2015 In the Rear View

I feel like this year has flown by so rapidly! As I get older, it seems like New Years Eve and birthdays come back to back, hardly giving me time to rest in between. The saying is that " time flies when you are having fun." So, I guess I must be enjoying my life. Well, I can certainly say I have had a good year but it has also had it's not so great moments. For quite some time now, I have tried to keep a positive attitude and go with the flow when ever possible. This year I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do but I did a lot. I am ever so grateful for the great things I got to experience but also for the chaos because it turned into opportunities to bond with my family and friends.

In 2015 I made my first snowman who was actually a snow-woman. She was fabulous! I treated my guy to a Tesla concert in Troy, Ohio. It was my first Tesla concert and our first time in Troy. The city of Troy is beautiful, by the way. I saw Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Tyga in concert with my sister. I started a list of 101 Cool Places & Things in Ohio. I saw the legend,Stevie Wonder,in concert and was surprised by his special guest India Arie. I saw White Snake & Scorpions in concert. I got to hang out with my nephew all summer for the second year.  I took my nephew to his first concert to see Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa where I blushed and cringed at the sight of large blow up joints being thrown around. I grew great tasting vegetables and fruits in my garden and my parents garden. My family took a trip to Orlando and introduced my nephew to Disney World. I saw my grandpa Robinson who I hadn't seen in ten years also while I was in Florida. My sister and I started a sister trip tradition. We spent a weekend in the Cincinnati area where we checked off four places on my to do list: Loveland Castle, Newport Aquarium, Jungle Jim's International Market & Findlay Market on a tour with Cincinnati Food Tours.  I took a meditation class to introduce the art of meditation into my daily life. To end the year I did my second list of residential holiday light displays and it became the most viewed blog post of any of the ChristinaKristin blogs in three days. Yay!

left to right: Frostine the Snow-woman, Tesla concert, Wiz Khalifa, My veggies, Epcot, Disney, Newport on the Levee with my sister, Findlay Market in Over the Rhine & Columbus KTC Buddhist Center

It has been an amazing year, full of love and color and hope. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for me, other than a trip to the dentist next week. Lol. I look forward to spending more time with my friends home and away. I look forward to more travel and more learning. I look forward to really living my life and learning to be more independent.

What were your 2015 highlights?

Holiday Overload! The Must See Holiday Displays in Columbus 2015

Last year I started a list of residential holiday light displays for those in search of free light displays in the Columbus area.  It has become a tradition of mine to go out searching for over the top, decorated homes. My favorite displays are beautiful or beautifully tacky. They are the kind of displays that take months to create and rack up hundreds of dollars in energy bills. The bill is worth it considering the way these displays make us feel when we look at them. They evoke precious memories of our childhood when things were simpler and exciting. They remind us of the days when some of us believed in magic. 

On Christmas Eve, after Christmas dinner or after you see the new Star Wars movie; take a drive around the Columbus area to check out these cool displays. Grab yourself some snacks, a cup of hot cocoa and take a tour of the best residential displays in your area.  After all, this is something we only get to see once a year.  

 This year I got lots of leads but only had time to check out some of them before my self appointed deadline. So, this list may have some later additions. Some new displays have made the list this year and three displays have returned. The two new light displays are synchronized to music. You can find videos of those displays on my instagram today @krisofohio. I hope you go out and enjoy your tour!

 1.The Musical Angel

Westbrook Village Lights 

Located on Westbrook Village off Holt Rd & Lesbrook Dr.

(near Georgesville) 

I discovered this display last year after I posted my list but I wanted to make sure it made it's debut as first on my list this year.

 

Every year a group of neighbors get together to make the neighborhood beautiful and collect can goods for the Mid Ohio Food Bank. The neighbors put up their lights and synchronize them to a holiday soundtrack. They encourage you to come out to enjoy the free light show but pay it forward by leaving can goods in the drop boxes near the display. 

tips: Keep the neighbors in mind and don't stop in the middle of the street or block their driveways. Pull over beside the curb. Consider visiting during the week when there is less traffic.

 

2.The Christmas Melting Pot 

Guilford Road off Riverside Dr. Upper Arlington

I have visited this home for a few years now and it never gets old. It is beautifully tacky and everyone loves it. It is one of the homes that gets a lot of traffic each year. When I visited, it was late so the house was not completely lit. This photo does it no justice. There are Santas all over the windows on the house.

tips: Pull over to the side of the road so you can get out of the car to take in the details. Also ride around the neighborhood for some beautiful classically decorated homes. There is one just at the right of this home off Guilford.

3.Christmas in the Country

Kropp Rd off of Alkire in Galloway

 This is another photo that does this display no justice, but the light show is definitely worth checking out. This display is on a large piece of property in the Galloway area and is synchronized to music. You can get a better idea of the show from my instagram.

 

tips: pull into one of the long driveways nearby to keep from getting interupted by traffic.

4. All American Christmas 
S.Richardson between W.Mound and Eakin on West Columbus

This is my favorite display each year. I have faithfully visited this home for the last four years. It is always beautiful but he changes and adds things every new season. This year one of my favorite details are gingerbread men playing in the late Cooper Stadium next to Santa's workshop. Also, new this year is a inflatable snowman on the porch and a nativity scene.

tips: Pull over, park if you can to get out and see the details. You can only see the gingerbread men on the soccer field from outside the car. 

5. Land of Lights
Valleyview Dr. off Hague across from YMCA

This display was 50,500 lights last year but they have increased to 57,300 lights this year. The display is a family tradition and is on it's second generation of decorators. It is free to visit but feel free to leave a donation if you love what you see.

tips: Drive up the long driveway and get out to walk around.
 

I hope this has been helpful to all of those looking for places to check out free light displays in Columbus. Check back because I may add new displays before the season ends. For those of you who are looking for lights that aren't in the Columbus area, check out the Tacky Light Tour website. There isn't much for Columbus but there are large lists of homes for many other cities.

Happy Holidays!

Kris, 
 

My Holiday Wish List (Foodie Gifts)

Happy Holidays to you all! It has been a month since I posted here, so I thought I'd share with you my holiday wish list. The items I am sharing are things that I absolutely love and wouldn't mind getting as gifts this year. I am in no way affiliated with these brands, nor am I being compensated for the items I selected. If you read my blog often, some of these brands will be familiar to you because I have written about them in previous posts.  I love food!  I also love to celebrate the businesses in my city and state. All of these items represent foods, drinks and businesses from the Buckeye State.  If you are looking to buy gifts for me, yourself or the foodies in your life, all of the links are attached to the brand names.

5. Al's Delicious Popcorn

I tried Al's Delicious Popcorn over the summer while exploring the city with my nephew and fell in love with the Dill Pickle popcorn. I have been craving the flavor ever since. Pretty please someone slip a gallon bag under my tree! (mouth waters) You can find some of Al's Delicious Popcorn at Celebrate Local, but to see everything that Al's has to offer you have to go to their shop at
1500 Bethel Road.

 

photo credit

4. Tommy's Old Fashion Jerkey

I came across this brand watching a local television show a couple months ago and decided to check this place out. I have been sending people there for jerky and smokies ever since. I am not a huge jerky fan, but I love their  Sweet & Sassy Smokies. They are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. I went through an entire bag in two days the first time I bought some. You can order the jerky online or visit the Grove City location at 3461 Broadway.

 

3. Ohio Amish Country Wine

  

 I discovered two of my favorite wines in Dover, Ohio at two different wineries. The two wineries also happen to be across the street from each other. Though I love all kinds of wine, full bodied to sweet, reds and whites; these two wines are the traditional sweet Ohio wines you would expect. I am thirsty just thinking about them!

Breitenbach Winery

I have sworn by Breitenbach Winery's Dandelion Wine since I first tasted it about four years ago. It is a delicious white dessert wine made from Dandelion blossoms. It can only be purchased at the winery or online.

photo credit

Swiss Heritage Winery

I tried this wine a year ago while on a Christmas cookie tour in Amish Country. As many times as I had been to the winery directly across from Swiss Heritage, I never thought to stop in Swiss Heritage Winery until last year. I am glad I did because I discovered their Doggone Good Sweet Red wine. I am always looking for a good sweet red and this one is in my top three. It is a blend of Concord and Chamberson grapes.

photo credit

2. Marie's Candies

  

Every time I visit West Liberty, Ohio, I pay a visit to Marie's Candies. While everything I have

 tasted from there has been phenomenal,  my favorite Marie's treats

 are the dark chocolate potato chips. I have even gotten my mother hooked on them. I had them sent  to her this year for her birthday. This is the ultimate treat for chocolate lovers and the chips can be purchased in milk or dark chocolate. You can order the chocolate covered chips online or visit the West Liberty store at 311 Zanesfield Rd. (also US St. Rt. 68).

 

photo credit

1. Columbus Food Adventures

I feel like I write something about Columbus Food Adventures every other month. Well, it is because I love love love, this food tour company. The number one thing I would love under my tree or in my stocking is a gift certificate for a food tour with CFA. There are 11 tours to choose from and there are five that I have not done yet. My favorites tours of the six I have taken are: the Taco Truck and the Dessert tours. I would certainly love to check out the Brunch Tour or the Grandview Walking Tour in the near future.  Gift certificates can be purchased for any of the 11 tours or you can let the one you are shopping for decide by purchasing general gift certificates in increments options of one (The Wildcard), three (The Wanderer) or five (The Grand Tourist). You will find these great gift options on the website.

 

I hope this is helpful to someone out there struggling to find special gifts for people who love food and wine. Family and friends, this is really my personal wish list as well. LOL! 

Happy Holidays!

Kristin, 

Another Year, Another Chance

 

Friday I celebrated my 34th birthday. Like most people I used the day for reflection and an excuse to overeat and  party with friends. Well, really that was my weekend. I didn't do any crazy partying but I drank and ate like a queen per my girlfriend Gayima's suggestion. I smiled a lot, I counted my blessings and I took note of those who were around for my day and weekend. 

I remember the things I cared about in my twenties. I loved to go to the club and sometimes I drank until I was sick. I planned my outfits days, sometimes weeks, in advance and I went to all of the big parties. Now, in my mid-thirties I love a low key situation. Partying to me means visiting a winery, brewery or having dinner and being loud with friends. In my thirties I have started traditions like taking a food tour on or around my birthday. This was the fourth birthday that I've taken a food tour with Columbus Food Adventures. Food tours have become one of my favorite activities. I wish twenty year old me discovered food tours long ago. I wish twenty year old me discovered many things before now. I wish I discovered travel so that I would not feel like I was playing catch up now. There are many things I would do differently knowing the things I know now.

 There are also just as many things that I am glad I did. I am glad I went off to Los Angles after high school to go to FIDM even if I only stayed a year.  I can say I lived on the West Coast. I was on the show Change of Heart, where I fell in love with Venice Beach and Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles. I got my first and only tattoo on that date at a parlor on Venice Beach. I saw a lot of movies before they came out those days participating in test audiences. I shopped Rodeo Drive and Melrose Ave. I met amazing people and some that I wanted to strangle. 

I am glad I took a year off then transferred to The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Everything happens for a reason because I got to spend time with my dad before his untimely death. We went to concerts together, traveled and had arguments. I feel blessed to have been able to argue with my dad just as much as the fun. I would trade so many things to have an  argument with my dad again. 

I am glad that in my late twenties and early thirties, I really started to explore Ohio. My local travels have really opened my eyes to the world. Local travel has created a thirst in me to explore the world. So my hopes are to make that happen while in my thirties. As long as I have another day, week or year, I plan to live my life exploring, learning and sharing. Each day or year is another chance to do something inspiring. Each minute, day or year I am blessed with another chance to work on being happy.

Grateful & Blessed

Kris,

Photos from my weekend

For more photos find me on instagram @krisofohio!

Made In Ohio

Tommy's Jerky

3461 Broadway
Grove City, Ohio 43123
614.875.0028

After a cold and rainy Saturday, I was excited to get out, enjoy the weather and explore this past Sunday. Not wanting to travel very far, my guy and I decided to check out a jerky place that was featured a few weeks ago on the show 'Out and About Columbus'. While I am not a jerky fan, I am certainly glad we stopped in.

The store was immaculate and decorated with Western style touches. There were animal skins, antlers, taxidermy and lots of barrels. We were greeted right away by a dark haired beautiful woman named Stephanie. She promptly gave us a few pieces of information about the store and told us that we could taste whatever we wanted as long as we followed a couple simple rules to encourage proper sanitation. All of the rules made sense of course and made me feel secure about tasting the samples. The barrels housed the samples and toothpicks for tasting. The samples went from mild to spicy going toward the back of the store. I tasted my way through the barrels of the smokies first.  Just as things started to get a little spicy, I found my favorite smokey. The Sweet & Sassy was sweet with a little kick.  I continued to taste and found a couple more flavors I enjoyed such as the Jalapeno & Hot Pepper Cheese and the Roasted Jalapeno Beef.  Then I swapped sides and tasted the actual jerky. The jerky had even more flavor options which weren't limited to just beef. They also carry elk, turkey, buffalo, venison, alligator, kangaroo and when available, salmon jerky. I tasted everything from the game section except for the salmon because they were out of it. Stephanie offered to put me on a list so that I would be informed when the salmon came back in.

This was such a fun experience. I loved tasting my way through the store. I especially loved the grilled warm summer sausage.  I personally never thought about cooking summer sausage since I have always seen it sliced and eaten cold on a cracker. Stephanie suggests mixing it into eggs for breakfast. Yum! What I appreciate most about Tommy's Jerky, is that the jerky is made in Ohio. If you are a jerky lover, the jerky is delicious and they have A+ customer service. With the holiday season coming, I encourage you to keep your jerky lovers in mind. Tommy's Jerky will build gift baskets onsite. I wouldn't mind getting some smokies in my Christmas stocking this year or in a gift basket mixed with more of my favorite Ohio things. They also sell hot sauce, BBQ sauce, salsas and kettle corn, all made in Ohio. Just some ideas!

 

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!

Eating My Way Through Findlay Market

Cincinnati Food Tours

I believe the best way to get to know a city is through it's food. So when I visited Findlay Market this weekend, I was shown the soul of the Queen City. Cincinnati Food Tours is the brain child of Barb Cooper, who is also a proud owner of Daisy Mae's Market where you can find beautiful fresh produce. Finding herself as a constant adviser to patrons asking for the best places to get a bowl of soup and other desired fare at the market or the Over The Rhine area, she decided to start Cincinnati Food Tours. She currently offers two tours: The Taste The World Findlay Market Tour and The Over The Rhine Walking Tour. Today I am going to cover my Findlay Market Tour experience. The tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the market and gives you the opportunity to get the inside scoop on the businesses that make up the Findlay Market community. You could do the tour every weekend of a month and get a different experience each time because she alternates the 16 vendors she works with.

Running late, I arrived at almost three o'clock on the dot. I saw a group of people surrounding a very familiar little lady wearing her trade mark fruit covered hat. Previous to the tour I stalked the tour instagram page for months. I followed the business through the website and TripAdvisor for over a year. We were all given lanyards with tags that read Cincinnati Food Tours, a map of the market with the destinations circled and drink tickets for wine or beer for the end of the tour.

Fresh Table

After some history about the building structure, we headed to the first destination. We were greeted by Meredith, an owner and chef of the Fresh Table. She was wearing a green jacket that was customized with beautiful hand painted pumpkins and hand sewn embellishments. Attached to the back of her jacket was a tied up box, once untied it revealed a tray of faux miniature versions of her culinary creations. This is the kind of chef I would expect to make a non-pumpkin fan appreciate a salad made with pumpkin!  We were served a pumpkin and fig salad with swiss chard, chili pepper and feta cheese. It was the perfect fall salad with bursts of flavor from the fig and chili pepper. Fresh Table offers fresh soups and salads made with organic local ingredients. The dishes are well thought out using interesting flavor combinations. They also offer custom catering. The menu changes often so once you find something you love, you may find that it has been briefly retired the next time you are in the mood for it. Don't fret, there will probably be something just as delicious to replace it.

Dean's Mediterranean Imports

The second stop was  Dean's Mediterranean Imports where we met Kate; the second generation learning the ropes to take over the shop for her father, Dean Zaidan. She emphasized the importance of quality when it comes to what they import. They put much thought into where to purchase the best products for their customers like their dried dates and figs. Then there are a lot of items made from scratch in house like three yogurt options and their hummus. Their amazing nuts are also roasted on site and tossed in delicious seasoning combinations including herbs like rosemary and various ground peppers for those who like things a little spicy. For our sample we were treated to a small spread much like we would experience if we were guests in the Zaidan family home. We enjoyed a selection of flavored cashews, dried figs, dates and apricots and for the main course there was a tray full of falafel sandwiches.  Though I enjoyed it all, my favorite thing were the cashews.The family has been a part of the Findlay Market community since the 70s and are among some of the longest remaining residents of the market.

Churchill's Fine Teas

Our third destination was Churchill's Fine Teas where Jerry served us a very refreshing Exotic Fig Oolong tea. The tea was so flavorful, I saw no need for sugar. Churchill's specializes in loose leaf teas that have been hand picked. They carry 265 varieties of tea and all of the teas are made with natural ingredients. There's are no artificial flavors. If you select a flavor with fruit in the description like Lemon Mango Punch, expect to find those fruits in dried form mixed into the tea leaves. Because it is fall, the current popular flavor is Pumpkin Spice but if that doesn't strike your fancy, there is a whole wall categorized by tea types. Whether you have a preference for green tea, white tea or black tea; they have it all. From there you can select a flavor. The wall presents the opportunity to smell the teas you may be interested in. "If it smells good to you, it will taste good to you,"  says Jerry.

Maverick Chocolate 

Stop number four was Maverick Chocolate Co. I was truly excited about this stop and so were the other participants on the tour. We lined up and cheerfully inhaled the fragrance of chocolate permeating through the air while we listened to the history of the Maverick Chocolate brand. The chocolate is created in the small onsite chocolate factory from the roasting of the cocoa beans to the final product. I can't help wondering if it's because they can only produce small batches at a time, that the chocolates taste of perfection. They also pride themselves with only working with small farmers who have great labor practices. That social responsibility is to be admired, as should the product they produce. We got to select four of the flavors to taste. Naughty me! I will admit, I may have tried a couple more than that. My favorite flavor was Fahrenheit 513, which they recently received a Good Food Award for. The best news is,  Maverick Chocolate brand produces gluten, soy and nut free chocolate, so everyone who loves chocolate can enjoy the treat without worry.

Taste of Belgium

The final stop was a brand I was slightly familiar with because there is a location in the North Market in Columbus. What I did not know was that Taste of Belgium got its roots at Findlay Market. The waffles are baked one at a time in a special cast iron waffle maker . The recipe is an improved take on a family recipe that has been passed down for generations. No syrup needed! The waffle has sugar built into the thick batter. They serve both sweet and savory items on the menu, such as waffle sandwiches and crepes. At North Market in Columbus and their other Cincinnati locations, they offer a take on chicken and waffles that sounds amazing. For our sample we got to taste a seasonal waffle made with apple and cinnamon. It was quite delicious. I left this stop feeling like I needed to add Taste of Belgium to my to do list once back in Columbus.

 Those of us who upgraded our tickets to include beer or wine, ended our tour at Market Wines. I ordered a glass of white wine and digested all of the great samples I got to try. I really enjoyed the tour but it left me wanting to explore more of the market. The vendors the tour exposed me to were so awesome that I wondered about the many vendors I did not get to check out. I thought Barb, our guide was very informative as well. She knew a lot about the history of the market and the Over The Rhine District. She also made me curious about the Over The Rhine walking tour. I see a return trip in the near future.

until next time,
Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,