5 Signs that Spring has Officially Arrived!

5 Signs that Spring has Officially Arrived:

1. The ladies are exposing more skin. Time to ditch the scarves gals!! Let your necks feel the fresh air. And grab those open toed shoes! Get a pretty pedicure and rock those strappy sandals! Eeee!!! Thank goodness, I was getting close to burning my boots…I mean I adore them, but after 5 months of boots a gal longs for some toe exposure, am I right ladies!?

burrito_spring 068

2. Baseball, baby!! Sons playing catch with dads in the front yard, baseball practice at school, and best of all, OPENING DAY for the TOLEDO MUD HENS!!!

burrito_spring 025

 Even Will Ferrell’s Excited for the Toledo Mud Hens Season to start!

3. Everyone be all up in their grills!! The neighborhood smells amazing! The grilling starts around 2pm and goes all night….the amazing aroma of steaks, burgers, hotdogs, veggies, fish, etc. grilling is euphoric! Man how I missed that smell! YES!! It is back!

 burrito_spring 039

4. Color the town green!! The salty dust of winter, the dull boring hues of leafless trees, and the gray cloudy skies are being replaced with color! The various shades of green are magnificent!

 burrito_spring 019

5. The neighborhood is alive! Dogs barking, kids running around, moms pushing strollers, runners running, families walking down to the park, neighbors stopping by to chat…sometimes through the window…corner lot, I tell ya! Haha! But I must admit, I LOVE IT! It is like being on a movie set and someone just yelled ACTION, the neighborhood booming.

I just love Spring! Next on my list, flowers…I am literally counting down the days till Flower Weekend at the Farmers Market. Lookout marigolds here I come!

So what are some of your favorite signs of Spring? Are you wearing your sandals? Feels amazing, right!?!

 

Save batteries! Give the gift of Experiences: Tickets to Harlem Globetrotters (info in post)

I don’t know about you but it seems like as each year passes my children are accumulating more “stuff” than I have space for.  It has gotten to the point where we almost have to rent out a storage unit if we accumulate much more this Christmas.  Also, let’s be honest, most of the toys, puzzles, and games that our children receive for Christmas are hot commodities in the house for all of two weeks. Then it is up to mom to find a place to store “more stuff” and that storage location is often that toys burial ground because we know it’s seen its last days of being the “it toy”. 

imagesCAALBGP2

However there are a few that slip through the cracks and do end up being your child’s all-time favorite, we’re talking can’t go anywhere without it, toy.  And that toy is often the most obnoxious thing since Budweiser’s “What’s Up” campaign. Oh, and did I mention, the “it toy” often also requires 4 AA or AAA (or fill in whichever type of battery you never have on hand) batteries that it eats up in a similar fashion as Cookie Monster eats up cookies (well he used to eat cookies when I was a kid, I think he sneaks the occasional cookie these days, poor guys is probably a diabetic from all the sweets).

So this year instead of breaking the bank to purchase a storage unit, or a toy burial ground, or enabling a toy’s addiction to batteries, why not regain your mental state. This year request and give the gift of experiences

331_1352916686_286223

The Globetrotters play at the Huntington Center, Dec. 27, 2pm & 7pm

Looking  for an awesome event the whole family will enjoy?  Get your  tickets to  the Harlem Globetrotters brand new “You Write the Rules”  tour.  Your  family’s smiles will start before you even get to the game  as the  Globetrotters take kid participation to a whole NEW level.  Your  family  can vote at harlemglobetrotters.com and decide rules for the game  that  could affect the final outcome.  With rules like double the points  for  every basket, and two balls in play at the same time, there’s an   exciting rule that every kid will enjoy.  After the game, Globetrotter   stars will stay on court to sign autographs and take photographs with   your kids.  The only thing better than finding an awesome event for the   whole family, is getting a great deal on it.  Use the promo code   “USFAMILY” when you buy tickets for your family to save $7 on each   ticket purchased http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/tickets*.  Get ready to experience the show your family will remember for a lifetime!

You can get your tickets here http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/tickets and don’t forget to use the promo code USFAMILY to save $7 on every ticket!

*Discount available on select seating levels “

For more experience suggestions click here!

So, do you agree with this post? Has your home become over run by toys from Christmas past? Do you find yourself running to the store to get more batteries, or worse, stealing them from another gadget? Do you have an experience you would suggest to other moms? Please share…

Summertime to me is…

Summertime to me is…..

A baseball game with the family…Go Mud Hens!

Long relaxing mornings at the library….and fun events and programs throughout the summer.

Getting dinner fresh from the farmer’s market…

Walking hand in hand…

Painting pottery with our kiddos at In2Art…..

Spending long mornings and afternoons at the park, Fort Imagination

Enjoying meals El fresco…..

One dirty, allbeit happy dog….

Swimming in the pool…

Ice cold glass of cucumber water on the front porch…

Visit from the Ice Cream truck…this was our first experience with the ice cream truck, the kiddos liked the concept. In fact they wanted to know why there weren’t more trucks, like the pizza truck. I have to agree, how come there is no pizza truck?? (Moms would come running from blocks away, lol!).

Sidewalk chalk, paint, etc…

Sneakers and Princess dresses…

Vacation with the family…

Tricycles….

A fresh pedicure from Lisa’s Manicure and Pedicure Spa

Just relaxing in the grass together… 

What does summertime mean to you?  What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Toledo Mud Hens & Hollywood Casino!

We started off our night by kissing our kiddos goodbye knowing they were in the loving care of grandma and grandpa.  Then we hopped in the car and headed to Fifth Third Field to watch the Toledo Mud Hens!  

I have a confession, I am not a huge baseball fan, I like to go for more of the ballpark experience.  I guess I am girly that way.  I enjoy the ambience of the park, the cheering crowd, the music, the food, kiss cam, fan fashions, and all around fun experience!

Last night was especially fun because we had the pleasure of meeting some amazing parents of triplets who joined us for the game! It made my night.  They were so darn cute….though I don’t think they received the memo that there is not crying in baseball, lol!

After the game we decided to take a detour home and hit Toledo’s new Hollywood Casino!

I am not a huge fan of gambling, in fact, I see it as I am already ahead before I step foot into a casino and I prefer to keep it that way. But again, just like baseball, I like the ambience, the crowd, décor, food, drinks, excitement, and fun that often accompany the Casino atmosphere, just not gambling.

Upon arrival and entering the actual casino I was carded, loving this place already!! They carded me and not my hubby, awesome!

The interior is amazing, the high ceilings, Art Deco décor, sounds, lights, music, and grandiose posters really assisted in portraying an old Hollywood vibe. But beyond the décor and overall feel of the environment I wasn’t all that impressed.  For some reason I had it in my mind that there would be more entertainment options besides gambling. Why? No idea. I think I thought there would be a show area or spa, or something for us wives who aren’t huge gambling fans to do while the hubby plays a game of poker. Not the case, which is a shame because the theme is old Hollywood and they could have included a theater where they showed old Hollywood movies or maybe a Hollywood themed small spa for mani/pedis, or just something in addition to gambling. I had foreseen maybe a Moms Night out in the future but after touring the casino I don’t know.  Will I go back? Hmm….maybe?  But it will not be an establishment that we will frequent.

What is your take on Casinos?  Have you been to a Hollywood Casino?

You know you’re a mom on the go in Toledo When….

Trash truly does become treasure at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Family Center.

Trash truly does become treasure at the Toledo Museum of Art’s
Family Center.

;
;]
Muddy and Madonna are the “it couple”, Go Mud Hens!

Muddy and Madonna are the “it couple”, Go Mud Hens!

Requesting kiddos are quiet as a mouse, as you explore the holiday wonders displayed at the Manor House.

Requesting kiddos are quiet as a mouse, as you explore the
holiday wonders displayed at the Manor House.

Tots become Docs at the Imagination Station.

Tots become Docs at the Imagination Station.

Story time is divine and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Storytime is divine and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Taking a peek and playing hide-n-seek can be neat at the
Froggy Museum.

 Rooting for a fish is fabulous, Go Walleyes!