. Most people forget about the giving part, though, because they think mostly about saving and spending.
But giving is just as important. It softens the heart of the giver and frees their soul from dependence on money. You’ll never walk away from giving feeling bad! (Source)
Those wise words from the money guru himself, Dave Ramsey, resonate in my mind as I eagerly raid my closet for something to wear to the upcoming Make-A-Wish 2018 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala!
Make-a-Wish Foundation is a household name, but how much do we really know about it?
The heartfelt experience of local wish kids coupled with ongoing independent research from a pediatric specialist illustrating the impact of wishes on kids battling critical illnesses will be the highlights of the 2018 Make-A-Wish® Ohio Kentucky & Indiana BIG Wish® Gala, presented by RMF Nooter, to be held on Friday, April 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn. An event fundraising goal of $150,000 has been set to help make wishes come true for at least 18 local kids battling critical illnesses in Northwest Ohio.
Dr. Anup Patel, Section Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Director of the Complex Epilepsy Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, was inspired to conduct an academic research study of the physical and financial outcomes of a wish journey on eligible kids after observing firsthand the impact of a wish on patients. Preliminary observations of his study will be conveyed during the BIG Wish Gala. (Pics from 2017 BIG Wish Gala)
One of the reasons Dr. Patel has since joined the Make-A-Wish America Advisory Board is to increase medical provider awareness of the benefits of a granted wish on eligible kids. Currently, only one out of every two eligible kids experience a wish. During the Gala, wish kid Hannah, of Northwood, Ohio, and her mom will speak about how Hannah’s treatment journey inspired her to wish to be a medical student. She ultimately hopes to become a pediatrician.
WHAT: Make-A-Wish 2018 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala
WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons
6165 Levis Commons Boulevard Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
WHEN: Friday, April 13th
6:30 p.m. – Registration, Cocktails & Silent Auction
7:30 p.m. Dinner Program
TICKETS: Tickets and event sponsorship information are available at ohio.wish.org
The early findings of Dr. Patel’s study will be highlighted at the event, with the full results to be published later in 2018. Currently, there are nearly 123 medically eligible wish kids in Northwest Ohio.
In addition to hearing the inspiring stories from kids and families whose lives have been changed by a granted wish, two local professionals will be honored by Make-A-Wish:
I am looking forward to learning more and sharing what I learn. Are you familiar with Make-A-Wish Foundation? Are you interested in learning more and/or donating or perhaps know someone who is? Please feel free to share and tag a friend. And stay tuned for my follow-up post.
“Mommy, I am so excited to see all my friends, Mickey, Minnie, Belle, Anna, Else, and I think the rest of the princesses can make it too!” exclaimed our 4 year old as we made our way to the Huntington Center. “There better be some Heroes too, not just Princesses!” declared our 7 year old son. “There is a hero in every story. Just look for them!” kindly replied our 9 year old daughter. Before the show we had a little surprise for the kids. A meet and greet with a very special Princess/Queen! But this wasn’t any meet and greet, this one was extra special because the children who were attending had a parent that was either deployed, serving, or served in the military. Thanks to Heroes in Action, a local Military outreach committed to supporting our service members, veterans, and their families, military families were able to attend the meet & greet and the show! The experience was a touching one. It broke my heart hearing about some of the struggles these families face, especially after sacrificing so much for their country.
To know that I was standing in a climate controlled building, safe, with my family, enjoying watching all the children’s expressions as they went up to Princess/Queen Elsa, meanwhile their own parents’ were missing this awesome experience so I could have my freedom. It was an extremely humbling experience!! I am so grateful for all our service men and women who sacrifice these special moments with their own children so that mine can be safe and freed. Clearly our daughter was correct; there is a Hero in every story! For we each have many Heroes in our own life stories…sometimes we just need reminding. After shedding a tear or two we headed for our seats.
With the wave of Tinker Bell’s wand and the comforting lull of ‘When you wish upon a Star’ it was as if the entire crowd was magically transformed back to childhood! Adults and children singing side-by-side, clapping ferociously each time a princess appeared, and when they were gracefully lifted up by their Heroes….so romantic!
Intermission fun…pause for some comical relief with silly faces! Don’t know what it is about Disney that just brings out my childlike side. Haha!
It was a night filled with classic Disney songs, characters, and magic but the real man of the hour, the showstopper was this guy…..
I wish I had recorded the screams and yelps of excitement coming from the Huntington Center when this cute snowman made his grand entrance! Olaf was by far the most popular character on ice! And his infamous line, “Only an act of true love will thaw a frozen heart”, gets me every time! I had a rather emotional night, haha!
We all had a great time, yes, even our little man. It wasn’t all princesses as he had fear. In fact during one scene he actually let out a loud “Wow! Awesome!” when there was fire on the ice! He has been talking about it ever since! (And…he would kill me if he knew I told you but, I caught him singing a few of the Frozen songs. Shhh! Haha!)
We had a magnificent time at Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes! I so enjoyed watching my children’s faces light up throughout the performance. It was the perfect family experience! And the meet & greet beforehand truly opened up my eyes to the amazing opportunities I have been given, how truly blessed our families is, and how grateful and thankful I am for all the Heroes who fought/fight for our freedom & all the sacrifices they have made. Please consider donating to Heroes in Action….they support families by meeting with personal needs, housing and auto repairs, food baskets, newborn baskets, blankets for the wounded and whatever else they are able to do. They work with many other organizations to help educate, prepare and equip families with benefit information and emotional issues that may occur with service members. They do the unique and operate on donations.
Also, be sure to get Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes tickets for your family if you haven’t done so already! You will be glad you did!
Disclosure: I was given tickets for the family to attend the show and kiddos enjoyed meeting Elsa and received Snow White souvenir and other goodies. No other compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Witnessing your child interact up close with animals you don’t often come in contact results in lots of laughter, fun, and makes for some precious memories which is precisely what you get when you visit Indian Creek Petting Zoo. Indian Creek Petting Zoo is a walk-thru-zoo that offers up close viewing of exotic animals like Zebra, Camels, Emus, Wallabies, Lemurs, Donkeys, Sheep, Alpacas, Peacocks, and more! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit today. I thought it might be fun to share some pics that really highlight our experience, enjoy!
As we enter we are greeted by….
And the children had fun guessing what was hiding in each cubby. (Look familiar to anyone? This used to be at the Toledo Zoo.)
We continued on the path and the next stop was the Lemurs. Oh, I almost forgot, you have the option of purchasing a basket of food for the animals for $3, which is so worth it. I am glad we did because we were able to see this little contraption work, totally priceless! On the pole is a rope, bucket, and pulley. The children place the food in the bucket and the Lemur pulled it back. It was seriously the cutest watching his tinny paws at work and listening to the children giggle.
We finally pulled ourselves away from the Lemurs and headed to see the…
The Peacocks were stunning! And then the real fun occurred. We got to feed the CAMELS!
They were so slobbery, gentle, and cute! They basically licked the food right off the children’s hands. (To all the germaphobes, myself included, do not fear, we used sanitizer afterward).
Then we thought it might be fun to get pics of each of us with our children near one of the camel….it sounded like a good idea. Haha! She wasn’t in any immediate danger so I took the pic, glad I did. LOL!
Let’s just say there was definitely no shortage of laughter. I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids.
I tried to get a pic of me with the kiddos and the camel but between the camel and the 3 year old indecisiveness the camel won. Haha!
Then we were off to see and feed the….
And then we looked at the Zebra, but dare not touch. Apparently they bite, bummer!
Then we stopped for a photo op…who doesn’t love these!?
On our way back towards the entrance we stopped into the bunny path….isn’t this adorable? I Hop. Haha!
And I have a dozen more pics that I won’t bore you with…bottom line, we had a magnificent time and would totally go back! I can’t think of a better way to spend the day with the kiddos. For more info be sure to checkout the Indian Creek Petting Zoo Facebook page, like, and share!
When was the last time you visited a petting zoo? Have you been to one with your children? How did they like it?
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 