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

Shelly

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Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie

Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie is off to a great start this summer! The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and guests perform every weekend of the summer from June 16th through September 3rd. I recently shared an post at VisitHamiltonCo with what you should Know Before You Go.  I wanted to share a few more tips here that I’ve learned from going the past couple years.

Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie

5 Things You Should Know about Symphony on the Prairie

I have linked our favorite items to bring to Symphony on the Prairie with affiliate links. I will only promote items we use and love on DIY Mama. This is not a sponsored post.

  1. Ride Your Bike- If you’re close enough and have good safety lights/reflectors on your bike you should consider riding to the concert. You will be able to easily bypass parking traffic on entering and exiting the venue. We were able to pile all of our necessities in the bike trailer with our daughter and it made for a special little spot for her to play with toys when she got restless. 
  2. Get up close- It’s often intimidating to get up close to the orchestra members during a performance at the Hilbert Theater. At Conner Prairie you have the chance to show your children the performers in action by getting close to the stage. Check out the Teddy Bear series for preschoolers as well as Community Concerts (free) where families can learn more about playing in the orchestra. 
  3. BYOT- Bring your own treats! Although Conner Prairie has concessions at the event, there’s nothing like packing your own picnic for an outdoor concert. I’ve seen everything from people bringing in Jimmy John’s to people setting up a table with candles, linens and place settings for a gourmet meal! Our favorite treats are chicken salad on croissants, potato salad, frozen grapes and chocolate covered strawberries.
  4. Bring the fun- Symphony on the Prairie is a great chance to introduce young children to the arts. It’s a wide open area for children to be able to dance and sing as they wish. We like to bring light up toys like Lite Brite or Crayola Light Up Drawing Pad. If we know we’re in a kid zone or it’s an especially kid friendly event, we’ll break out the light up balloons and glow necklaces.
  5. Let your family choose- Check the Symphony on the Prairie series lineup and ask your family which ones they want to attend. The ISO performs their top concerts each year (John Williams and Beatles) so if you aren’t able to attend multiple you won’t miss out. The Star Spangled Symphony is an awesome event. Very kid friendly and they have an amazing firework show.

Tickets can be purchased at ISO online or at central Indiana Kroger locations. Accessible parking is available with golf cart transportation to and from the gates. For more information, please contact the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at 317.639.4300. Be sure to tag photos with #SOTP and #DiscoverCP and enjoy the show!

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Camping at Brown County State Park

Camping at Brown County State Park in Nashville Indiana makes for the perfect weekend. I would recommend staying at least 3 nights to get the most of your stay as there is so much to do. Indiana’s largest park is nicknamed ‘Lil Smokies’ for it’s 16,000 acres of rugged hills, deep ravines and scenic vistas overlooking miles of uninterrupted forestland. Large campgrounds, hiking and mountain biking trails, a saddle barn for guided horse rides and a separate horseman campground with 70 miles of horse trails are some of the things that make Brown County State Park popular year-round.

Camping at Brown County State Park*Our favorite sites are highlighted in the map above*

Camping at Brown County State Park

The Site

This past weekend we took our pop-up camper and shared a site with friends who had a tent. Although I do suggest checking out the sites ahead of time, many of them are large enough for two families. Ours was perfect as it was flat, shaded, relatively close to the bathrooms (but  not too close) and was far away from the main area which meant there weren’t many cars driving around our site.  TIP: Sites near culdesacs mean less traffic so kids can ride bikes and scooters safely. Make sure you check ‘driveway grade’ when reserving your site. If it says ‘sloped’ or ‘slight angle’ that could mean you’re on a hill. Hills aren’t as big of a deal with a camper but pay attention if you’re tent camping.

The site had pit toilets near by but there were also showers and normal toilets near by. We were able to easily walk to the playground that is nicely tucked away in the trees in a nice shady spot. Bike trails surround the playground making it a fun hiking obstacle course for kids.

 

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

The Park

Brown County State Park is the kind of park you can go any time of year and it is absolutely stunning. I’ve heard it’s highest season is during the fall when all of their trees have turned beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. I’ve been during the winter where everything is blanketed in soft white snow. The sledding hills at Brown County are awesome. During the spring and summer you can spot various types of wildflowers on the trails after learning about them at the Nature Center. There is a small wild flower garden marked with the flower names right by the Nature Center (keep going and you’ll see a beautiful vista view behind the center).

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

We’re putting together a binder of maps with all of our favorite sites. Where are your favorite parks to camp? What do you look for in a park?

camping checklist
Print out this free Family Camping Checklist for your summer trip!

Camping at Brown County State Park

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New Exhibits at The Children’s Museum- American Pop Culture and Dance

New Exhibits at The Children’s Museum- American Pop Culture and Dance will open Saturday June 17th, 2017. We were invited by The Children’s Museum to view the exhibits in a media preview. Photos may be used with my consent. 

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis never ceases to amaze me. Since moving back to Indy two years ago, we have been to the museum no less than 30 times and we’ve yet to be bored. There’s always something new to see and this Saturday they will be revealing their newest exhibit The Galleries for American Arts and Popular Culture, featuring a permanent exhibit- American POP– and a temporary exhibit- DANCE!

American POP

American POP

I have no doubt that every single person who visits American POP will have an emotional reaction to this exhibit; whether it’s the music, fashion or artifacts, there is something interesting for everyone. America POP is divided into four categories:

  • TV, Film, and Music: Some shows, songs, and movies remain popular across generations. I remember watching Star Trek with my parents as a kid and John William’s score to Star Wars still gets me excited! TIP: Have teens that don’t typically enjoy tagging along at TCM? This will be the spot for them.
  • Fashion and Textiles: Fashion trends can be a reflection of cultural values, technology, or events of the time. This section is a great example of how trends fade and return, such as, mini skirts, platform shoes and leggings.
  • Comics, Art and Literature: How do we use popular culture? Families surround themselves with products, merchandise, and reading material that reflects their personality.  The museum holds more than 14,000 comic books in its Max Simon Collection.

comic book collection at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis American POP Culture

Comic Book American POP Exhibit at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

New Exhibit at Children's Museum- American Pop and Dance

‘Batman, Barbie, Hot Wheels, LEGOs, and Star Wars are multi-generational characters and stories shared by grandparents, parents and their children. Because these characters and stories are ‘evergreen,’ they provide a wonderful means for families to engage with each other and discuss how the stories are the same and how they may have changed over time,’ said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, the Children’s Museum.

 Comic Book American POP Exhibit at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Star Wars at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis American POP Culture

Star Trek at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis American POP Culture

Inside the exhibit you’ll also see:

  • See comics from the Max Simon Comic Book Collection
  • Put yourself in a digital comic book scene
  • Explore toys and memorabilia from the museum’s newly acquired Batman collection
  • Discover how superheroes like Wonder Woman have changed with the times
  • Design your own fashions
  • Compare songs of different styles and eras
  • Predict movie plots
  • See iconic outfits worn by music stars or in popular films
  • Try-on the fads of another generation
  • And more!

Dance! exhibit at Children's Museum

DANCE!

As a former high school show choir member, I have a very special place in my heart for dance. Bright lights, performing, hair, makeup, adrenaline and then losing all of that anxiety when the music starts and your body just does the rest. Dance still brings me joy as a Mom during our afternoon dance breaks or watching my daughter’s first ballet class.

DANCE! is a separate temporary exhibit (June 17, 2017–April 2018) that opens alongside The Galleries for American Arts & Popular Culture. There, families will have an opportunity to learn many different types of dance moves as well as how those dances tell a story, express emotions ,and build relationships. Learn some of the most popular dance moves through instructional videos within the exhibit.

Dance! Exhibit at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis(Photo: The Children’s Museum)

Some of the dances through the decades that will be featured include:

  • The Charleston (20s-30s)
  • Swing (40s)
  • Twist (50s-60s)
  • Hustle (70s)
  • Macarena (80s-90s)
  • Chicken Noodle Soup (2000s-present)

These two amazing side-by-side exhibits work so well together. The American POP exhibit will consistently be rotating artifacts to keep the exhibit exciting as well as to preserve the objects from light damage. We will be coming back several times to spot all the new objects and to freshen up on our Macarena skills.

For more information about The Children’s Museum, visit their website or follow them on Twitter @TCMIndy, Instagram @childrensmuseum, YouTube.com/IndyTCM, and Facebook.

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Summer Concerts at Klipsch in Noblesville

Summer concerts at Klipsch are almost a requirement if you live anywhere near Noblesville. Luckily, I live by no less than 30 music venues within an hour’s drive. My favorite venues tend to be outdoor because of the ‘laid back’ feel. Klipsch has the best of both worlds with seats under an awning as well as lawn seats.

Like any new venue, be sure to check out the Klipsch Music Center rules. TIP: They allow food and drinks into most concerts!

My first concert was Johhny Cougar Mellencamp. Definitely a Hoosier.

I’ve shared the 5 things you need to know before visiting Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville over at Visit Hamilton County Indiana.

2017 Summer Concerts at Klipsch:

Klipsch 2017 concert series

Click KLIPSCH-2017 for the free printable to hang on your fridge! Make sure you don’t miss out!

Summer Concerts at Klipsch

 

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No Bake Mulberry Cheesecake

No Bake Mulberry Cheesecake is my new favorite summer treat. Each year I make a mulberry dessert with the berries I’ve harvested. It all started with my childhood summer nights. My sister and I would ride our bikes along the cornfield to this area of trees that lined the road. The gravel road was speckled in purple polka-dots from the fallen berries. We would stand there and eat handfuls at a time, leaving our hands and faces stained purple. Once full, we’d head out to the field to chase fireflies. It was the best.

Each summer I relive those childhood summer memories once I see the mulberries turning dark. Now that I have a child of my own, I want to share those memories with her and begin new memories. She helped me pick (but mostly eat) the mulberries I used for this quick no bake mulberry cheesecake.

No Bake Mulberry Cheesecake

No Bake Mulberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust: store bought graham cracker crust or you can make it homemade using this recipe from Crazy for Crust.

Cheesecake Filling: 

  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature (but not warm)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup cold heavy whipping cream

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl with an electric handheld mixer (or stand mixer), mix the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth and light, 2-3 minutes. Add the sour cream and whipping cream and mix until very thick and creamy, 4-5 minutes.
  2. Spread the filling evenly into the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
  3.  Serve with blueberries or mulberries on top. I didn’t pick enough mulberries so I had to mix in some blueberries.
    TIP: You can also mix the berries into the cheesecake. I also like throwing all the berries in a container with 1/4-1/2 cup of sugar overnight to let them macerate turning them into a fruity syrup you can then drizzle on top.

For more awesome summer dessert recipes, follow my Desserts + Drinks board on Pinterest:

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No Bake Mulberry Cheesecake

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