Tag Archives: animals

Jul23

Akron Zoo Adventure

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Akron Zoo Adventure

Hi! I recently visited the Akron Zoo and, honestly, it forever blows my mind that we have the most lovely zoo a few minutes beyond the central hub of downtown Akron. In the midst of all of that hustle and bustle there are lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! And it’s so easy to forget where you are after spending a few hours walking around the zoo. It’s always a shock to the senses to leave and be right smack dab in the middle of hospitals, universities, restaurants, and event venues! This particular trip to the zoo was very noteworthy as a few new animals were introduced, one being intentional and the other not so much. Check it out:

Lol! Cheese!!!

Baby Leuco getting the hang of swinging!

My dinosaur robot friend!

What is a cat doing…?

Especially in the bald eagle enclosure!!!

As we made our rounds throughout the zoo, it was a delight to see so many new additions including mountain lions, porcupines, chinchillas, tamarins, conures, and white-faced sakis. The Akron Zoo has been expanding so nicely over the past several years and it will even be the home to giraffes in 2028. I can’t wait! After saying hello to all of the new animals the zoo has introduced this past year, we came upon a creature from the land of old with a modern update – a dinosaur robot! The Akron Zoo hosts the Dino Trek every year featuring huge animatronic dinosaurs and the baby robots are brand new this year. The zookeepers put on demonstrations to “train” the dinosaurs and attendants young and old so enjoyed the show. It was so cute to see this little buddy toddling all around and I wish I could get one as a pet lol.

After exploring the bottom portion of the zoo, it was time to climb the hill into Grizzly Bear Ridge to see grizzlies, otters, wolves, coyotes, and bald eagles. We definitely got more than we bargained for in the bald eagle exhibit as there was a stray cat inside!! I have no idea how this kitty cat got into the habitat to begin with but it was there and sipping on water in the pond. Blessedly, a zookeeper was already aware of the cat intruder and was able to get it out safely. Thank goodness because as much as I would have loved to see an unlikely animal friendship form, this was not the time or place for the cat!!

The last exciting occurrence happened at the final stop of our adventure, the East Asia exhibit which is home to a family of white-cheeked gibbons. At the end of June of last year, baby Leuco was born and it has been so cool to see him grow. This one year old is on the move now and after many visits of seeing him tucked in his mom’s arms, he has started swinging! Leuco was jumping and swinging all over his huge enclosure while his proud parents watched on from the side. I think they were both feeling happy to have a break while he played and entertained everyone passing by. I could have watched him for forever!!

This was an Akron Zoo Adventure, for sure, and I am so looking forward to even more improvements to this absolute gem in our city!

Has your zoo welcomed new animals recently? Which zoo do you like to go to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Safari Chic OOTD

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Safari Chic OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Sunday, my entire family enjoyed a wonderful time at Playhouse Square seeing The Lion King. It was nothing short of a miraculous performance and we are all still raving about it! When we took our girl squad to see Toy Story 5, I decided to create an OOTD themed around my favorite character, Jessie. Everyone got such a kick out of it that I went the themed route again for The Lion King! Although I don’t have any character specific clothing or accessories, I could do a fashion interpretation and came up with this Safari Chic look. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Jumpsuit: Japna, TJMaxx

Hat: Peter Grimm, TJMaxx

Heels that you can’t see lol: Made, TJMaxx

Snake Wrap Cuff: Earthbound, My sister got this for me in New Orleans!

The giraffe cuff was purchased forever ago from Target and the feather earrings were a hand me down from my sister!

When I think of the animals in The Lion King, my mind goes to a safari adventure and I had the perfect something in mind to match the vibes: My Japna jumpsuit! This little number is giving safari with style with the classic light khaki color, stitching, and deep front pockets. My only gripe with this jumpsuit? It is SO long!! I always wear it with the tallest heels I own and they forever remain invisible under all of that fabric. Regardless of the length, I do love this jumpsuit and the ease of wearing one. Literally all I had to do was accessorize and then it was off to the theater!

To up the ante on this OOTD, the accessories was where I was going to have some fun. As I had the safari theme in mind, I just needed a hat to “wear” and selected a gorgeous wide brimmed one by Peter Grimm. It would be uncouth to wear a hat on your head in the theater but mine could be worn on my back thanks to this hat’s toggle strap! This approach further enhanced the safari aesthetic with a fashion twist. Although you can’t see the shoes, I went for a strappy pair of heels that actually featured a bit of zebra print on the bottom straps. Once again, blame it on the fabric but I knew that this pattern was there and it was another feather in my safari cap. 😀

Like the animal print on my invisible heels, I chose all animal inspo everything for jewelry. I put on a pretty pair of dangly feathered earrings compliments of my sister and lived for that added drama right by my face. I also adorned my arms with some cuff bracelets, one of which being a snake and the other being a giraffe. These playful additions tied my Fashion Safari look altogether and I am so pleased with how it turned out. This OOTD was made completely with items I have had for years and I’m genuinely shook that I had a full blown safari fit just waiting for the right occasion to be worn!

The Lion King? Spectacular. The fashion? Inspired! Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel!

What do you wear on a dress up occasion? Do you have a special event coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul6

Nature Walk

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Nature Walk

Hi! My brother, Andrew, and I are avid hikers and it is our absolute favorite form of exercise. There is nothing better than hitting the beautiful trails in our neck of the woods and chatting away while immersed in nature and it’s safe to say that I live for our biweekly walks. We have recently decided to travel thirty minutes or so to explore even more trails and it has been so exciting to check out new to us Metro Parks. This past week we took a little road trip to the Barberton Trailhead and it was easily the best hike and bike trail we have been to yet. We saw more wildlife on this trail than all of our hikes of the past year combined!

The Barberton Trailhead is a flat, paved path directly across from a lake like body of water and right off the bat we were seeing animals left and right. Seconds after we began walking, we saw something we have never seen before – a river otter!!! River otters returned to Ohio a few years back and it has been my mission to catch a glimpse of one during our hikes that never came to fruition until now. It was SO cool to see its sleek body weaving in the water and the little face popping up for air. In a similar breath, we also saw a beaver for the first time too. We enjoy hiking at a trail called Beaver Marsh and ironically have never seen any there in the water so this was such a great added bonus. 😀

And then, there were the turtles. We saw fifty-five of them to be exact during our three mile trek! Posted up on logs, swimming, or camouflaging in the algae, we surpassed our original personal turtle sighting best of seventeen by far. Spotting them was literally like playing I Spy in nature and it was a thrill every time we added another one to our tally. As if all of this weren’t enough, we also saw five Blue Herons, two of which that flew directly in front of us. Seeing Blue Herons is like seeing a dinosaur in real life and they were so majestic! As you can see in the last picture, I think that Heron was ready to catch itself some lunch!

Finally in our wildlife jamboree, we saw more baby ducks than we could possibly count. We stopped at thirty something because it was just too much and also too much cuteness! There were baby ducks swimming, resting on the grass, and playing peek a boo behind the logs in the water. The cuteness overload went simply over the top when we were in the right place at the right time. We walked past a family of baby ducks tentatively stepping into the water and then taking off at a rapid pace. I’ll post a video on my TikTok soon so stay tuned because holy adorable. ❤

After our excursion, we treated ourselves to Skoops for a well earned frozen treat. All the while recounting the amazing wildlife we were so lucky to see. We can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a favorite hiking spot? What kind of wildlife do you see on your hikes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun19

WOOL BUDDY!!!!

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WOOL BUDDY!!!!

Hello!! My mom recently read a book in which one of the characters enjoyed wool felting. She was intrigued by this craft and decided to order a starter kit so she could try her hand at it. The kit that she got provided the materials and instructions for six beginner wool felt animals to make and she has steadily been working her way through them. She made a frog, penguin, owl, and fox and I can definitely see her improvement with each attempt. In fact, I think the bumblebee that she just made me is her best one yet!

Let’s be honest and call a spade a spade here… The eyes on my bee are, admittedly, a tad wonky lol. BUT, I think the body looks great and it’s perfectly obvious that this is supposed to be a bee whereas some of my mom’s earlier work was left up to interpretation! Regardless of the outcome of her wool felting, I am genuinely proud of my mom for trying something new! Starting anything from scratch as a beginner can be a daunting task and is sure to feel overwhelming. However, my mom has been practicing and even if it isn’t perfect yet, she is still having fun doing it. That’s the most important thing!

Whether it’s my dad’s biweekly guitar lessons with Johnny or my mom giving wool felting a go, I think it’s an awesome testament to keep trying new things no matter your age. All you have to do is start! There is nothing wrong with being a beginner because that means you are stepping out of your comfort zone and learning something new. And it’s exciting to see the progress! My dad practices guitar daily and my mom makes a new wool buddy per week. I would say that both of their skills have improved tenfold and I love seeing their hard work pay off. Being a beginner means you have the opportunity to keep getting better and both of my parents most certainly have. Yay for them! ❤

I cannot wait to see the next Wool Buddy my mom creates. The last one in her kit is a shark and she is a bit worried about making the teeth but I know she can do it!!

Have you tried a new hobby recently? How often do you participate in your favorite hobby? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

Bunny Pug!!!!

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Bunny Pug!!!!

Hello!! While Halloween will always be my favorite home decor season, Easter is a very close second because I love all things BUNNIES!! I am a proud bunny mom to my precious Melvin and Penelope and I always like to get a few pieces of bunny decor per year to honor their existence. A few weeks ago my mom and I went on a shopping trip to TJMaxx and I just might have found my favorite bunny statue to grace our knick knack shelves yet. I present to you the bunny pug:

^^^ Look at that wittle face!!!

As my mom and I browsed the home decor department, I was so pleased to see that all of the Easter items were marked down significantly. Surprisingly, I didn’t even notice the bunny pug and I’m genuinely not sure how because it’s quite the statement. Thanks to my mom’s eagle eye she pointed it out and it went into the cart immediately. This sweet statue was just six bucks and that is a steal! I thought it was the funniest thing and I knew Johnny would love it too. Especially because it looks like the pug is wearing the pink bunny suit from A Christmas Story – one of our faves!

I was so excited to show Johnny my find when I got home from work and walked through the door with TJs and grocery bags in tow. Then, the unspeakable happened. As I put my shopping down, my bunny pug knocked into one of my curio cabinets and my heart sank. I just knew that something broke and, indeed, one of the ears came clean off. I was SO sad! In a flash, I broke out my emergency super glue in case of a broken acrylic and set to work to fix the whoopsie daisy. Sadly, the glue was not strong enough and my heart sank further. 😦

I am pleased to report that the broken ear surgery was only postponed to the following day compliments of my Johnny. He got some super strength super glue after work and fixed it for me as soon as he got home. When I got back from my shift a half an hour or so later he surprised me with the repaired bunny pug and I was over the moon! It made me so happy and it was so thoughtful of him to see the problem and solve it the very next day. What a guy! ❤

My bunny pug recuperated nicely after his ear surgery and I can’t help but smile every time I see it! 🙂

What is your favorite holiday to shop home decor? What is your favorite discount store to shop at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD Bloopers

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Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD! This little look was worn to go to a minor league hockey game in Cleveland and it was just the best. We were blessed to see FIVE fights and I felt at least ten pounds lighter by the time the game was over. I guess I had more pent up frustration than I thought! I had to laugh because later that night a star from Heated Rivalry hosted Saturday Night Live (It was a great episode!). Unfortunately, no one at the Cleveland Monsters game we went to kissed and made up after getting into their tussles. Maybe next time! #fingerscrossed Let’s take a look at some of these yikes shots and discuss another instance that gave me the giggles:

Don’t mess with me!!!!

Using my sense of smell to guide me. To Taco Bell, perhaps?

Why so serious?

A quick power nap before the big game?

Doing what I do best: Making content magic, obvi

Sassy lady!!!

When I think of the apartment community I live in, several things come to mind and raccoons are always high on the list. They are literally everywhere – in the dumpsters, roaming the property, in the walls, and making guest appearances on porches. I kid you not, I once had a neighbor who left food outside of her door for them. But, hey, it’s home and I still love it all the same. Almost every night and early morning, several trash pandas visit mine and Johnny’s porch. Sometimes they do a pop in and move on, sometimes they hang for a while, and other times they eat pizza that they rescued from the dumpster. I’ll tell you what, my mind was blown when I witnessed that!

This past Wednesday was freaking crap lousy at work and I was still in my feels about it when I worked from home on Thursday morning. As I was at my computer, I saw a couple of raccoons taking their morning constitutional on the porch. An hour or so later, I got up to look out the window because it was raining buckets. However, the weather wasn’t the first thing that caught my eye. What I clocked immediately was a Taco Bell wrapper on my porch that one of the raccoons salvaged in the trash. I’d know those wrappers anywhere. 😀

As you all know, T-Bell is my absolute favorite and despite being in a bum mood, I just had to laugh. I know it isn’t true but I like to think that the raccoons knew I was having a tough go of it and brought me something to cheer me up. In reality, I’m sure they were just having their breakfast. It did make me smile, though, and gave me a moment to take joy in the little things. I told all of my clients that story when I saw them later in the day and they all got such a kick out of it too. Everyone I work with knows that Taco Bell holds a special place in my heart so they saw it as a gift from the raccoons like I did. It might not be flowers or diamonds but I’ll still take it! ❤

My early AM raccoon visit was a silly reminder to smile and a sign from the universe that Taco Bell is in order like yesterday. If you are feeling some type of way – look for the little things, cash those happy checks, and feel better soon! 🙂

What kind of wildlife visits your home? What is something funny that has happened to you recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

Bunny Name Game

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Bunny Name Game

Hello darlings! Quick question… Are you really a pet parent if you don’t have a litany of nicknames for them? We have had our beloved bunnies, Melvin and Penelope, for over three years and it feels like we have had them for forever. They are simply the best and we love them so. A few weeks after we adopted them and took them home, I made this post with a handful of their nicknames. My goodness has this list not only expanded but also devolved into calling them mere syllables sometimes! But, hey, they respond to it so that’s all that matters. Melvin Vincent Price and Penelope Marie may be their names but if you’re friends you can get away with the following:

Melvin:

Melvin is Penelope’s baby and the duo was so bonded that we adopted them together. While Pen comes out of her shy shell occasionally, Melvin is Mr. Attitude. Since the day we brought him home, he has wanted to be on the move and explore. Thus earning him his first nickname of TW or “Tiny Wanderer”. Since their homecoming, Melvin Vincent Price has been known to go by:

  • Mel Mel
  • Mel Bell
  • Little One
  • Scamp
  • Son (Because let’s be real, he looks exactly like Johnny!)
  • BB
  • BB Boy
  • Rambo (Short for rambunctious)
  • Mr. Price
  • Mr. Mel
  • Mister Mister
  • Biggest Boy

^^^ Big stretch!

Penelope:

Penelope Marie is my baby girl. Ever since I was little, I wanted a bunny named Penelope for some reason and now I have finally got her! It took Penelope a fair amount of time to warm up to her new surroundings and me. The jury is honestly still out on Johnny lol. Over the years it has been so much fun to watch her confidence and trust grow and she is the biggest cuddle bug now! Also the recipient of many a nickname like:

  • Mama
  • Mama Girl
  • Miss Mama
  • MG
  • Nelly
  • Nani
  • Na Na
  • Na
  • Pretty Girl
  • Penny
  • Penny Lane
  • Pretty Penelope
  • Princess Penelope
  • P Marie

^^^ Special delivery!!

Whatever we call them, Melvin and Penelope have turned our apartment into a true home. They came to me when I needed them most and it is one of my greatest joys to be a bunny mom!

What are the nicknames for your pets? How did they earn them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov22

Substitute Pet Gifts

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Substitute Pet Gifts

Hello! The holiday season is right around the corner and for some reason, pets are a popular gifting option. Post holidays? Local shelters are packed to capacity with unwanted animals that were gifted. Like the trend of pet bunnies for Easter, animals are not something that should just be given with the potential of giving them away. They are part of the family and should be treated as such through extensive research and evaluating of if you have the time or resources to care for a pet, or if your children are capable and responsible enough to care for it. With that in mind, let’s explore some pseudo pet gifts that are an excellent compromise until you are all ready for the real deal:

Pocket Pets:

Handheld devices, apps, and video games can make an amazing substitute pet gifting option. You could consider a retro Tamagotchi, a subscription for an app like Finch, or a game like Animal Crossing. These gifting ideas are interactive, fun, and offers a level of care to build up responsibility skills to have a pet. I personally would LOVE a Mr. Rengoku Tamagotchi from Demon Slayer! I also adore my daily use of Finch and occasional use of Animal Crossing. Speaking of Animal Crossing, there is going to be a HUGE update coming in January which makes this game all the better. The beauty of it? Once you’re done playing, you’re done for the day – no more care is required!

Plushies:

Honestly, what kiddo (or adult) doesn’t want a new plushie?! Of course, nothing is better than snuggling up with a pet but snuggling up with a plushie is fabulous too. I do so every night! 😀 Squishmallows are a forever popular option or how about a trip to Build A Bear to create your new best friend? Little Live Pets sets are also a really fun option as these plushies have three babies to dress up, groom, and feed. There is a set for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs too which is perfect if your kiddo is craving a small animal. I got the rabbit set last year for my niece as she wanted pet bunnies just like me. ❤

Volunteer Date:

Prior to getting a pet, it is so important to understand their level of care, wants, and needs. To develop those skills, you could present your kiddo with a volunteer date. You could grab some lunch and spend time at a local shelter. Shelters offer training sessions for volunteers to learn about care taking. Once these classes are complete, you will be able to walk, socialize, feed, and clean up after the pets that need to be adopted. What’s more, your family might be able to develop a bond with a specific pet after putting in the work first and foremost. Whether you end up with a pet or not after this process, it’s still a win/win as the shelter will have some extra help.

Robot Pets:

Robot pets are super cool and can move and groove along with your kiddo. They can bark, wag, walk, eat, and some can even go to the bathroom! These toy pets can let you know when they are ready for a snack or need to be groomed. Bird pets can perch on your shoulder, monkey ones can grasp your finger, but no matter what you choose can be cuddled, played with, and treasured. This is a great stepping stone in the responsibility department!

Pets are not a gift but the options above totally are!! 🙂

Did you have a toy pet growing up? What are other pet substitute ideas? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep17

Pet Supplies Plus Is A Must

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Pet Supplies Plus Is A Must

Hello!! Johnny and I adopted our beloved bunnies, Melvin and Penelope, in November of 2022 and will be celebrating our three year buniversary here soon! They have brought an indescribable amount of joy into our lives and I simply couldn’t imagine our home without them. Since the homecoming of our pets, I have been a loyal shopper on Chewy and was making purchases at least every month. The convenience of ordering all of their supplies in a matter of minutes couldn’t be beat so I never bothered shopping anywhere else. However, my tune has changed drastically…

Every once in a while, I will need a new bag of hay or bedding before a Chewy order is due and will visit the Pet Supplies Plus down the road from me for a reup. These trips were few and far between so I wasn’t interested in signing up for their loyalty program. One faithful day about two months ago, I stopped in for more bedding and saw that they were running a stellar buy one get one half off promotion and was able to purchase bedding and hay for the tune of thirty something dollars. It was a TOTAL steal and in that moment, I realized I was sleeping on Pet Supplies Plus for far too long. In almost three years, I have never seen Chewy run a promotion that good.

After making my purchase, I immediately went home and created a rewards account and the savings have been nonstop. Since signing up for it, I receive thirty percent off coupons constantly and that is a substantial amount off of bunny supplies. Now, I am often getting their hay and bedding for twenty-five to thirty dollars in total. With Chewy, I was spending at least forty-five for these necessary supplies and that is a huge difference! I still shop Chewy for their hutch cleaner, favorite toys, and pellet food because Pet Supplies Plus doesn’t carry them. Believe you me, I wouldn’t be ordering on Chewy period if they did!

When I find a brand or company I like, I tend to be fiercely loyal to it and that was certainly the case with Chewy. But listen, literally EVERYTHING is so damn expensive now that if I can find a better deal elsewhere, I’m just going for it. My bunny supply cost went from roughly one hundred dollars a month to seventy if that and that is an amount that can’t be overlooked. I also really appreciate that Pet Supplies Plus teams up with a lot of the local rescues in the greater Akron area! While I love the convenience of online shopping, I love saving moolah even more. 😀

If you are a pet parent and have a Pet Supplies Plus in your neck of the woods, I truly can’t recommend making a visit there enough. You will be amazed at the difference that their promotions, coupons, and rewards cash can make!

Where do you shop for pet supplies? Have you changed where you shop recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep16

Cleveland Zoo Asian Lantern Festival

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Cleveland Zoo Asian Lantern Festival

Hello! Every summer the Cleveland and Columbus Zoo host the most wonderful Asian Lantern Festivals. It is a spectacular event that features light up and motorized displays, traditional music, and amazing performances. During a recent trip to the Cleveland Zoo, I was able to see a lot of the different displays but it was during the day time and when the sun goes down is when the magic happens. This past week, I was lucky enough to go to the drive through Lantern Festival with my beloved downstairs neighbor. It was the very last night to be able to do so and we had an absolutely fabulous time. The day turned to night as soon as we arrived at the zoo and we got to experience this stunning feat of artistry before our very eyes. Check it out and be sure to keep peeping my TikTok for a video tour soon!

^^^ How cool is that?!?!

This was my first drive through Asian Lantern Festival and I am so appreciative to the Cleveland Zoo for making this event accessible to everyone. As my neighbor does not get around the best, this was the way to go and I feel so happy that I got to be with him for his very first time seeing the big show. He booked us an eight PM time slot and our almost hour drive to Cleveland was spent chattering away about how excited we were. And, minus a few hiccups, we were downright giddy by the time we got to zoo.

We both kind of expected to be able to get right into the zoo upon our arrival and that was SO not the case lol. Traffic was completely flooded with festival goers and it took us a solid forty minutes to reach the zoo’s entrance. Then, it was at least another fifteen for the bottleneck we found ourselves in to break up so we could proceed with the tour. Note to self: It is NOT a good idea to drink an entire bottle of water during the drive to the zoo. I had to pee SO bad and bathroom breaks were not an option SMH. -_-

Blessedly, once we started being able to drive through the zoo at a steady clip my bathroom woes subsided because holy wow. It was even better than I could have imagined! During my last evening Asian Lantern Festival outing, it was still quite light out and we missed the majesty of the lights on a pitch black night. That is exactly how you should experience the fest because it literally felt like being thrown into a fairy tale. The lights, music, motion, and the cool breeze with the windows down was intoxicating. We could even see some of the animals in their exhibits when we reached traffic jams and that was an awesome bonus.

The displays at the festival included flowers, foliage, and regular zoo animals but also featured a heavy dose of the mythical. There were fairies and dragons as well as the creatures traditional to Asian legend. I loved the different fairies the best and also adored the undersea displays. The tunnel with the canopy of fish swimming in a swirling ocean was breathtaking. At my summer day trip to the Cleveland Zoo, I walked through that tunnel trying to visualize how it came to life at night. It was even more beautiful than my daydreams!

The Asian Lantern Festival has now drawn to a close at the Cleveland Zoo and all I can say is: Bring on the next one. The festival is completely different every year and I cannot wait to see how the zoo is transformed next!

What is your favorite yearly event in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite animal real or otherwise? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah