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Shelly

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Strawberry Lemonade with Fresh Picked Strawberries

It’s strawberry picking season in the midwest and each year we head out and pick until we can’t carry anymore. There is a cute farm (Spencer Farms) near us where you can pick strawberries and blueberries in the summer and dig up mums in the fall. We love going there to support them and their fruit is the best around!

Strawberry Lemonade

We use the strawberries for lots of different recipes. Sophia’s favorite is to put them on her pancakes and my favorite is to make a strawberry rhubarb pie. This year we tried a new recipe we got from Sprouts Cooking School– Strawberry Lemonade. It was a really fun recipe to do with Sophia (5) because she’s always asking for ‘pink lemolade’ at restaurants and was surprised at how real strawberry lemonade tastes!

Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 16 oz package strawberries, diced

Instructions

Add lemon juice and sugar in a pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves. Add water and strawberries and stir to combine.

strawberry lemonade with fresh picked strawberries

Kid Friendly

Sophia was able to do this entire process by using a wavy chopper and a lemon squeezer. She’s been on a baking kick ever since she took her Baking with Barbie class at Sprouts several months ago. They made fresh squeezed lemonade and she couldn’t get enough of it’s tart taste. Ever since she’s been excited to bake new recipes and even picked out a cook book with her gift card money at the book store. In a few weeks she’ll get to do a full week of baking with Sprouts at their Once Upon a Time summer camp!

If you’re looking for another recipe with fresh berries, last year I made an amazing Mulberry Cheesecake for Father’s Day!

strawberry picking

Related Posts:

Kids Cooking Class at Sprouts
Kid Friendly Apple Oatmeal Baby Muffins

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You Asked: Answers About Goldfish Swim School Lessons

Goldfish Swim School has been such a great asset to our weekly routine. We are so proud of the improvements both girls have made over the past few months. I posted for people to ask questions on my IG stories last week and here are the most asked questions answered for you.

Q: Is there time to just practice?

A: Not during their 30 min swimming lesson but they do offer free family swim from 12-1p Monday – Friday for members. They also have Family Night Out events once per month where you can spend $5/person, $15 max per family and enjoy snacks and swimming from 6:30-8p.

Q: How often do you go? Once a week or more?

Swim lessons are once per week but they also offer Jump Start Clinics. These clinics are 5 consecutive 30 minute lessons, same time, same instructor M-F.

Q: How long is each class cycle? Or year round classes?

Goldfish Swim School lessons are continuous rather than session-based. They believe a consistent approach to swimming is important for swim skill development and water safety awareness. Personally, we’re going year around to keep both girls confident in the water.

Q: What age do you recommend they start lessons?

4 months is the youngest they accept children for swimming lessons. We started Lilly at 6 months and it was amazing. Watching her learn and improve and be excited for lessons each week has been so fun! I wrote a post about our experience here.

Q: What are the age groups?

They go by skill level rather than age groups. You will give Goldfish Swim an idea of what your child’s abilities are and they will place them in the corresponding level. Throughout their classes there will be milestones they’ll need to hit and they’ll receive ribbons for achieving those goals. As they progress through the level they’ll then move up to the next and continue on with this cycle.

Q: What are the prices and how long does the program last?

Prices vary depending on skill level and location. Goldfish Swim School is all over the US. Check with your local swim school for pricing. Classes are indefinite until you cancel your membership. You must cancel 30 days in advance of your last lesson.

Q: At what age do they do classes by themselves without parents?

Classes are sorted by skill level rather than age. Junior 1 is the first level they’re able to be in the water without an adult. That class typically starts at age 3 with no prior swim instructions.

Q: What do you bring with you?

When we first started we brought all the things. We started during the winter and had our winter coats and boots and I carried a full diaper bag along with our swim bag. Now that I’ve wised up and the weather has warmed up we’re able to only take one bag. For us, with a 10 month old and 5 year old taking lessons we pack:
– 2 beach towels
– Wet bag for suits
– Swim cover ups (or underwear if we’re going somewhere after)
– Detangling spray and brush
– Goggles
– Quarters for a snack or candy
– Diaper

I’d love to answer any other questions you have about Goldfish Swim School or any other swim lesson related question. If you don’t currently have your kids in swim lessons, why not?

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Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake opened this weekend. We had a chance to go check them out during their member preview before it opened to the public and it was so fun! Whether you’re fond of cute and cuddly or sleek and slithery you’ll find new facts and interesting animals to swoon over.

These exhibits opened just in time to start your summer off with some fun at the zoo. PRO TIP: Bring your patience. These two exhibits are going to be very popular which means long wait times. I suggest bringing two adults and having one stand in line while the other gets ice cream or heads to the playground with the kids. There were a lot of hot tired kids in line while we were there. Once you get to MISTery Park there are misters that help keep you cool and you’ll fell like you’ve stepped into a rain forest in south America! It it such an amazing experience. You’ll never have known you’re standing where the splash pad was with all the plants, mist and forest sounds from Costa Rica.

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake
Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Team Sloth

You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with the sloths while you’re there. Although you can not handle these cuddly cuties you can get some great selfies! There are 5 sloths total at the Indianapolis Zoo and they will have two out at a time to allow them time without being with people. These two toed sloths keep a gentle pace to help them go unseen by predators, such as harpy eagles and jaguars, who watch for moving prey when they hunt. But these adorable animals take leisure to the next level, moving slow enough for algae and fungi to grow on their fur, creating micro-biomes of life.

Team Snake

The snake exhibit is just as popular as the sloth exhibit! They’ve completely renovated the back area of Desserts and added new habitats for all their new friends. Desserts has remained the same but in the back area they’ve added the most deadly snakes in the world. Size, Speed & Venom: Extreme Snakes will feature more than 20 incredible species, including some of the largest and most dangerous snakes on the planet. The reticulated python is one of the world’s largest snakes, growing to nearly 30 feet in length with exquisite patterns.

For more information on these awesome exhibits go to the Indianapolis Zoo website or call (317) 630-2001 for more information.

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Check out more fun Zoo trips like xZooberance and Fairy Gardens.

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Date Night: Ocean Prime Indianapolis

My husband and I do date night once per month and this month’s date night at Ocean Prime Indianapolis was one that will be hard to beat. The food, atmosphere and service were all exceptional. When Ocean Prime invited us to their nearby location at Keystone we couldn’t have been more excited to dress up and have some adult conversation (which of course consisted of talking about our kids).

Date Night Ocean Prime Indianapolis
Ocean Prime Indianapolis

Date Night: Ocean Prime Indianapolis

We’d just gotten back from a trip to Cedar Point where we had our first crab legs in years. Cue the Ocean Prime menu being set in front of me and my mouth started drooling at the prospect of more crab legs.

Beverages

First things first though, we had a hard time deciding on drinks because of the extensive award winning wine list. We both chose cocktails because of the fresh squeezed fruit and top shelf liquors. I highly recommend getting the Berries & Bubbles (recipe linked), a blackberry and blueberry cocktail that bubbles while you drink it!

Berries and Bubbles-
Photo Credit: Ocean Prime
Calamari

Starters

For appetizers we started off with the Lobster Sushi and Calamari. The Judith Calamari with Sweet Chili Sauce is now my favorite appetizer of all time. I was so impressed with how fresh the calamari was.
Executive Chef Branden Pegg said few others have suppliers with such fresh seafood and I could tell. The fruit in the Lobster Roll had me intrigued with poached lobster tail, kiwi, pickled serrano, masago and spicy mango purée. It wasn’t my favorite sushi ever but it was still delicious.

Chillean Sea Bass-
Photo Credit: Ocean Prime
Gouda Tots-
Photo Credit: Ocean Prime
Warm Butter Cake- Photo Credit: Ocean Prime

Entres

Between our cocktails and appetizers we were having a wonderful evening. Out comes our entrees and somehow we made more room because it smelled heavenly. As I said, I got the King Crab Legs with asparagus and drawn butter and a side of Gouda Tots. I melted like the drawn butter with each bite. The Gouda Tots were a bar-only option until it gained so much popularity it made it to the menu (and rightfully so). My husband got the 7-year award winning Chillean Sea Bass on Whipped Potatoes and a Champagne Truffle Sauce with a side of Lobster Mashed Potatoes. We were on a seafood kick but their steaks are award winning as well. Next time we’re definitely trying their Bone-in Fillet.

Sweets

Finally, although we had to pack up half our dinner to go, we couldn’t leave without trying dessert. Our waiter could not have suggested better desserts for us because we both closed our eyes with the first bite! We ordered Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie which was Peanut Butter Mousse with a Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache.

Needless to say, both of us were extremely satisfied with the entire date night at Ocean Prime Indianapolis. We’re thinking of going back for their Father’s Day special or possible their Summer Fridays!


Dishes served during Happy Hour can be found here. For couples looking for a quick, weeknight date, it is always a great option as all small plates in the Lounge are offered for half off, Monday – Friday from 4 – 7 p.m.

Steak and Eggs Father’s Day Brunch: Brunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as its regular dinner menu throughout Father’s Day (June 16). Reservations can be secured at www.ocean-prime.com/reservations or by calling 317.569.0975.

A BIG thank you to Ocean Prime and their fabulous staff for having us in. We hope to see you soon!

Ocean Prime Indianapolis

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Kid Friendly Apple Oatmeal Baby Muffins

Babies are limited at what foods they’re able to eat at 9 months. We want to introduce new flavors and textures to her to help her have a wide pallet. My daughter wanted to make something that they could both enjoy together. I made these kid friendly apple oatmeal baby muffins when my first daughter was a baby and they were a huge hit.

The ingredients couldn’t be more simple. We always have these items on hand. I love that baking helps my 5 year old learn math in a fun way. Baking for others also helps her express her love for them which is so sweet. Sophia has been on a baking kick after attending a Baking with Barbie class at Sprouts Cooking School. She loved it so much that she’ll be going for their Once Upon a Time week long summer camp class! I can’t wait to see what a week of baking inspires her to make for friends and family.

Kid Friendly Apple Oatmeal Baby Muffins

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 C. oatmeal (I used old fashioned for this recipe, not quick cooking oats)
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 C. unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. brown sugar
1 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. aluminum free baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
*You can also add other ingredients like chocolate chunks or nuts if they wont’ be given to a baby

Baking Instructions

-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 12 count muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

-Combine the vanilla, applesauce, egg, bananas and brown sugar, mixing well.

-Add in the salt, cinnamon, flour, baking soda, baking powder and oatmeal.

-Fill each muffin liner about 1/2 way with the batter.

-Bake 18-20 minutes. Around 18-19 minutes insert a toothpick into a muffin to check to see if it is cooked through. If it comes out clean, they are done.

We had a fun time making these baby muffins for her baby sister. They make for a great snack to take with us to the library or freeze for later on. What is your favorite muffin flavor to bake? If you’re new to baking with your kids you can see some tips I wrote here.

We have been compensated a week of summer camp through Sprouts Cooking School in exchange for spreading the word about their amazing classes. All opinions are my own (including how much I love their classes and these muffins)!

Related Posts to Kid Friendly Apple Oatmeal Baby Muffins:

How to Make Baby Food
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