diy mama

lifestyle blog sharing diy, family, travel, organization & disney tips

Shelly

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Spring xZooberance at the Indianapolis Zoo

We were invited to the Indianapolis Zoo this past weekend to check out their inaugural spring festival xZooberance. My in-laws were in town so we were excited to show them our zoo for the first time. I was hesitant that there wouldn’t be beautiful flowers and many of the animals would be inside because it was cold and rainy. Despite the cold and rain, we ended up spending six hours at the zoo and still didn’t see everything there was to see!

xZooberance is Here!

Debuting just in time for spring break, the Indianapolis Zoo’s brand-new festival begins March 21 and continues every Thursday through Sunday until April 7. The Zoo will be open 9am-5pm with event activities running from 10am-4pm. The cheerful spirit of the season will shine throughout the Bicentennial Pavilion, where oversized pinwheels spin in the breeze and brightly colored kites float overhead. Amid a vibrant landscape filled with larger animal-shaped topiaries and a living wall of plant life, visitors can enjoy continuous live entertainment with a changing lineup for all 12 days.

What Can I Expect?

I talked about some of the activities, musical acts and food options within the press release I put out last week but I wanted to elaborate a little. Under the large covered area there is a roaring fire which is surrounded by all kinds of activities for kids and grown ups alike. One of my favorite activities was the flower arranging mini workshop. You’re able to learn several different flower arrangements so you can do them yourself at home! We were also huge fans of the dance group Kenyetta that blew us away with their modern dance. We also couldn’t head to the rest of the zoo without stopping to get some hot chocolate to warm ourselves up!

Is it Free?

xZooberance is included with your admission tickets for the zoo. Another amazing perk is you can also see the Butterfly Kaleidoscope presented by Citizens Energy Group as well as the new dolphin show for free! I was very impressed with the length and messaging of the dolphin show. It was perfect for my 5 year old and 8 month old!

Best of all, xZOOberance as well as the other exhibits and activities are all free for Zoo members and included with regular admission. Guests are encouraged to save time and money by planning their visit in advance at IndianapolisZoo.com

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xZooberance Festival Debuting at the Indianapolis Zoo
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xZooberance Festival Debuting at the Indianapolis Zoo

We’re so excited about Spring just around the corner and one of our favorite spring adventures is to head to the Indianapolis Zoo. The weather is perfect for playful animals and low crowds. This year they’ve got a fun festival in store called xZooberance that we’ll be checking out this weekend! Here are the details:

xZooberance

Debuting just in time for spring break, the Indianapolis Zoo’s brand-new festival begins March 21 and continues every Thursday through Sunday until April 7. The Zoo will be open 9am-5pm with event activities running from 10am-4pm. The cheerful spirit of the season will shine throughout the Bicentennial Pavilion, where oversized pinwheels spin in the breeze and brightly colored kites float overhead. Amid a vibrant landscape filled with larger animal-shaped topiaries and a living wall of plant life, visitors can enjoy continuous live entertainment with a changing lineup for all 12 days.

Music headliner Hiss Golden Messenger will bring their unique blend of folk, country and rock music to the main stage at 6pm March 30, with the Jai Baker 3 opening at 5pm. The Zoo will stay open late for this special concert so that guests can dance into the evening hours.

Additionally, the festival main stage will host local acts like Dance Kaleidoscope, Dumpster Drummers, Cathy Morris and more. At The Perch, guests can interact with storytellers, meet chickens, learn about nature and create their own musical sounds.

Food & Beverage


Nearby in the Cheer Garden, guests can unwind and sample specialty food items, like Bavarian pretzels, kettle chips and picnic snacks, plus craft beer, wine and kid-friendly refreshments. Extra activities like animal-inspired yoga and a sculpture scavenger hunt will have guests moving all over the Zoo. Children will enjoy making a beautiful pinwheel craft, and guests can even create spring-themed enrichment for the Zoo’s animals.


Adding xZOOberance in with moderate seasonal temperatures, active animals and the return of the Zoo’s seasonal exhibit, Butterfly Kaleidoscope presented by Citizens Energy Group, makes spring an ideal time of year to visit the Zoo. Plus, xZOOberance attendees will be among the first to experience the new dolphin presentation, which introduces audiences to the Zoo’s pod as well as Central Indiana families who are taking simple steps to help dolphins in the wild.


Best of all, xZOOberance as well as the other exhibits and activities are all free for Zoo members and included with regular admission. Guests are encouraged to save time and money by planning their visit in advance at IndianapolisZoo.com

About the Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo empowers people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. Visit IndianapolisZoo.com

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Defy Indy for Active Kids

Defy Indy for Active Kids- Defy Indy is the ultimate extreme air experience! We were invited to check out the new Defy Indy in Castleton area today. As soon as we stepped through the doors we could feel the excitement with the music bumping and the kids jumping we knew we were going to have a great time.

Defy Indy is no average trampoline park. It’s got everything you could dream of at a aerial park and so much more. Like most, you’ve got to sign the waiver (which you can do before hand online) and then check in for your time slot. Depending on the age of the jumper and the time you want to jump you’ll spend anywhere from $12-32 for up to two hours of fun. They also have several ways to get discounted tickets through their
KidJump, Family Night, College Night or season passes. Their activities tab has a great list of fun ways to spend your time at Defy Indy. They also host summer camp and Birthday Parties!


We’re really an extreme aerosports facility. We like to refer to ourselves as Skyzone on steroids  -GM Greg Schofield

Favorite Parts of Defy Indy

When I asked Sophia what her favorite part was, she sat thinking for a full minute and finally responded ‘everything!!’ There were familiar things to do like jumping on a trampoline but there were also brand new obstacles she’s never tried before. I was most impressed by her jumping off this HUGE platform that had three tiers. She started on the second one and was very nervous but after one big breath and a countdown she jumped! The very next time I suggested the highest platform and she did it! I wanted to show her how proud I was of her for trying something scary so when she suggested I jump I went right away to the second tier and was terrified! I couldn’t do the highest platform which makes me so much more proud that she was able to conquer that fear.

Best Time to Visit

During the morning was an awesome time to visit because it wasn’t over crowded with bigger kids at birthday parties. They have a under 6 jump from 9-10 that was perfect. Of course jumping with friends is so much better so she made several friends while we were there and wants to go back tomorrow.

Defy Indy also has discounted home school prices and options to have your school class or group come to jump. They even have a slumber party option where you can stay over night! How cool would that be for a girl scout group or Mom’s group!?

Defy Indy Venue

I was very impressed with how clean Defy Indy was. There was plenty of seating around the lower level as well as seating in the upper level for parents or kids to take a rest. As a mom with a little one it’s hard to always keep up with our 5 year old so I very much appreciated the open concept of the venue. I was able to look across the entire area and see clearly where my daughter was. Free lockers are available for your belongings. They have vending machines and a water fountain if you forget your water bottle. If you’re interested in hosting a party there are three room with tables and refrigeration. They provide staff to help with clean up for the parties as well! I’m thinking there may be an un-birthday in the works for Sophia this summer because she so badly wants to have all her friends there with her to jump.

For more information about Defy Indy, check out their website or call 317-520-5030. Feel free to ask me any questions as well!

jump@defyindianapolis.com 8356 Masters Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250

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Kids Cooking Class at Sprouts

We were invited to try a kids cooking class at Sprouts Cooking Class today. Baking with Barbie was today’s class and we can’t remember a time we’ve had more fun in the kitchen! This class was for ages 3-13 and the kids learned to bake three recipes. The best part was that parents could drop off their children and head out for 2 hours of errands or a nice brunch!

Awesome Venue

I was impressed right away by how bright and clean yet playful the space is. There is a wall along the back with 4 microwaves and 4 ovens which is perfect for some of the larger camp classes or the older kid’s cooking classes. There is plenty of counter space with their large islands that hold a sink at one end and a convection stove top at the other. This class had little tables and chairs set up for the preschoolers while the older girls sat on stools around the island.

Energetic Teachers

Perhaps my favorite part of the kids cooking class was watching the teachers interact with the kids. They did a great job keeping the kids listening, learning, being safe and having fun all while baking! I know that can be a feat with just a couple kids at home! The way they interacted with the girls gave them confidence in continuing to bake at home. As their website states:

At Sprouts Cooking School, our goal is for every child to build a foundation for a lifelong love of cooking, to inspire and empower this generation of foodies, and to encourage families to get into the kitchen and cook with their kids.

Baking with Barbie

My daughter took Baking with Barbie which was a 2 hour Saturday class. There were 13 girls which made for a full kitchen but each girl was able to contribute to the recipes because they were split up in groups of 4. We didn’t need to bring anything along for the class (other than Barbie). With it being a Barbie baking class, sweets were on the menu, so the girls made Fruit Tarts, Cupcakes and Edible ‘Nail Polish’ (marshmallows dipped in white chocolate covered in sanding sugar with a tootsie roll for the top). Other than the dough for the tarts and the icing for the cupcakes, the girls made each part of the recipe.

Check out Sprouts Cooking School’s website for a list of their upcoming kids cooking class. They also have summer camps (which we’re totally checking out because they have a princess themed week!) Keep them in mind for birthday parties and special adult and child date nights. They have one coming up for Mother’s Day that is selling out fast. Sprouts also has tools that the kids use in class as well as aprons for purchase before or after class.

For some of the recipes they teach in class, cook along at home with their YouTube channel. Stay up to date on events by following their Facebook or Instagram pages.

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Loving Our Hearts at Goldfish Swim School
Salads Your Kids Will Love

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Family Staycation at Conrad Indianapolis

Indianapolis is such a fun, vibrant city. We love taking family trips to the city to discover what’s new but there’s never enough time! Conrad Indianapolis was nice enough to put us up for two nights so we could have a family staycation downtown. When I say family staycation, I mean the entire family, babies and pets included! Needless to say, we were a hit with the Conrad staff and other guests staying for the weekend.

Family Staycation at Conrad Indianapolis

Right off the bat we felt welcome with the quick valet service right out front and a bellman to carry the ridiculous amount of luggage we packed. We somehow managed to pack more for that weekend stay than we did our previous week in Florida. Once we marveled over the revolving door and Chihuly-inspired chandelier in the lobby we headed up to our room to a special surprise. Our room was fitted with something special for each member of the family: a pack n’ play and onesie for Lilly, a dog bed, bowls and bandanna for Lexi, a fruit bowl for Sophia and wine and charcuterie for Jeffrey and I.

Room Service is a Must

I have yet to go to a hotel and not get room service so I knew we had to introduce the awesomeness to our girls. We started by ordering dessert for our late-night movie party on Friday night. The GM had suggested the Sugar Cream Pie and we also got the Chocolate Cake. I must admit, the sugar cream pie was warm and absolutely decadent. I did not regret our choices.

The next morning we opted for breakfast in bed and did not hold back. Calories don’t count in a hotel, right? Jeffrey was very happy with the Biscuits and Gravy with Potatoes. Sophia and I were even happier with the Chicken and Waffles and French Toast with Berry Compote. Fresh squeezed Orange Juice was the perfect addition to our sweet breakfast.

Family Pool Party

Conrad Indianapolis is one of the only downtown Indianapolis hotels that has an indoor pool. Our family requires a pool during our hotel stays. Not only is there a pool but also a large hot tub and a spa. The pool area had lots of comfortable lounge chairs and big fluffy towels to snuggle up in after our swim.

Don’t Forget Your Pup

One of the most exciting parts of our entire stay was bringing our dog Lexi. We’ve never taken her to the city so everything was very new to her. She was happy to keep watch over us at the big picture windows and snuggle in the beds while we were out of the room. I’m not saying she could be a city dog but she definitely had the best of the best at Conrad!

The things I’ll remember most about our stay with Conrad Indianapolis is how hospitable their staff was to us at every step of the way. Each person I spoke with was cheerful, kind and helpful. We had the opportunity to spend the entire day strolling around the mall shopping and eating without being worried about driving home. Our downtown trips area always so scheduled and by staying at Conrad we were able to slow down and let Sophia choose what we did. Turns out, room service, swimming, shopping and movies are all our family needs to have the perfect family staycation.

Other related posts:

Macaron Bar Downtown Indianapolis
Kids and Art Galleries| It’s Fun!

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