New sweet treats at Easton

Easton sweets

My fellow sweet tooths in Columbus need look no further - Easton Town Center now has ALL the sweet treats. Whatever your sugary pleasure or dessert dream, Easton's got it as of 2013. And since I'm a self-avowed sugar monster, and I happen to work smack-dab in the middle of Easton, it's going to be a sweet, sweet summer indeed. Here's the low-down on Easton's sweet new tenants: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - Although Easton's always had Graeter's ice cream (in the inside part of the mall … [Read more...]

Dinosaur Island: a must-do at the zoo

Dinosaur Island - Columbus Zoo

Zoe and I ventured out to Dinosaur Island at the Columbus Zoo this week and absolutely loved the experience. We will definitely be returning for another visit or two before summer's over! If you're a regular at the Columbus Zoo, you know the Islands boat ride, way up at the top of the zoo in the Australia and the Islands section, is a longtime hidden gem. I'm always amazed by how many people don't even know about the little boat ride at the zoo! Well, not for long. This quaint little … [Read more...]

Mindbenders, mazes and monarchs

COSI spring 2013

You already know how awesome COSI is, right? There's a reason Parents magazine called it the #1 children's science center in the country. The normal, everyday exhibits and activities at COSI are so great, we often don't even make it to the big featured visiting attractions. Even when we're supposed to. Recently, we were invited to tour and review Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes, a "wonderfully puzzling and utterly addictive experience" that combines "two exhibitions full of brainteasers … [Read more...]

HOOFit at the Columbus Zoo

hoofitstepcalculator2

Who's up for a walk around the zoo?! As I've shared before, I'm trying to walk more and keep track of my steps this year, and one of our favorite places to walk and explore is the Columbus Zoo. Zoe and I would go there every day if we could! So imagine my delight when I learned Ohio Health has partnered with the zoo on the HOOFit walking program to encourage people to get more activity by exploring the zoo. As part of the Hoofit program, you can attend hosted walks at the Columbus Zoo … [Read more...]

Central Ohio’s newest Star

starlanes

Last night, our family was lucky enough to be invited to a special pre-grand opening celebration at Star Lanes Polaris, a fabulous new "boutique" bowling alley/restaurant that sits just in front of the Polaris Fashion Place mall. It is a fantastic new offering for central Ohio families or couples looking for a fun night out! Several years ago, while visiting my fam in LA, we went to the Lucky Strike bowling alley/ restaurant in Torrance and had our minds blown. The atmosphere was way more … [Read more...]

Family fun tour of LA’s South Bay

Playing in LA 2012

We spent a week with family in Los Angeles over Christmas. Each day, we all set out to explore a fun new spot so that Zoe (age almost three) and her cousins, ages two and four, could enjoy getting to know each other again. It had been a long time since their last visit - too long. My folks moved to LA in 1994 and I've enjoyed visiting them each year since. Our trips to LA used to look a lot different before Zoe. We would rent a car and cruise Pacific Coast Highway, dip through the 'hood … [Read more...]

The cupcake tour ends here

Koko Tea Salon & Bakery

My cupcake tour, which began in 2010 when I was still a new mommy on maternity leave and lasted through several blog posts both here and elsewhere, is officially on hiatus. Not because I no longer love cupcakes: I still adore them. Not because I made a massive new year's resolution to cut out sweets (I always do this. It never sticks.). Not because I want to eat healthier and lose weight in 2013 (although both are true). No, the cupcake tour is over because I have lost the desire to go … [Read more...]

Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek

Fantasy of Lights 2012

Thanksgiving's over for another year... time to talk about Christmas! I loved Christmas before becoming a mom, but now it's off the chain how Christmas-crazy I am. I want to see all of the lights, do all of the festive things, and just embrace this magical season with everything I have! It's so much fun seeing it all and experiencing the magic anew through a small child's eyes. Zoe had fun at her first Christmas (9 months old) and enjoyed herself immensely last year (21 months old) but I … [Read more...]

Fall family fun around Columbus

Leeds Family Farm 2011

I love the fall season, especially with a little one. What could be more fun than playing in leaves, visiting apple orchards and picking pumpkins? And here in Ohio, we have so many options. Here are a few of our favorites. Leeds Farm. This fall fun spot has a special place in my heart because last year was Zoe's first time experiencing fall fun on her own two feet, and we took her here not once but twice. It rocked her world! She had sooo much fun playing in the corn boxes, climbing hay … [Read more...]

Storming the castle at COSI – and a giveaway

Storming the Castle at COSI

This past weekend, Zoe and I were invited to preview the LEGO Castle Adventure at COSI, the country's #1 children's science center. It was awesome - full of cool LEGO castles, a scary LEGO dungeon, a massive LEGO mama dragon guarding her baby, fun costumes to wear and of course lots of opportunities to build with LEGOs. Zoe loved the exhibit and has wanted to build, build, build ever since. I liked that there were age-appropriate areas for the littlest LEGO builders (they get the biggest … [Read more...]