The Cure To Boredom Fall/Winter 2014

Adventure To Do List Fall/Winter 2014

It's that time again!  It is time for a new adventure list for Fall/Winter. This past April I decided to do a seasonal adventure list for every six months.The list is my cure to boredom. The list is compiled of things I want to experience this season and as I cross something off  I will share it with you. I will share information about the experience, my photos and my revelations as I did last season. Here is my adventure list for Fall/Winter 2014. 

The Bridge to Beauty: A photo I took while hiking in Hocking Hills. 10/12/14

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

1.  Go Snow Tubing

2.  Build a fabulous snow-woman (completed  3/1/15)

3.  Go on a Columbus Brew Adventures Tour
 (any one of them)

4.  Take a scenic train ride

5.  Visit the A Christmas Story House & Museum

6.  Take a nature walk at least once a month

7.  See the Lion King Broadway Musical
(completed 10/11/14)

8.  Check out three new restaurants from 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'

9.  Learn the art of Upholstery

10. Get comfortable driving 

( I am almost 33 without a license!)

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 the season!

For my last list click here.

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! 
 Be adventurous!
Kris,

My Cure To Boredom List From the Rearview (Spring/Summer 2014)

Spring/Summer 2014

In The Rearview

In the beginning of the season I created an 'adventure to do list'. It is a way to get me to focus and plan things that will keep me from ever feeling like I am bored. It also holds me accountable for my own personal growth and happiness by planning intentional activities. It was something that I learned a while ago without realizing what it was exactly. I just recently read something about this in a blog my partner Christina did. Then I saw a documentary called 'Happy' that talked about intentional activities on WOSU TV. It made me proud to know I have been on the right track for some time now. The last thing I knew I would be doing was posting an update of what I actually got accomplished on my list. Again, accountability! So here goes a recap of  what I got to experience. I left the ones I did not accomplish in red and will update them in this post in the future. Seven out of ten is still pretty good.

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

This was the first thing I knew I needed to do. For two years I have been saying I would go canoeing and before I knew it, it was winter and I'd missed my opportunity. So I made sure to include the activity on my list. It was also something that was a little scary to me and I believe in doing the things that scare you. I was a little nervous the Sunday I decided to go canoeing. I strapped on my life jacket and once I got in the canoe, I had a blast. I am not great at it, I ran into a few logs but at the end, I understood how to correct my mistakes and was steering the canoe. Check!

Me at Hocking Hills Adventures Canoe Livery

2.  Use my Picnic Basket 

I used my picnic basket once this season when I spent the day with my nephew at Slate Run Farm. I did not take any photos. I hope that I can use the basket at least once more before it gets cold and plenty more next summer.
 

3.  Go on the Short North Columbus Food Adventures Tour

My sister came on the dessert tour with me last year for my birthday and expressed interest in the Short North Tour. I decided to treat her to the Short North food tour in August for her birthday. The tour, which is generally on Saturdays was also offered Fridays this summer. We spent the Friday after her birthday restaurant hopping with the tour guide through the Short North which started at The North Market and ended at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. I love these tours because it gives you an opportunity to check out restaurants without investing a lot of money on a meal you may not enjoy; though I have never had that problem with the Short North or Columbus Food Adventures. Now that I have crossed this tour off my to do list, they just added two more tours I have to checkout, the Grandview Tour and the Breakfast Tour.

Columbus Food Adventures Short North Tour

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

I will add it to my list next year.

5.  Visit downtown Yellow Springs
  
I'd visited Yellow Springs a few times to go to Young's Jersey Dairy and that was the only place I'd seen in the city. I decided I would make an effort to visit the downtown area after hearing so many good things about it. I enjoyed all of the public art and the little shops. There trees are decorated and you will see a few barefoot people if the weather is nice. The smell of frankincense and marijuana is also very prevalent through the streets. Well, at least it was the day I was there.

Colorful Yellow Springs

6.  See Beyoncé & Jay Z on their On the Run Tour  Cincinatti 6/28

Like many other people, I was at the baseball stadium in Cincinnati rocking to Bey and Jay on June 28th. My long time friend and I drove to Cincy for an overnight to have an epic experience. This was one of the best concerts I have seen and I would have gone to another city to see it again if I had the time. Loved it! Check!

Me at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

7.  Take a nature walk at least once a month in Ohio's many parks

I wanted to make this a goal so that I would be more active. While I did not complete the goal, I did try very hard. I started strong in May with two nature walks. I did a nature walk in June, July and August. September I did nothing. I could have checked it off but I won't lie to myself. While I was on my best behavior, I took some photos I love. I will share them even if I did not satisfy the goal.

8.  Taste Durian (a fruit from Thailand)

9.  Check five restaurants off my 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio' book

I was really excited about this book when I got it. I love to travel and I love to eat. The book is a great way to do both. When I got the book, I'd already visited 7  restaurants featured. I checked out two restaurants over the winter. As spring started to approach, I made it my mission to check out five more before fall.  I did complete the goal and that brought me to two cities I'd never been to. The goal also brought me back to check out a few restaurants in cities I have frequented but not had the chance to dine until recently.  My favorite meals were at the Old Canal Smoke House and Dock's Beach House, so you will find them among the three food photos I posted.  Don't be surprised  to see this in my next couple lists in the future.

1. The Golden Jersey Inn (Yellow Springs)

2. The Warehouse Steak n' Stein (Coshocton) 

3. Old Canal Smoke House (Chillicothe)

4. Dock's Beach House (Port Clinton)

5. The Longaberger Homestead Restaurant (Frazeysburg)

Dock's Beach House

Old Canal Smoke House BBQ Meal, The Golden Jersey Inn & Mahi Mahi at the Dock's Beach House

The Warehouse Steak n' Stein

10. Go to a Columbus Clippers Game

Huntington Park has been opened a while now and every year since, I have been saying I will go to a game. Finally I made it there. It almost did not happen.  That day it seemed as if the clouds would open and drench us. My hair was frizzing up from the moisture in the air. It was date night , so we said what the heck. While standing in line we were given free tickets from two women who got them free from work. It was meant to be. I had a great time, great hotdog and the weather held up.  I look forward to going to more games next season.

Huntington Park Baseball Stadium

It is a new season so I am creating my list for Fall/Winter 2014-2015. The lists make a big difference in helping me do the things I really want to do. I doubt I would have done what I did this summer without my spring/summer list.  If there are things that you have been wanting to do for a while now, you should create your own list. It can be a seasonal list, monthly list or a list for the year.  Let me know what you think I should add to my winter list. I would also love to hear what you have on your list.

Until Next Time!

Be Blessed! Be Free! Be Adventurous!
Kris,



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,

Eating My Way Across Ohio

Eating My Way Across Ohio

Do you really love food? Would you call yourself a foodie? Those who know me well enough, know that I am a foodie. I am constantly thinking about the next thing I am going to eat sometimes while I am eating. I regularly read food blogs,reviews and I currently have a subscription to Bon Appetit magazine. Whether I am cooking or eating out, food is a huge part of my life.

image courtesy of amazon.com

Recently while watching an episode of Out & About Columbus, I came across a book called 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio' by Karen A. Patterson. One of the restaurants featured in the book was advertising on the show and mentioned the book during their ad. The next day I was on Amazon ordering myself a copy. The book is 101 mom and pop spots from diners to fine dining. There are no chains in this book. I especially love that aspect being that I am kind of an anti-chain snob. I have already checked out two of the featured restaurants. 

2.22.14 Chicken Marsala with Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus at CJ's HighMarks Celina, Ohio ( the specific location featured in the book is closed)

3.16.14 Smokey Mountain Chicken with Ribs and Baked Beans at Werner's Smokehouse Jeffersonville, Ohio

 With the warmer weather just ahead of us, I am already planning many road trips through Ohio. Being originally from Florida, I remember hating Ohio for a long time even after growing up here. Then circumstances and people around me inspired me to want to explore my state. I have learned there is more to Ohio than meets the eye. Sometimes you have to do a little research to find things worth checking out. This book makes one great way to experience O.H.I.O.

If you are interested in this book, you can find it online at Amazon. If you are anything like me, don't be surprised if you have already dined at a few of the places featured. When I got the book, I marked seven restaurants that I'd already been to, most of which I dined at with my beau. Since I got the book we have been using it as a means to bond, sharing a love for food and being on the road. In the book I keep track of the dates when we visit a place. I have also included notes of things we ordered and receipts. Kentuckians, the guy who wrote Karen's forward wrote Kentucky's version of the book and is the reason the Ohio version exists. 'Eating Your Way Across Kentucky' can also be found on Amazon.

 For those of you who believe Ohio or your home state is boring and you say there is nothing to do, look for future posts on road trips and the travel/history books I have been reading. Anywhere you live, you can find information about places worth while through blogs, state travel sites and books if you do the research. Also check back for future 'Eating My Way Across Ohio' posts. There is so much more to share and I would love to prove you wrong.

What is your favorite place to eat in your home state?

Until the next time, 
Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!
Kris,