Summer Road Trip 1 ( Tie Dye & Rocks)

Tie Dye & Rocks

Yellow Springs & Springfield   

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer and my road trips usually begin with the holiday weekend.  The last two years my guy and I just got in the car with no destination in mind. This past weekend I decided to check out a place close to home, Yellow Springs, Ohio.  I have been to the city for Young's Jersey Dairy ice cream but never made it downtown until this past weekend. I heard so much about the city. So curious with wanderlust I vowed to check out the many details of a few friend's stories.  It was everything I was told, a place where they decorate trees, people wear tie dye and walk the streets smiling and barefoot. The buildings were just as colorful as the people who worked and shopped in them.

I saw all of these things and more. The truth is the people in Yellow Springs mostly came across as friendly and relaxed but just like most towns I have explored, there were some of the same issues that bothered me a little. I planned to do a 'Style Adventure' where I select stores to feature where you can find fun and unique items. We do this post on the ChristinaKristin blog. Unfortunately, I ran into lots of store owners and employees who didn't greet or didn't seem happy to be at work. That kind of takes me out of the mood to offer up free advertising. Though I did find a few earrings I could not pass up at one store. I included photos from that shop.  I plan to return in the near future to browse downtown shops as well as check out the public art they have all over the area. With so many plans for my day, I allotted myself a certain amount of time to do everything and it ran out quicker than expected.

Felt butterflies on a tree in Yellow Springs.

 

Ribbons hanging from a tree in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

My plan was to check out downtown, have lunch at The Golden Jersey Inn at Young's Dairy Farm then go hiking at a nature preserve near by. I brought jeans and shoes to change into but did not get to hike because it was getting late. I did however, get to have some delicious Young's ice cream and cutting the hike made time to visit one of my favorite places in Springfield on my way home.

Where to Shop in Yellow Springs

Me in Yellow Springs

After browsing shop to shop full of incense, flowing long skirts along with bracelets and other pieces that were once eating utensils, I came across Urban Hand Made. It was the only store of it's kind. The store housed collections of urban graphic tees, funky jewelry and a great handbag made out of a vinyl record. The items appeared to be collections of artist, local and further away.  It was one of the smallest stores I came across, yet they had the most items that personally appealed to me. The prices were also so reasonable. I bought three pairs of earrings at $10 a pair. 

 

Urban Hand Made store front

The earrings I fell in love with minus the three pair I snatched for myself.

My purchases from Urban Hand Made

Vinyl record handbag at Urban Hand Made

 Young's Dairy Farm

6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
(937) 325-0629

 

I have been to Young's a few times but I wasn't interested in eating at The Golden Jersey Inn until I got my hands on Karen Patterson's 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'.  Since then I have tried to visit as many of the featured restaurants as I can.  Well, I am happy that I took Karen's advice on this one. The menu is extensive and full of items that make you think a gang of grandmas are in the kitchen whipping up meals. Before we even ordered we were presented with homemade sweet potato bread, apple sauce and coleslaw. All were very good. I ordered the chicken and dumplings that came on top of a mound of mashed potatoes. Not very healthy I know, but not many places offer this kind of fare. I take it where I can get it. After the meal I headed over to the dairy building to get my ice cream fix, this time I tried the 'White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl'. It was good but not one of my favorites so far. The cream comes from Jersey cows and is made with a higher percent of butterfat. This produces a richer tasting product that I have never tasted anywhere else. My favorite flavors are their 'Chocolate Fudge Brownie' and 'Chocolate P-nut Butter'.

 Before I could leave I had to visit the petting zoo. That is my second favorite thing about this place. The goats have so much personality. This is a great place for a date or to take the family. You could spend a day here with so many activities to do. Other than the main restaurant, they sell hamburgers and other sandwiches in one side of the dairy building. There was a mini carnival on the location just for this past weekend but the normal activities that are offered daily are miniature golf, batting cages, a driving range, kiddie rides and a big slide.  

Young's Jersey Farm with Memorial Day Weekend Carnival

The front of The Golden Jersey Inn

An old ice cream freezer in The Golden Jersey Inn

Enjoying some Young's ice cream.

Young's Jersey Cows

 

Feeding the goats at Young's Jersey Dairy.

Hartman Rock Garden

1905 Russell Ave

Springfield, Ohio 45506

The sign in front of the old Hartman House and Rock Garden

I have been to Hartman Rock Garden a couple times but never during this time of year. It was usually cold outside. The grass was usually dead and there was no vegetation what so ever. I was happy to know that flowers were planted the weekend before via facebook and I looked  forward to seeing the garden in a whole new way. This time I got to meet Rod, an artist/the grounds keeper who lives on the property. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the creator of the garden, the Hartman family and other destinations in Ohio and beyond.  We had a long conversation about the history and future of the  garden. We also spoke about ' Weird Ohio' a book the garden is featured in as well as other references that offer roadside gems like the Hartman Rock Garden. 

It's funny that many people including people who live in the city of Springfield aren't familiar with this property. If you live in Ohio or are coming to visit the state, in my opinion this should be in your top five places to visit at least once. If you love American folk art, this is one of the best representations of it in the country. Plus, the best part is that this beautiful attraction is free.

If you are interested in visiting the garden they have an event coming up at the end of next month. I hope to be there to see the flowers at their prime and check out some of the Hartman statues that aren't available for viewing but one time a year. Look for more information on their facebook. If you decide to stop by before then, tell Rod, Kristin says hello.

The Hartman Rock Garden

Hartman Rock Garden Springfield, Ohio

Hartman Rock Garden Memorial Day Weekend

Taking in the Hartman Rock Garden

Happy to see the Hartman Rock Garden again!

Until next time

Be blessed! Be free! Be Adventurous!

Kris,

A Trip To Nowhere

Garden art at the antique show and flea markets

How often do you get in the car and just drive? When was the last time you took an impromptu drive alone, with friends, family or your significant other? Some of my best road trips were ones with no destination in mind. In my quest to discover new places on a budget, my guy and I do this often. Sometimes we get lucky like this past weekended when we headed toward Springfield. We ran into a lamp shop where they sell all kinds of lamps and parts. Funny thing is we had been talking about making lamps and chandeliers the week before. While in the shop we discovered that a antique fair and flea market was going on up the street. At the fair there were so many things to see, jewelry, art and antiques to search through. Then there was the kettle corn. I am always up for kettle corn! We ended the day at a restaurant in London, Ohio that has been around since the 1800's called Red Brick Tavern. They served the third best prime rib I have ever eaten and some really superb chicken livers over a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms. Then there was last Memorial Day, where we ended up in the Buckeye Lake area. We happened across the 15 year anniversary party of The Buckeye Lake Museum. They had free food, wine and were offering  free boat tours of the lake on the Queen of the Lake. We ate, drank and listened to live music while we explored the museum. Then we took advantage of the free boat ride that was very informative and relaxing. The only thing we paid for that day was our dinner that evening and gas for our little adventure. There have been a few other trips like these and I hope for many more

A drive like this is a great way to relax as well as learn something about yourself and your loved ones. It is also a great way to explore the world around you. This coming holiday weekend or one day this summer, just jump in the car, pick a direction and go. The only planning you need is to plan to do it. Make sure you have a map of your state and a guide with information. Sometimes your internet and gps won't be available in the country towns. With a map you can figure out where you are or want to be and a guide will help you locate things to do or places to eat if you aren't comfortable speaking to the locals.

Red Brick Tavern in London, Ohio 

Until next time! Be blessed! Be free! Be Adventurous!

Kris,

Music is Healing

photo courtesy of  theforeignexchangemusic.com

Lately I have attended more than a few shows. Last night a friend invited me to check out Foreign Exchange. I can't say I was that familiar with the band but I am glad I now know who they are. When I was asked to go, I had to do a little research. Even though I knew I was most likely going regardless, I found myself online listening to their music and reading their background story. The music was jazzy and soulful. It was in the same realm of artists I already really loved like Raheem Devaughn, Musiq Soulchild and Eric Roberson.  Although the venue was small, humid and a little funky with the abundance of mostly brown people, I found myself filled with joy as I danced, sang and laughed. Be it that I am under five foot, I can't say I saw much but that is how I know it was a good show. One of the things I remember was Phonte asking us to repeat the words " music is healing" to the person to the left and right of us.  Yes it is.

Saturday was the K.Michelle concert. That experience was much different from the one I had last night. The crowd was interesting and the venue was less than desirable but once the music began, nothing else much mattered. My aching feet and attitude was forgotten for a short twenty minutes. I can't say it was the best show I'd been to but the effect of it confirms that music really does make such a difference in our lives and moods.

I saw Cher last month and before that I went to the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show. Both of those shows made me think about my happy childhood. I remembered what my parents and friends were playing on their stereos before there were iPods and iPads. The shows were also so colorful and full of activity that you couldn't help but force out negative distractions. These shows felt like an escape from the outside world, a few hours of a fantasy or vacation.

Music is healing. It is the only thing in the world that can stir up so many feelings and remind us where we have been, where we want to go or where we don't want to go.  It can
 make us wait in long lines in uncomfortable shoes or sleep outside for a concert. It 
can remind us of our first crush, first dance or favorite vacation. It makes us laugh, cry, happy and energetic. It can make us feel confident and sexy. It can help us through a break up or teach us how to make up.  Music provides a soundtrack to our lives. Music is healing. Yes it is.

After a hard days work and you are driving in your car today listening to your cd, or the radio, think of it as therapy. Think about how the music makes you feel or don't think at all, lose yourself in the music, scream the words out loud and just sway to the beat.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!
Kris,

The Cure To Boredom Part II

AdventureTo Do List Spring/Summer 2014

From my 2013 Adventure List African Wildlife Safari Park 6/28

A couple posts ago I wrote a post about my cure to boredom. I spoke about how I create lists of things I want to experience, research the topic and then set up a plan to make the thing on my list a reality. Last year my list was more about others than myself. List 2013 included taking my nephew to The African Wildlife Safari Park in Port Clinton and the Marblehead Lighthouse. It also included introducing my sister to the Shores and Island of Lake Erie, Ohio for her 30th birthday. Since I planned my sisters weekend I made sure to include a few places I had yet to explore myself in all the times I'd visited Port Clinton and Put in Bay. This year I have broken things down into seasons. I wanted to share with you my adventure list for Spring/Summer 2014.  I just finished this list last week and it isn't a very daring list. It is mostly comprised of places I recently read about and places or things that I have been meaning to do the last two summers.  However, I did include one activity that scares me a 
little. 

My 'Adventure To Do List' is in no particular order. 

1.  Go Canoeing (In spite of me not knowing how to swim.)

2.  Use my Picnic Basket 

3.  Go on the Short North Columbus Food Adventures Tour 

4.  Take a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta

5.  Visit downtown Yellow Springs

6.  See Beyoncé & Jay Z on their On the Run Tour (ticket purchased for Cincy date 6/28)
7.  Take a nature walk at least once a month in Ohio's many parks
8.  Taste Durian (a fruit from Thailand)
9.  Check five restaurants off my 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio' book
10. Go to a Columbus Clippers Game

If you haven't created an adventure list before, start one today. See how many things you can experience this season. I have read in many sources including Forbes that when you write things down, you are more likely to do them. If money is an issue with your to do list, there are discounts all over the place through services like Groupon and Living Social that help make some of these things more feasible. So start your list and enjoy your summer!



Share! What is on your list? I would love to know. Maybe you will inspire me to add more to my list.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable! 
Today might I add, Be adventurous!
Kris,

Dancing with Drag Queens

CHECKING CHER OFF MY LIST

Photo courtesy of celebs.com

Two nights ago, I went to a Cher concert alone. She was on my to do list of people to see in concert. I am not sure why I had not seen her sooner but I am so happy that I finally did. Having studied fashion design in school, she has long been a source of fashion inspiration for me and many others.

When I woke up Wednesday I had not bought a ticket. I did not possess a ticket until I visited the ticketmaster website late that afternoon. Lets just say it was a last minute decision that I am patting myself on the back for. I threw on a vintage sequin jacket that I'm certain would have earned Cher's approval and was off. The show was the best I have ever seen.  She puts on a fantastic show! This 67 year old woman puts many of us to shame with her fabulous costumes, wigs, huge headpieces, and ridiculous amount of energy while wearing heels. If she is coming to your city, I recommend you go to the show if you don't already have plans to do so. Between Cher's colorful show full of visually stimulating images, sexy choreography and spinning acrobats and Cyndi Lauper's spunk and ability to make you reminisce fond memories of the 80's, you will leave in a positive mood.  I left feeling happy and energized. Plus, my sequin jacket was a hit with ladies, gentlemen and those still trying to decide, as Cher would say. I got lots of compliments. Thanks to Cher, Ms. Lauper and all the queens that night, it was a party and I had a blast.

There are a few other people I want to see or wish I could see. My list is in no particular order and some of these people are impossibilities for the obvious reasons.

1. Michael Jackson
2. Whitney Houston
3. Tina Turner
4. Madonna
5. Earth Wind & Fire (check) 7/4/14 Free concert in Dublin for the holiday
6. Cher (check)
7. Cyndi Lauper (check)
8. Prince
9. Kiss
10. Queen Latifah


Who is on your dream concert list?