indianapolis Archives • Page 5 of 6 • diy mama

by Shelly on February 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

Rock Hunting at GeoFest at Indiana State Museum

Now that I’m a Mom I can clearly see why rocks are such treasures. Like my daughter, I would find rocks everywhere and ask my Mom to put them in her purse to bring home and add to my rock collection. I now find rocks in my car, pockets and purse all the time and I know they’re special treasures Sophia has found. Heart rocks are our favorite to collect.

Our family gravitates towards any museum exhibit featuring gems and minerals so we were especially excited to hear that GeoFest was coming to The Indiana State Museum.

The past few years we have been out of town for this event but am happy to have been invited this year by the ISM to check it out! We can’t wait to go rock hunting at The Indiana State Museum.

GeoFest at Indiana State Museum:

Open to the public Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Many special activities will be offered during GeoFest, including the opportunity to build a crystalline structure, make your own jewelry and geode, and participate in GeoFest trivia. Plus, enjoy special demonstrations on fluorescing minerals, naming fossils, and rocks and minerals in everyday life.
On Friday, visitors can enjoy a dig pit, learn about Salem microfossils, and create their own stratigraphy model in Rockin’ Through the Layers.On Saturday and Sunday, try your hand at our mastodon puzzle and practice mineral testing during a Get to Know Moh’s demonstration.

Let me know if you’ll be joining us at GeoFest at Indiana State Museum and what you’re most looking forward to. I’m positive Sophia and I will both choose a special rock to remember the day! Perhaps a Jade to symbolize her middle name.

Find more information on The Indiana State Museums website including a list of exhibitors that will be joining this year’s event!

(All photos courtesy of Indiana State Museum)

by Shelly on November 22, 2017 8 Comments

Indy is the new Chicago for Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping is in full force and Indianapolis is scoring all the right points for making your shopping experience fantastic this year. Greater Indianapolis has been growing by leaps and bounds in the past few years and this past year was no exception. With the addition of Ironworks Hotel that opened up in September, the Northside is giving Chicago a run for it’s money. We had the pleasure of checking out Ironworks hotel at a discount to test my theory of having all of the luxury of Chicago right here in Indianapolis. No need to take a bus up to Chicago and lug around massive shopping bags through Michigan Avenue anymore.

Lodging

The Northside of Indy is known for it’s amazing upscale dining and shopping but has only recently become the hot spot for hair salons, spas and hotels as well. The Ironworks Hotel welcomes guests to the new Indianapolis location to enjoy rooms and suites inspired by the 19th century capped off with industrial charm and modern amenities.

The 120 room boutique hotel will be host to three restaurants and a spa that offers facials and massages. Room prices will range from about $139 for a king-size traditional room to $1,500 for the premier founder’s suite on the fifth floor, which has a private bedroom and private terrace with a fire pit and a far-off view of Downtown Indianapolis.

We stayed in the Legacy Suite which has a King size bed and a living space. Both areas have a 65 inch TV for his and her viewing. The windows in this room allow ample light during the day but black out shades helped us sleep like babies through the night. Our favorite addition to the room were the hand crafted industrial pieces by The Rusty Truck like the end tables, desk and wine holders. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of the room was noticeable. It did not feel like a big box hotel which we love.

(photo courtesy of Ironworks Hotel)

Dining

The Ironworks Hotel property will have three restaurants once they’ve all opened. Rize was the health focused breakfast and lunch restaurant that we had the pleasure of enjoying Sunday morning. The food was phenomenal and we were happy to hear that a majority of their food is sourced from local growers. The hotel also plays host to Provision, another health conscious restaurant focused on sourcing from local farmers. Provision’s menu includes locally sourced products from Fischer Farms, Tyner Pond Farms, and Confectionaries, all passionate partners in regional restaurant development and growth in Indianapolis. They also showcase locally grown produce from Cunningham Restaurant Group’s own CRG Grow Greenhouse.

The third location, Blue Sushi Sake Grill, is due to open in late 2017. Sushi enthusiasts will appreciate Blue Sushi Sake Grill’s high-quality ingredients and fresh seafood. Along with traditional sushi selections, they are known for their growing list of tasty vegan-friendly and gluten-free fare.

(photo courtesy of Ironworks Hotel)

Pamper

After shopping all day you’ll want to make time for relaxing your worn out muscles. Massage Heights in Ironworks Hotel is the perfect resort for your massage and facial needs. Massage helps lower blood pressure, improve flexibility and increase endorphins along with loosening muscles. They’re currently running a grand opening special that includes a 1 hour massage for $25 (that is a $75 discount!)

If it’s your first time, be sure to get there at least 10 minutes early to fill out the paperwork. Members can enhance their massage or facial with various Elevations (from Hot Stone Therapy and Reviving Foot Scrubs to Revitalizing Face Massage and Active Therapy), as well as all-natural Aromatherapies designed with specific benefits in mind.

Shopping

Indy is the new Chicago for Holiday shopping. The Fashion Mall is the premier luxury shopping destination for the Indianapolis metro area, and Indiana. A dynamic retail fusion of ready-to-wear fashions, home decor and top technology. Boasting a unique mix of high-end anchors, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, top brands and luxury specialty retailers such as Burberry, Tiffany & Co, Raleigh Limited Menswear, BCBGMAXAZRIA, kate spade new york, Swatch, tumi, Coach and more. Fulfill all of your tech needs at The Apple Store and Microsoft store.

Some of my favorite stores are at Keystone Fashion mall including Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, MAC, Pottery Barn, The North Face and Lucky Brand. The Fashion Mall in Indianapolis has everything Chicago has without the traffic.

(photo courtesy of Simon Malls)

With Thanksgiving in a couple of days, our minds will quickly switch gears to shopping for the Holidays. Give yourself a break this year and experience your Holiday Shopping trip in luxury with fine dining, one-stop-shopping, a little pampering and a great night’s sleep.

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by Shelly on October 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

Spooky Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum Haunted House

Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum- Today I was invited to walk through the Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum Haunted House. I thought last year’s Cursed Castle was extremely thoughtful and well themed but this year’s Wicked Woods is frighteningly spooky.

Directly from The Children’s Museum:

After 54 years of haunting, the museum’s head witches have perfected their potion for all things spooky, and this year is no different! Starting October 7th, embark on a hike through the foreboding forest as you encounter campfires and caves, creatures and cabins, terrible tales and haunted trails. Grab your packs and get your gear ready!

The Haunted House offers IPL’s Lights-On Hours (for children who scare easily) and AAA Frightening Hours (with lights off, for children who dare to be scared). Tickets are $8 at the door. All tickets are available at The Children’s Museum Box Office or online.

Ticket Information:

Members receive a 10% discount.
Discount tickets are available at Indianapolis-area Old National Bank branches.
Haunted House tickets are separate from museum admission. Museum admission not required.
Children age 13 and under must be accompanied through the Haunted House by a paying adult.
Children under the age of 2 are free.

My Thoughts on Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum Haunted House

I scare easily so The Children’s Museum Haunted House is the only haunted house I will ever visit. I was not able to walk through the Wicked Woods on my own, despite the playful Halloween music they were playing. The details were seriously spooky. I tried picturing it with the lights out and scare-ers throughout and I was terrified. Thankfully The Children’s Museum offers both experiences because I know many people that like to be spooked. For the Lights-On experiences there are friendly witches that have treats and will tell jokes throughout the walk-through. There is also a sweet raccoon that you can find in each room to use as a scavenger hunt distraction.

If you’re interested in learning more about being a scare-er, check out The Children’s Museum Guild for more information. They are the ones who work tirelessly planning the next year’s Haunted House a day after this year closes. They work day and night starting in September to completely build and transform that exhibit space into the masterpiece it is for us to experience. Other events revolving around Wicked Woods: Black Hat Bash, Friendly Feast with the Witches and Black Hat Dash.

Let me know your favorite tradition when visiting The Children’s Museum Haunted House and be sure to tag #HauntedTCM and @TCMIndy or @childrensmuseum when you come to visit Wicked Woods!

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Before You Go: Conner Prairie

We’re very lucky to be living in a town with awesome attractions for families. Both Sophie and I are adventurers and would prefer to be out around people than at home. This means we spend a lot of time exploring Indianapolis. Our favorite local spot is Conner Prairie. If you follow me on social media you’ll constantly see photos of this Historical Living Museum. I’ve shared the Top 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Go over at Hamilton County Tourism.

March 28th is Opening Day for the season! You’d better believe we’ll be there wearing our rain coats! Remember to tag your photos with #DiscoverCP when visiting and look for Soph and I.

by Shelly on February 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

The Public Collection

There is a lot that I love about Indy. I love the restaurants, shopping, sporting events, concerts and museums. Most of all, I love that there are so many free attractions in the city. Last August something wonderful happened-art and literacy joined together in making The Public Collection. The Public Collection is a series of nine micro-libraries throughout the city where anyone can borrow and return a book. They are indoor and outdoor sculptures that Indiana based artists created to house books provided by the Indianapolis Public Library. My goal is to visit all nine this spring and summer with Jeffrey and Soph. We’ve already seen a few and have even checked out a couple books. I’ve shared more info at Indy’s Child on where to find these gems. Let me know if you’ve visited any or if your city has anything similar.

The Public Collection

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Rock Hunting at GeoFest at Indiana State Museum

GeoFest at Indiana State Museum:

Indy is the new Chicago for Holiday Shopping

Lodging

Dining

Pamper

Shopping

Spooky Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum Haunted House

Directly from The Children’s Museum:

My Thoughts on Wicked Woods at The Children’s Museum Haunted House

Before You Go: Conner Prairie

The Public Collection

The Public Collection

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