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,