Tag Archives: fun

Sep16

Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

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Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

Hi! As you saw in a recent post, Johnny and I checked out Sweets & Geeks this past week and had the best time shopping till we dropped. Sweets & Geeks features something for every possible fandom imaginable and had countless forms of collectables including board games, plushies, backpacks, Funkos, and everything in between. Johnny and I are especially partial to a good board game and he began his shopping in that department. In no time at all, he returned with two games in hand: A new expansion of Horrified as well as AC/DC Monopoly! 😀

Johnny is the biggest AC/DC fan ever and it brought me such joy to take him to their show in Cleveland a few years back. A themed Monopoly board of his favorite band was a no brainer to purchase and we had a blast breaking it out with our birthday BFF, Cliff, a few days later. I may have gotten my butt kicked seven ways till Sunday but I’ll get my revenge next time! Check it out:

Monopoly is one of those games that people either love or hate and I have never met anyone who fell right in the middle. Although I agree that it is a tedious game at times, Johnny and I love it and were so happy to add the AC/DC board to our collection. Granted, we only have one other Monopoly a la Legend Of Zelda but it is a collection of two, nonetheless! There is never anything special or new about the themed Monopoly boards and the game play forever remains the same. However, it’s just fun to play on a board centered around one of your favorite things! They also make a great gift – my sister loves her Britney Spears Monopoly board that I got her for Mother’s Day! (I eventually want to get that one too! Long live the queen!) ❤

When Johnny, Cliff, and I dived into our AC/DC Monopoly, we had the band blaring on vinyl and settled in for a heated competition. I am saddened to report that the competition was neither heated nor successful for me and I think I went bankrupt in forty minutes lol. What can I say, I was trying to make some money moves and all of them fell through. Such is the game, though, and regardless of winning or losing, the company couldn’t be beat. I can’t wait to play again soon and avenge my honor to the tune of High Voltage rock!!!!!

If there is an AC/DC super fan in your life, this Monopoly board is a must. Whether it’s a loved or hated game, it sure makes a great collectable!

Do you have any themed Monopoly boards? What is your favorite board game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep8

Summer Highlights

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Summer Highlights

Hi! I know summer isn’t “technically” over yet but it’s September and in my head it’s fall lol. So I thought I’d go through my summer highlights today, fall calendar date be damned! This summer has been jam packed with so many activities right from the jump as mine and Johnny’s birthaversary kick starts the month of June. We started this summer by hosting friends and family for a super fun party and the events and hang outs felt nonstop since. Johnny and I are definitely trying to take it easier on our schedule this fall but this summer was certainly one to remember! Especially my personal favorite occurrences:

Josh Groban Concert:

A few weeks ago Johnny and I had the best experience ever at Blossom Music Center seeing… Josh Groban lol. Yes, we laughed about this too but what started out as attending for a joke turned us into complete super fans. Johnny and I purchased tickets for the Stage, Screen, And Symphony tour because we love Josh Groban’s comedy but the jury was out on his music. After pre gaming, we posted up on the lawn of Blossom for the show and didn’t have the best view but could see the jumbotron well. Josh Groban took the stage promptly at seven to open his set with “Pure Imagination” and after that song something magical happened!

Post Pure Imagination, a Blossom employee came up to us and offered us seats in the pavilion. We assumed we would be in the back or the middle but were moved up to the fourth row in front of the stage. It was SO awesome!! From our upgraded seats we had a perfect view of The Grobes and our initial laughter subsided instantly because we were completely mesmerized. Josh Groban truly has the voice of an angel and it was such a treat to hear him perform beloved classics from the best view in the house. We couldn’t believe our good luck and are now so proud to say that Josh Groban was one of the most excellent performances we have ever seen. What a night!

Bestie’s Engagement:

Johnny and I were totally and absolutely overjoyed to take part in an engagement party for my best friend, Lea, in early August and my heart simply flutters whenever I think about it! After the proposal at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Lea’s fiance organized a party at a brewery with family and close friends to celebrate. It was the most lovely time and it really was an honor to be there for my best girl. I am so excited to help in any way I can for her wedding and beyond thrilled for her happiness. She deserves nothing less. ❤

All The Mini Golf:

I don’t know about all of you, but I love me some mini golf! I enjoyed going to many indoor and outdoor mini golf courses this summer with Johnny and my brother and it is always such a laugh. Whether we are doing good or bad doesn’t matter because it’s just the most fun to hit some balls around lol. But the answer is: Yes, I did come in last place pretty much every time! Although there are some pretty good outdoor courses in my neck of the woods, we have a few indoor ones that totally take the cake. We love visiting Alien Vacation and Glow Sticks which are both fabulous!

Glow Sticks is an indoor eighteen hole course that revolves around music from the 1950s to the 2000s. Each room features a different decade with murals of the most prominent artists of the time and obstacles that match the theme IE: A giant Rolling Stones tongue. My musician main squeeze was living for it as was I! What a unique and cool little spot! Alien Vacation is also ultra cool with wacky murals and an immersive walk through experience. There are animatronics, obstacles that move, and the neatest themes like an under the sea, ancient Egypt, and jungle themed rooms. We have been to Alien Vacation several times and it is always a blast!

The Strokes Concert:

Johnny and I gifted each other with concert tickets for our birthaversary and seeing The Strokes at Blossom Music Center was my prezzie. They have been a bucket list band for me since I was ten years old and I could not let the opportunity to finally see them live pass by! We opted for pavilion seats as they were only slightly more expensive than posting up on the lawn and had a terrific view of the stage from our middle left position. The Strokes crushed and it was just amazing to hear all of my favorite songs IRL. We made friends with all of the people around us and formed a ragtag group of people that shared my sentiments too: That this was not a concert to be missed!

Johnny and I made so many beautiful memories this summer and I can’t wait to see what fall has in store for us!

What is your favorite memory from this summer? What are you looking forward to in the fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug26

How To Be The Life Of The Party

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How To Be The Life Of The Party

If you have ever stood in a crowded room wondering what you are going to say to other people who are holding drinks and shouting too loudly over the music, you are not alone. Many people often wonder how they can be the life and soul of the party. What is actually involved in taking on this role? How can you become that person, at least for one evening? Here is what to do:

Bring the right kind of energy:

You’ll want to start by bringing the right kind of energy to the party. You don’t necessarily need to kick the door down and tell everyone a joke that you’ve been thinking about all week. All it requires is going with an approachable demeanor, smiling a lot, and bringing people together. Often, the person who’s considered the life and soul of the party is the person who is “facilitating.” Try to make that person you.

Master the art of active listening:

We’ve all been there. You go to a party, and the person you’re talking to only wants to discuss their experiences and their life. It’s boring and dull. The good news, though, is that if you can stomach it, you can turn this around and master the art of active listening. The idea is to encourage the person you’re speaking to and to say the right things at the right time. You’ll notice that if you do this, the person will warm to you far more quickly, and you can potentially have a much more interesting conversation with them. When you really engage with them, they become friendlier and view you as a charismatic person.

Learn how to do what party goers do:

Another thing you might want to do, depending on the crowd, is to learn the steps and do what other partygoers do. What this means, of course, depends on context. It could be bringing a tasty appetizer, being the resident mixologist, or putting together an awesome playlist. If you have an understanding of the general expectations of the party, then you are putting yourself in a very good position. For example, let’s say you’re going to a corporate party. Expectations there will be very different from a party you’re going to with your friends!

Know when to pass the mic:

Don’t be one of those people at the party who tries to dominate every conversation. Instead, exercise your quiet power and then move swiftly when the situation calls for it. Being a great social presence is often about knowing when to step back and let others take the lead. You don’t necessarily have to be the literal life of the party if you don’t want to be. Try to read the room and gracefully exit when necessary.

Become a connector:

Finally, it’s a good idea to become a connector when you want to make an impression. As mentioned earlier, if you can bring people together through shared common interests, then you’re the person everybody goes to because you’re someone that they can rely on.

Step up your party approach with these tips and have fun!!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Aug25

Groovy Movies: The End Of Oak Street Edition

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Groovy Movies: The End Of Oak Street Edition

Hello! This past week I enjoyed seeing one of this summer’s most fun popcorn flicks called The End Of Oak Street starring the incomparable Anne Hathaway. This is a very good year for my girl and I loved seeing her in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Odyssey. She will also be in Verity coming out in November, I believe, which I do plan on seeing just because it’s her even though I hated the book with a passion lol. But I digress. The End Of Oak Street was a wild ride that moved rapidly with nonstop thrills, the occasional jump scare, and dinosaurs galore. Honestly, Jurassic World who? The End Of Oak Street was the fresh take on dinosaurs that we all needed and left the latest installment of Jurassic World in the dust! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as per ushe:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

The year is 1982, it’s summertime and the living is easy. Kind of. Denise, her husband Greg, children Audrey and Brian, and family dog Starbuck live in a picture perfect suburban neighborhood. Families barbecue, children play together, and you can always count on a neighbor for help. Behind closed doors, however, Denise and Greg’s marriage is strained and their kids are constantly hearing them bicker. Denise goes through the motions while her husband works odd jobs and delivers pizza and when everyone is asleep, she heads to the basement to work on a book she is writing in secret.

Denise’s elderly neighbor is editing her book and after wrapping up their session requests her help. A strange plant grew out of nowhere in her yard and they each have no idea what it could be. Denise snaps a picture on her Polaroid camera, uproots the plant, and heads to the library to investigate. To her surprise, the librarian tells her this plant has been extinct since the time that dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The following night, a huge storm takes place with bright lights flashing that definitely doesn’t look like lightening. The power in the neighborhood goes out and Denise’s family hits the hay in the hopes that the storm has passed and the power will be on when they wake up.

That is not the case and what’s worse, Starbuck is nowhere to be found in their backyard. Greg and Denise decide to look for the dog together while the kids hold tight and step into an unfamiliar new world. Their neighborhood has turned into Jurassic Park overnight! The landscape has changed to lush greenery, mountainous terrains, and huge lakes and dinosaurs wander in search of something tasty to eat. Within minutes, the street devolves into chaos with families trying to escape, many of them not making it beyond their own front door.

Greg and Denise book it back to their kids and begin the process of boarding up their home. But they can’t stay there indefinitely and need a plan to get themselves back to 1982. Their daughter, Audrey, suggests that they could have entered a portal to go back in time and that could have been the bright light they saw during the storm. The trick is for that light to appear again, find it, and avoid the dinosaurs at all costs. Will this family learn to work together and make it home alive? Or will they be stuck on Oak Street forever? Watch the movie to find out!

If you are looking for a short and sweet action packed movie, then you can stop your search. The End Of Oak Street has you covered! This flick clocked in at one hour and forty minutes and after the brief introduction to the family and neighborhood every scene was more insane than the next. The threat of the dinosaurs was so palpable I found myself holding my breath as they wreaked havoc creating close calls that were centimeters away from disaster. Not only were the dinos fearsome but they were so well designed and it was such a nice change of pace to see these creatures in a movie other than Jurassic Park.

The only thing I really didn’t care for in The End Of Oak Street was the son, Brian, who was just whiny and annoying the whole time. My beloved Anne Hathaway made up for it in spades, though! It was wild to see her wielding a gun and being a total badass because I’m so used to her girl next door roles. As she always does, she played the part so well and my eyes were never not on her even when dinosaurs were mauling her neighbors lol. If you are an Anne Hathaway fan like me, this is a must see. Even if you’re not, this is a must see because this was one of the most exciting action movies I have seen in ages!

Overall, I am going to rate The End Of Oak Street with a nine out of ten stars. If Brian wasn’t so cringy it would have been a perfect ten!

Have you seen The End Of Oak Street? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug24

So Cute It’s Scary Craft

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So Cute It’s Scary Craft

Hello! Marc’s is a staple discount store in the greater Northeast Ohio region that is known for its pretty good prices but better known for its famous “closeout aisle”. The closeout aisle is, indeed, exciting because you truly never know what you are going to find. It could be anything from clothing and home decor to little gadgets, toys, or seasonal goods. It is my favorite when the closeout aisle features Halloween decor and I look forward to it every year! My dad tracks the progress of when the best Halloween goodies are out and they have recently began stocking their shelves, one of which had the most delightful spooky craft on it! Check it out:

My dad purchased this adorable sticker craft for our nieces and let me bring it back to my place as Johnny and I were hosting them for a slumber party. The book contained pages full of stickers to build faces for tons of Halloween characters like witches, ghosts, vampires, Frankenstein, black cats, mummies, and more. We spent a solid hour with the girls decking our characters out with stickers and each completed four pictures. Not only was this craft pure spooky fun but it was also a great exercise in sharing and teamwork. When one of us needed a certain sticker like ears or a nose, we all stopped what we were doing to browse through the sticker options together to find the perfect addition for the picture. We shared ideas, collaborated on ingredients for a witch’s brew, and even pretended to be our characters afterwards!

This craft was So Cute It’s Scary and the girls had such a good time with it. However, I think us grown ups liked it even more! Halfway through our early spooky season sticker session, Johnny declared that he wanted to get another one. I concurred and when he returned back from work the following day with the sticker book in tow. I have a feeling we’ll be spending some down time filling the pages together and will definitely be saving some for the next time the girls are over. There is no better time for me and Johnny than Halloween and we just love sharing our joy for the season with our girl squad! ❤

If you have kiddos or are a Halloween loving adult, this is such a fabulous craft if you can find something similar. Highly recommend!

Have stores near you started putting out Halloween items? What is your favorite Halloween character? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug23

Unique Unicorn OOTD Bloopers

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Unique Unicorn OOTD Bloopers

Howdy y’all and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Unique Unicorn OOTD! This little look was worn to celebrate my darling middle niece’s birthday and it was such fun. The birthday girl had the best day – so much so that she has been asking when it can be her birthday again lol. We’ve got a ways to go for that, kid! My sister put together such a delightful party and even hired a face painter for the festivities. Although the kids had a blast with it, I daresay that I enjoyed it the most. How often does an adult get the opportunity to get unicorn style face paint?! The answer is: Not often enough. The face painter really did do a bang up job but these pictures do not do her work justice! Let’s take a looksee:

I call this pose “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Unicorn”

Lol me in basically every school picture ever taken

CLEARLY was feeling myself after getting some paint thrown on the old barn

Johnny really knows how to capture a beautiful photo

When someone asks if I want to get Taco Bell

Serving sass

This Squidward looking face lol

Johnny and I recently hosted our two big nieces for a slumber party before they go back to school and it was a hoot. We did lots of crafts, ordered pizza, and watched Toy Story 4. And, as per slumber party tradition, we had ice cream sundaes for dessert! Normally when I am with the girl squad, I am constantly picking them up, swinging them around, or giving piggy back rides. This time, however, was different as I can’t lift more than ten pounds post surgery. The girls understood and were SO attentive to their TT and it really warmed my heart. ❤

When I got up to start sundae prep, my middle niece stopped me to ask if I could still carry ice cream lol. Blessedly, I could still swing that! The following day when my sister picked them up, I started to carry some of their belongings down to the car. I wasn’t thinking about my post op instructions whatsoever but my biggest niece was. She stopped me in my tracks and said “TT you can’t carry that!”. She remembered what I had completely forgotten as I am forever a DIY kind of gal. Both of their concern was so sweet and it was one of the best slumber parties ever!

This little story is a firm reminder to myself to not carry heavy things lol. Shout out to my bestie girls for having my back!

Are your kids ready for back to school? What is your favorite animated movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug21

T-Shirt Time

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T-Shirt Time

Hi! I recently enjoyed a shopping trip with my brother to Belden Village Mall as he had some gift cards to spend and I am always down to browse. It was honestly crazy being at a mall because it is the last place I think of when I want to shop. You all know that I am a TJMaxx girl! However, I think my extensive tenure working retail at Summit Mall more than makes up for my lack of going now considering I basically lived there lol. We hit up a couple of stores at Belden Village and had a great time seeing what’s good. I’ve got to give credit when it’s due because their Hot Topic ruled and I just could not say no to these hilarious graphic Ts:

When I saw the I ❤ Hot Dads shirt a la Twilight on display, I literally clutched my pearls. I am very familiar with the Twilight franchise as I had a client who adored it and, I’ll tell you what – I sure do love those hot dads lol. Sweet Charlie and Carlisle are never far from my mind and have always ranked high in my hot dad category so it’s nice to have a shirt to celebrate that. It really is too funny and I cannot wait to see the reaction I get when I wear it out in public. Twilight fans UNITE! I didn’t think it was possible that this shirt would continue to give to me but then I noticed what was underneath them on the shelves and truly couldn’t believe my eyes…

There were Supernatural shirts!!! I have another client who got me and Johnny hooked on Supernatural and we have been loving watching a couple of episodes every night. Supernatural is essentially just CSI but with ghosts with episodes that are jam packed with humor, crappy effects, and mystery. It’s a blast! Johnny and I have actually looked up Supernatural Ts before but all of them pale in comparison to the one I found at Hot Topic. It reminds me of those tie dye shirts of wolves howling at the moon at different angles and it cracks me up. I was beyond excited to show Johnny as soon as he got home and we have decided to schedule who gets to wear it and when lol. What can I say? We’re super Supernatural fans!

Shout out to Hot Topic for gifting me with these Little Treat Ts. I am obsessed!

Do you like to shop at the mall? What’s your favorite store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug16

WE SAW IT!!!!!

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WE SAW IT!!!!!

Hi! After celebrating my bestie girl’s engagement, Johnny and I continued the festivities by celebrating another monumental occasion: The Oscar Mayer Weenie Mobile made a stop in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. As the brewery we were at for the engagement partay was just down the street from our downtown hub called the Riverfront, Johnny and I obviously had to make a cameo. My Johnny is a hot dog loving guy. Lol so much so that he even has one tattooed on his arm! Needless to say, seeing the Weenie Mobile IRL was a must and we scored big time. Johnny got a Weenie Whistle as well as a hilarious sticker with the Weenie Mobile on it that simply says “I SAW IT”. We came, we saw, and it was a hoot!

^^^ Pure ecstasy!!

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls rules and it has been spruced up so nicely over the years as a one stop destination for shopping, dining, and community events. There are countless sweet boutiques and antique shops, a delicious ice creamery, and a candy store that we love taking our nieces to for a shopping spree. Their parents can deal with the sugar rush afterwards! 😀 The Riverfront also hosts lots of concerts, festivals, and movie nights as a lovely way for the community to come together and have some fun. There are splash pads in the summer, a skating rink in the winter, and fireworks on special occasions. We are very lucky to have this spot for folks young and old to enjoy throughout the year.

All of the aforementioned is great but, honestly, the Oscar Mayer Weenie Mobile really took the cake lol. I have been to many a Riverfront event with excellent turnouts but the joint was JUMPING on Weenie Mobile day – as it should! There were food trucks galore, music playing, kiddos running around in the splash pads, games, face painting, and basically every Cuyahoga Falls resident within a ten mile radius. We were there for the Oscar Mayer but stayed for the true joy of being out and about with our friends and neighbors. There is nothing better than an entire community coming together and the Riverfront does exactly that. If the Weenie Mobile comes around more often, then I think we have lots of evenings in downtown CFalls to look forward to!

WE SAW IT and our lives are the better for it. Shout out to my hometown for kicking ass and taking names!!

Do you have an event center in your neck of the woods? Does your city host festivals often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug4

Anime Club

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Anime Club

Hi! My brother, Andrew, is an avid fan of anime and turned me on to so many great shows like Demon Slayer, Black Clover, and The Promised Neverland to name a few. We are always gabbing about our current anime line up, what we plan on watching next, and the releases of new seasons of our favorites. And, now, we have a brand new group to share in our love for anime too! There are so many wonderful local libraries in my neck of the woods that offer amazing programs for adults, teens, and children. One of the newest additions being an anime club for adults that meets once a month. We have been going regularly for about four months now and we both look forward to it because it is a total blast!

At anime club we watch a few episodes of a show while enjoying a Japanese snack, have a discussion, and then do a craft themed around whatever show we were introduced to. For two hours, we are immersed in our world of imagination with like minded individuals and it’s such a treat. It’s also a thrill to check out new shows that we might not have watched before. For example, during our second meeting we watched the first three episodes of My Hero Academia and I was immediately hooked. Since then, I have been watching an episode every morning while I eat my breakfast and I just can’t get enough. It is SO good and I’m already halfway through season three. I look forward to my viewings every day. 😀

While some animes have been a hit with me at our meetings, some of them are a miss and that’s truly okay! Last week we dabbled in Jujutsu Kaisen which I have always been interested in but never bothered watching. During our screening, I learned that it was not my bag whatsoever and it was no harm no foul because I could move onto something different. Regardless of if I would continue the show on my own or not, it’s so exciting to watch something new. To experience different styles, stories, and characters and getting into the nitty gritty of what we liked and didn’t with our group allows for the best conversations. I am already chomping at the bit for our August get together!

Long live libraries!!! Thanks to Anime Club my brother and I have both made new friends, found new shows, and get to spend time with people who share our passion. It is just the best!

Do you attend any programs at your local library? What kind of events does your library offer? 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