travel Archives • diy mama

by Shelly on August 22, 2019 2 Comments

How I Do a Girls Day Out in Indy | North Side

Indianapolis is improving by leaps and bounds each year. I’m starting a new series on the blog with my favorite locations to visit around the city. This first series is Girls Day Out in Indy- North Side which encompasses anywhere north of the 456 loop.

This itinerary can be tweaked if you just need a day out to yourself, you want to have a mommy/daughter date or if you want to have a day out with your girls!

Girls Day Out in Indy – North Side

Morning:

Breakfast at Wild Eggs. Wild Eggs has a few locations but we particularly like the Fishers location and are very happy when they have $2 Fresh Squeezed OJ Mimosas. Rosie’s Place in Noblesville and Cafe Patachou (right next to where we’re headed next) are also great choices.

Pampering at DryBar is up next. DryBar is a blow-out salon that washes your hair and styles it for $45. My hair always lasts 4 days after getting a blow out with DryBar which is well worth the money! They also serve wine and always have great romcoms playing on the TVs.

Treat yo self at DeBrand Fine Chocolate. I have a thing for chocolate and DeBrand chocolates are my favorite ANYWHERE (and I’ve had fine chocolates in Vegas and Disney). My very favorite truffle is the Macadamia Hazelnut Truffle. You really can’t go wrong with any of the chocolates though. They also have chocolate dipped ice cream cones and the chocolate is heavenly. TIP: If it’s not hot in your car, get some to go for later or to share with your family.

After you’re buzzing from chocolate head over to Mi Nail Salon for a mani and pedi. You’ll need reservations for DryBar and breakfast but Mi Nails is very flexible with pushing back appointments if you’re running late. Make sure to request side by side seating so you can sit with your girls. They also have soda, water and wine to enjoy while being pampered.

Girls Day Out in Indy- North Side — Rize

Noon

Lunch at Flamme Burger will hit the spot. If you’re not super hungry, split a Chicken Sandwich or Bacon Cheese Burger. Their meals are large. They don’t own a freezer so all of the food is super fresh and so tasty.

Walk off some of those calories from lunch at the Fashion Mall at Keystone. As Indiana’s premier luxury destination with 120+ stores you’re sure to find a few you love. Some of my favorites are Crate and Barrel, Anthropology, Free People, M.A.C., Kate Spade and West Elm.

After a day of shopping I would want to take my bags back to the hotel and rest a little before getting ready to go out for the night. There are a lot of really nice hotels near the mall but my favorite is Ironworks Hotel. As an industrial modern boutique hotel, they’re such a fun place to stay. Some of my favorite amenities are that they’re pet friendly, there is a Massage Heights next door and they have two amazing fine dining restaurants (Rize for breakfast/lunch and Provision for dinner).

Evening

Dinner is the hardest part of this entire day because there are so many award winning restaurants on the north side of Indy. I have yet to try all of them so I will only suggest places that I’ve been knowing that there are many more worth your time. If you’re looking to go all out, we loved our experience at Ocean Prime. From the service to the food, everything was outstanding. My recommendations are the Bubbles and Berries cocktail, Smoked Gouda Tater Tots, Point Judith Calamari, the Peanut Butter Pie and the Warm Butter Cake. The entrees were amazing too but what I just mentioned were beyond delicious.

If you’ve already spent most of your budget for the day Late Harvest Kitchen, The Melting Pot (fondue) and Provisions (really great cocktails and outside patio area) are all high on my list of favorite restaurants.

Have you been to the north side of Indianapolis? If so, what are your favorite spots?

Honorable mentions: Main St Poke, Bubs Burgers (the best shakes), riding bikes on The Monon, Conner Prairie for family fun.

Other posts related to Girls Day Out in Indy- North Side:

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by Shelly on October 26, 2018 5 Comments

Why Staying on Property at Disney is the Best Decision

Why Staying on Property at Disney is the Best Decision- I was invited by Walt Disney Special Events to attend a private preview of Pandora – World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, but all opinions and photos are my own.

Disney World resorts offer guests many benefits you won’t find staying at other hotels in Orlando. We’ve stayed at several Disney resorts and found that while each offers it’s own unique experience, there’s a resort to fit every family’s needs. I have been to Disney World 11 times, not counting the 6 months I lived there and frequented the parks and resorts. I have visited, if not stayed, at every WDW Resort property other than the campsites at Fort Wilderness (which is on my bucket list!) We have also stayed off property as a kid and an adult. This last trip solidified that I will never stay off property again.

Here is a list of reasons why you should choose a Disney resort when planning your Disney vacation:

Why Staying on Property at Disney is the Best Decision

MAGICAL EXPRESS

We’ll start at the first bit of Disney magic you encounter upon landing at MCO. In the planning stages when guests are booking their reservations and buying tickets, they’ll also have the chance to sign up for Magical Express tickets for free. The Magical Express is the large air conditioned bus that whisks you off to your resort. Simultaneously, your checked bags are taken to your resort and placed in your rooms before check-in. TIP: I suggest always taking carry-on but if you must check luggage, be sure to bring a bag with everything you may need for the parks (including swim suits) as your carry-on.

COMPLIMENTARY TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

My number one reason for staying on property is their complimentary transportation. Guests can avoid the hassle of driving and parking, and save time and money. You’ll have your choice of riding a bus, boat or monorail within Disney property. Parking is also free for guests of Disney resorts. Standard parking throughout the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs and hotel areas is complimentary for resort guests.

MAGIC BANDS

Magic Bands are great for convenience and efficiency around Disney World. With your magic band, you’re able to:

Unlock the door of your Disney Resort hotel room.
Enter theme and water parks (with valid admission).
Check in at FastPass+ entrances.
Connect Disney PhotoPass images to your account.
Charge food and merchandise purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room (only available during your hotel stay).

It makes it especially easy when you’re trying to balance a child and souvenirs and snacks to just use your magic band without having to dig around for a card.

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS

All resort guests are invited to visit the parks before or after the normal public hours. Extra magic hours are especially great for new attraction openings like Pandora-World of Avatar. Resort guests are able to see the World of Avatar an hour before the public enters the land! This means, you can get less wait time on your favorite attractions if you’re unable to get a fastpass.

FASTPASS+

You can go on the best rides without waiting in any lines with a FastPass+. Simply schedule your passes 60 days prior to your vacation (30 days before non-resort guests). If you are a first time WDW vacationer or you have a special must-do ride, you might leave it up to a Disney travel planner to make sure you have the best chance of getting that attraction’s FastPass.

SPECIAL AMENITIES

Each resort has it’s own special amenities that make that property unique. As you go up in price from a budget friendly resort to a deluxe resort, more amenities are added. When I visited Board Walk Resort their amenities really impressed me. We visited:

Jellyrolls– a dueling piano bar for 21+
Flying Fish– a newly renovated contemporary American restaurant serving premium sustainable seafood and prime steaks
Boardwalk Bakery– a quaint shop with baked goods, soups, salads and sandwiches
Abracadabar– a fun magician themed bar where the bartenders do tricks and the theming is top notch
Trattoria al Forno– casual Italian eatery offering dinner from an open window kitchen as well as an all-new Character Breakfast (the only location you can find Princess Rapunzel and Princess Ariel with their princes!)

Aside from those fantastic amenities, there is a wonderful pool with slide, arcade room with VR games, yoga on the brand new green turf grass, family bicycles and much more! My favorite amenities of any resort are the options to nap (or swim) and do laundry. Being able to do these two things helps us last from rope drop to after the fireworks without being zombies.

RESORT THEMING

Each resort has its own theme, staff, and activities that remind you that you’re still in Disney World. If there’s anything you know about Disney, it’s that they do not skimp on theming. Their resorts are no exception and they go above in helping you feel the Disney magic. If you are bringing children, I highly suggest staying at the Art of Animation resort where all their favorite Disney characters are huge statues throughout the resort. The suites are laid out to make sure everyone has enough space with sleeping for 6 adults and two full bathrooms. Plus, their pool is the best and biggest on Disney property with underwater speakers so you can hear the tunes down below!

GREAT LOCATION

The less time you waste on travel, the more time you have enjoying WDW with your family. The Disney resorts are sprinkled all across Disney property making it convenient to get from your resort to the park. If you know you’ll be spending multiple days at Magic Kingdom, you’re able to choose a resort near that park (possibly even stay at The Contemporary where you can walk!)

CELEBRATING

Disney is known for making celebrations extra special. Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, and graduations, among other things, at Walt Disney World is extremely popular, and for good reason. Be sure to tell a cast member what you’ll be celebrating on the phone while making initial plans (or online). When we checked in at the resort during one vacation the front desk lady saw we were celebrating our anniversary and congratulated us. I’d asked if we could transfer to a room closer to the buses and she was able to upgrade us to a suite that was right off the main pool by the buses! Things that should be planned in advance are add-ons like cakes, gifts, flowers, or other surprises. Cakes can be ordered by calling the cake hotline at 407-827-CAKE (407-827-2253), and everything else is possible via Disney Floral & Gifts. We were surprised with chocolate dipped strawberries, champagne and Mickey champagne flutes in our room after we returned from getting engaged in Magic Kingdom. Disney makes it super easy and quick for someone to call up and send something special on a short notice. You don’t have to use the Disney Floral & Gifts department to add a special touch. The last time we went, I’d purchased Disney PJs, an autograph book, some treats and a light up Cinderella before heading to Disney and set it up as a gift from Tinkerbell while we were out at the parks on our first day.

I’d love to know your favorite reasons to stay on Walt Disney World Resort property. What about it makes you save up a little bit longer so you’re able to stay on property?

For more Disney related posts:

Inside Out Memory Orb Cake
Surviving Disney with a Toddler
Disney Park Tips

by Shelly on July 6, 2018 1 Comment

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

Road Trip Snacks for Kids- With summer underfoot we’re all planning where to go and who to see. One of my all time favorite memories growing up were the road trips that my family would take in the summer. We would take out the middle seat of our Astro Van and load in all the luggage, snacks, games and dog to head out on an adventure. My sister and I would take naps, play games, sing and have an awesome time while Mom and Dad navigated the way to our destination. We would mostly drive to see family in Michigan, Oklahoma or to camping trips. One year we drove to Disney World and that was especially memorable.

I’ve now continued on the tradition with my own family. First, with my husband and now with our daughter. One integral part of road tripping is choosing the right snacks. My husband and I always had our go-to snacks that were a requirement for any long ride. Mt. Dew and a Kit Kat for him and Sunkist and Almond Joy for myself (and likely a bag of pizza combos for substance). Now that we have a daughter adventuring with us, we need to think more logically about our nutrition and what will sustain us happily for our travels.

What I’ve learned, as a Mom to a four year old, is that if you ask them ‘what would you like to eat?’ the answer is always ‘McDonald’s with chocolate milk!’ This is why on our road trips we now bring along our snacks and there is not thinking about where to stop. The best thing ever is to prep the snacks at home so it’s a surprise when they open them on the ride. We like to put the snacks in a bento box or tackle box with little dividers so there are lots of options but not a ton of food. Best for clean up as well as multiple choices.

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

Popcorn (the Cousin Willie’s White Cheddar Popcorn is the best you’ll ever have)
Nuts (you can do a mixed nut or go fancy with the coco covered almonds)
Bananas (fruit is kind of hard to keep fresh but bananas are perfect because they come in their own container)
Trail Mix (we mix sunflower seeds, cranberries and chocolate chips)
Candy of their choice (we let her pick out one candy to take with on the trip so she’s not begging for treats every time she sees a billboard for ice cream)

On of the best parts about this is that there is no waste on the trip and no plastic waste from the purchase. The only waste is the popcorn bag. The rest of the snacks can all be purchased in bulk. If you’re joining the ‘Plastic Free July‘ challenge you can still travel and have snacks without plastic waste! What other snacks does your family bring with you on road trips? I’d love to know any tips you might have for smooth family travels as well!

This is not a sponsored post but there are affiliate links to my favorite snacks on Amazon. Photo credit goes to Upsplash.

Related posts to Road Trip Snacks for Kids:

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by Shelly on March 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Queen Reins at Medieval Times

Let the tournament begin! There’s a new Queen in charge at the Medieval Times in Chicagoland!

Our first stop on our ‘One Tank Trip’ this year was Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL. Medieval Times was gracious enough to host us when we’d told them how excited we were to see the new queen in charge at their location. We’ve been subtly (and not so subtly) pointing out women in leadership roles to Sophia and knew this would also be a fun family outing to kick off Spring! We love Medieval Times (we even went for one of our anniversaries)!

Family Fun at Medieval Times

When you go, I highly suggest upgrading to VIP status. It allows you to sit in preferred front row seating and you get a snazzy cheering banner for your knight. We had an amazingly close up view of all the knights and horses and had special preference over the rest of the cheering section. Let’s just say a four year old little girl has her first crush on the Blue Knight after receiving a yellow flower (“He kissed it Mommy!”) and a sash marking her as the Blue Knight’s Queen of the Tournament. It was definitely the highlight of our trip! You’re also able to pay a couple dollars extra per person for a tour of the dungeons before the show begins but it is not suggested for children (or weak stomachs like mine). Before the show we did get a chance to buy a Queen’s crown for Sophia and stop by to see the horses while they were having a snack. You also have the opportunity before and after the show to get family portraits with members of the tournament or to be knighted by the Queen herself.

Besides the thrill of knights jousting on horses and a hawk flying just inches over your head, you’ll be surprised by the quality of the feast for dinner. With an appetizer of Dragon’s Blood (tomato soup) to start you off, you quickly see a theme of eating a meal of various parts of a dragon (with no utensils)! The serving wenches are incredibly helpful and are as much a part of the show as the men and women in the tournament.

What’s Happening at Medieval Times

In a major break from Medieval Times’ 34-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role, the company has revealed that a queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land. She is cast as a firm but kind ruler respected throughout the kingdom who inherited the throne at the passing of her father, the previous king.

“Where previously our female characters played in more supportive roles, we are now showing a woman fully in charge, a woman whose authority is sometimes challenged, but she quickly rises to the occasion as a strong leader, squelching opposition,” says Leigh Cordner, Medieval Times show director.

Jousting, fighting, horsemanship, swordplay and a fresh, hot, four-course feast remain central elements of the dinner attraction. With the cast and script change come a series of other significant changes to the show:

More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers including horses, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated costume shop near Dallas Design District.
200 new suits of armor, shields, and helmets, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated armory in Florida.
More than 350 team members and 225 horses train and rehearse new lines and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the current show.
It takes two months to teach a queen to ride an Andalusian stallion.
New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member Solomia Gorokhivska, and a solo cellist and violin player from Pittsburgh.
The audience experiences a live action film score that is precisely synchronized with every element of the show, from lights to fights; jousts to jabs; the Queen’s entry to curtain closings; and more.
The sound and light team spends 120 hours programming 300 new music cues and 500 new lighting cues.

For more information on showtimes and locations head to Medieval Times website and snag your VIP tickets today! Better yet, I’m giving away a family four pack on my Instagram. Head over to my profile for a chance to win!

by Shelly on August 25, 2017 1 Comment

Kings Island with Little Kids

Kings Island with Little Kids- I was invited by Cedar Fair to attend Kings Island-Largest Amusement & Waterpark in the Midwest , but all opinions and photos are my own.

The days of easily spending 12 hours thrill ride hopping are over but with it comes a new way of visiting amusement parks. We let our three year old be the guide while at Kings Island and were pleasantly surprised by all there was to experience. We spent most of the day in Planet Snoopy while still having a little time for Soak City Waterpark in the middle of the day. Here are a few tips and suggestions that we learned from our trip:

How to Save at Kings Island:

Tickets– one of the biggest ways to save is through tickets. The best place to find discounted tickets is online or at Kroger. If will be visiting the park more than once in a year it would be beneficial to buy a season pass. Right now you can save big on the 2018 season pass.
Food- In the past we have always eaten a hearty breakfast before our drive, packed a lunch in the car and had dinner in the parks. We always travel with our Camelbak full of water and refill at water fountains throughout the park. This year we decided to try out the All Day Dining Pass which allowed us a meal every 90 minutes for $30. We got only one, knowing that our daughter eats very little, and we could buy a snack if needed. The Dining Pass is only good for certain meals at certain locations. We also purchased the refillable souvenir cup where we were able to refill with lemonade or pop whenever we wanted. You can also get free ice water at any vendor. The downside with this plan was the limited food options (pizza, fries, burger, chicken fingers, hot dogs). The food did not fuel our family well enough to stay energized for the long hours of walking around and sensory stimulation.

TIP: If your Dining Pass wristband is loose, have them put on another. I lost ours when it slipped off at Soak City after only two meals. Set a timer on your phone for 90 minutes to remind you when you can get your next meal to maximize your value.

Time- Time is money if you’re visiting Kings Island for one day. We spent a lot of unnecessary time walking to and from our vehicle. Knowing we wanted to do rides, go to Soak City to cool off during the hot afternoon and then back to the rides meant we had to change clothes. Our suggestion is to get a locker near Rendezvous Run at Soak City ($15) at the beginning of your day. Having your swim gear in that central location between Planet Snoopy and Soak City will eliminate the long walks to the car.

Tips While at Kings Island:

Lunch and a Show– get lunch and a great viewing spot of the shows ahead of time. Planning your meal around a show gives you a mandatory break to eat, cool off and rest while viewing awesome entertainment. I recommend getting in line for food 45 minutes to an hour before the show starts.
Kings Island App- like most amusement parks, Kings Island has their own free app that has a map, car locator, wait times and other info. A major improvement would be for them to add which rides are closed. We went at the end of the summer when things were slowing down and there were many rides closed due to low attendance. For example, at Soak City, 1/3 of the attractions were closed because of predicted low attendance. This meant the lines for the other attractions were still long despite there being ‘low crowds.’ It wasn’t worth our time to go over to experience only two attractions.
2 Days- If you have kids who love the water park (check out the cabanas) or are able to go on bigger rides, I highly recommend getting a hotel and splitting your time between two days. If we were able to do more at Soak City we would have wanted to do two days.

Overall we had a blast at Kings Island and I’m so happy to report that it is just as fun to go as a parent as it is as a teenager! If you’ve got any other ways to save or tips, please share them! I would love to know for future trips and to share with others.

How I Do a Girls Day Out in Indy | North Side

Girls Day Out in Indy – North Side

Morning:

Noon

Evening

Why Staying on Property at Disney is the Best Decision

Why Staying on Property at Disney is the Best Decision

MAGICAL EXPRESS

COMPLIMENTARY TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

MAGIC BANDS

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS

FASTPASS+

SPECIAL AMENITIES

RESORT THEMING

GREAT LOCATION

CELEBRATING

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

The Queen Reins at Medieval Times

Family Fun at Medieval Times

What’s Happening at Medieval Times

Kings Island with Little Kids

How to Save at Kings Island:

Tips While at Kings Island:

Life Planner

Preschool Montessori Bedroom

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