Tag Archives: fun

Aug5

Idlewild Park & SoakZone

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Idlewild Park & SoakZone

Howdy! My family (sans sweet angel Johnny) enjoyed a lovely little getaway to visit Idlewild Park and SoakZone in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, outside of Story Book Forest, I didn’t get too many pictures while we explored the amusement park itself because it was all hands on deck with five small children in tow. Their ages ranged from under one year old to six years old and it was freaking anarchy lol. All craziness aside, Idlewild was truly a perfect park for their ages. It was quite compact, had lots of shade, rides for itty bitties and children (And some for adults too!), and there was also the SoakZone water park to cool off at. You can check out a full tour of the park in this fantastic video and let’s discuss further:

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

Despite the relatively small size of Idlewild, it was jam packed with all kinds of fun rides, attractions, and shows. The kids had an absolute ball being at a park that was specifically made for them and it was a delight to watch them live it up! One of the major areas of the park had total county fair vibes that included carnival games, endless options of carnival foods, and rides that spun like crazy. The kids loved the spinny rides – the adults… Not so much lol. Extreme heat + spinning nonstop = upset tummy!! The things we do for those kiddos! All of them were huge fans of the Spider ride that put you inside the shoes of a giant spider. Your cart spun around independently as the legs twirled and it was a lot lol I was SO dizzy afterwards!! At a much more moderate clip was the Balloon Race, Paratrooper, and Howler which were spin rides but nothing too crazy. That was much more like it!

Our bigger kids really liked playing in the Jumping Jungle which featured a playground with a HUGE net to climb. All of us also had a blast in the 3D maze where safari animals popped out with the magic of 3D glasses. It really blew the kids’ minds! The bigs also took a shine to the wooden Rollo Coaster that took sharp twists and turns as it clunked along. It was definitely a bumpy ride but a great beginner level rollarcoaster. The Wild Mouse was the steel rollarcoaster at Idlewild which we didn’t have the time to ride, but that was quite alright. It looked a bit too intense for the kids and the SoakZone was calling our name.

Idlewild has a very healthy mix of big and little kid attractions and our tiny tots adored Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Raccoon Lagoon Kiddieland. Raccoon Lagoon was home to all of the classic rides like spinning teapots, Red Baron airplanes, and motor cars. You could also hitch a ride on spinning dragons and turtles which was super cute. The Kiddieland was awesome because it gave the older kids some downtime to relax in the shade while the little ones got to have their turn on rides that they were tall enough for. It was so sweet to ride the Tea Party with my little niece – we were the only ones on the ride and it was like our own private tea party! ❤

On our second day at the park, we ended our adventure at SoakZone. As we all had to make a three hour drive back to Akron, Ohio we didn’t hang out there too long. It was absolutely delicious to cool off after trudging around in ninety plus degree temps all afternoon! We hit up the Little Squirts station which was great for all of the kiddos to splash about and play in. It had a splash pad, sprinklers, and a wading pool set up with cascading waterfalls in the fixtures. After the kids got beaucoup play time in, we went to the Wave Pool next and that was just okay. The waves were few and far between and it was basically just standing in water lol. We ended our time at SoakZone with a couple of laps around their lazy river and we headed home completely wiped out but happy as can be!

Idlewild Park is family fun to the T and it was such an amazing adventure to have all together!

Do you like amusement park rides? What is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug4

Story Book Forest At Idlewild Park

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Story Book Forest At Idlewild Park

Hello! Despite no recollection of visiting Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania when I was little, we have countless family photos to prove it. It was a much beloved amusement park that is roughly three hours away from my home and my parents would take me and my siblings often. This past week, I had the pleasure of returning there with almost my entire family (Johnny couldn’t get off work) and my four sweet nieces and nephew. Being an aunt is one of my greatest joys and I am beyond thrilled to have the memory of this wonderful family getaway for keeps. Check it out:

Story Book Forest is exactly what it sounds like – a trek through the woods to visit the homes of all of the classic story book characters and even meeting some of them too. You begin by walking through the giant story book (Which is really cool!) where you are greeted by Mother Goose who tells you all about your adventure and sends you on your way. From there, the path winds all around and brings adults on a trip down memory lane while the children see all of the stories they know and love come to life. It is absolutely precious.

With my darling littles and family in tow, we explored all of Story Book Forest and had the best time! The kids loved interacting with all of the different character actors like Raggedy Anne and Andy, Snow White, Cinderella, the captain of the Good Ship Lollipop, Geppetto, and the wife of the Crooked Man. They played games with Raggedy Anne and Andy, swabbed the deck of the pirate ship and received candy for the loot, and took pictures with princess royalty. It was such fun to see all of these characters through the littles’ eyes and I think they couldn’t quite believe it themselves!

I’m sure all of the kiddos could agree that the best part was exploring all of the different homes in the forest and there were plenty of them. This included but was not limited to the digs of Little Red Riding Hood, the Crooked Man, the three bears from Goldilocks, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Geppetto’s workshop, and the castle of Old King Cole himself. There were some homes you couldn’t enter like the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, Snow White’s cabin, and the homes of the Three Little Pigs but they were all noteworthy landmarks to check out. 🙂

Story Book Forest ended at Old King Cole’s castle where you could walk through a town square, release Excalibur from the stone, make wishes at a fountain, and meet Cinderella on her royal throne. Of course, it wouldn’t be a theme park if you didn’t make the final exit through the gift shop which blessedly had air conditioning and an adorable array of plushies, princess gear, candy for days, and anything else that a child’s heart could desire. If you are in an area where a road trip is possible, I truly cannot recommend a visit to Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park with your little ones enough!

From start to finish, my family’s Idlewild adventure was joy in the purest form. I cannot wait to tell you all more about it but our time in Story Book Forest will hold the most special place in my heart! ❤

Which amusement parks did you visit as a child? Do they still exist today? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul25

Italian Fest Fun

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Italian Fest Fun

Howdy! In my neck of the woods, there is always something fun going on in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. From performances and festivals to outdoor movie nights and big holiday events, it is a popular place to be. The area is lined with cute boutiques, tasty restaurants, and cozy bars and is the crowning jewel of CFalls. The festivals that take place include the Italian Fest, Irish Fest, and Oktoberfest and Johnny and his parents loved to go to all of them back in the day. Myself on the other hand? I have NEVER been to one Riverfront Fest and that really blew Johnny’s mind as I have lived in Cfalls my entire life. This past weekend was the Italian Fest and Johnny has been so anxious to take me to my very first one so we stopped by on Saturday. Check it out:

^^^ THE TANKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whenever Johnny talks about different Riverfront Fests, I always say the exact same thing: “So you just walk around and eat?” The answer is always a resounding YES and I now know that to be very true lol. When we got to the Riverfront, it was lined with food trucks of every kind imaginable. There were some vendors, games to play, and a band prepping to start but all I cared about was filling my stomach. I was starving!

My only request for the Italian Fest was that I absolutely had to get a fresh squeezed lemonade because it is one of my favorite summer treats. We decided to take a lap around to see which food truck we would order our lunch from. Blessedly, a lemonade stand was right at the beginning of our rounds and I basically ran to it and ordered myself a large cup. When Johnny caught up, he asked me why I didn’t get the fifteen dollar tanker and I told him I didn’t want to put him out because this date was on him. Even though my large lemonade was already ready, he asked the girls working the booth if I could have a Tanker too and they happily obliged. This freaking growler of lemonade was as hilarious as it was heavy and Johnny and I took turns toting it around and sipping liberally. It was DELICIOUS and we both plan on jokingly taking our Tanker to work as our water tumbler for the day. What a hoot! 🙂

Saturday was an incredibly hot day and we thought it would be better to grab some grub and take it home to eat. Us vampires can’t be in the sun for too long and we are trying to be much more cautious after the Great Sunburn of 2025 from Geneva On The Lake! Regardless of this plan, I was too damn hungry to not get at least a snack while we continued to scope out food trucks. I knew exactly what I wanted too – a huge piece of street corn from a local vendor. I have heard nothing but good things about Johnny Lote’s street corn and all of the rumors are true. It was divine and I could have knocked back several ears no problem. Johnny Lote’s food truck is always at the Akron Rubberducks games and I know what I will be getting next time we cheer on our home team to Duck Em Up. 😀

Johnny had talked up the Stromboli from the Italian Fest for so long and that’s what we decided to go with. As much as I would have loved some pasta, I wasn’t trying to have a steaming bowl of marinara on a hot AF day lol. We ordered a classic Stromboli for Johnny and a veggie one for me and I couldn’t wait to dig in. Since Johnny had been singing the Stromboli praises for forever, we thought we were both in for a treat. Sadly, it was quite possibly the worst Stromboli we have ever had. They were doughy, soggy, and had minimal fillings so it was pretty much just like eating soggy uncooked bread. It was SO disappointing and I was STILL hungry but at least I got my Tanker!!!!

The Italian Fest experience was exactly what I knew it would be: Walking around and eating food. But I am so glad that I got to go to my first one with Johnny and he was so proud to take me. We had a blast even if the Stromboli sucked!

Do you have a favorite food truck? Do you have an area similar to the Riverfront in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth Edition

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Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the newest edition to the Jurassic Park franchise: Jurassic World Rebirth. Since this flick has come out, I have heard nothing but lackluster reviews and I’m honestly not sure why. I thought it was a perfect summer popcorn movie! It was fun, fast paced, action packed, and exciting. If a movie entertains me, it has done its job and I really enjoyed it. Let’s get to it:

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

In a world where people are caring less and less about dinosaurs, a Martin Krebs cares about them deeply. Or, rather, cares deeply about the almighty dollar. His pharmaceutical company thinks that they can provide a life saving cure for coronary disease. All they need is a DNA sample from three of the biggest dinosaurs of land, air, and sea as they have the biggest hearts and lifespan. With the promise of saving lives and a massive payday, he enlists the help of special operative Zora Bennett and her crew as well as the paleontologist, Dr. Henry Loomis. With the team assembled, they travel to the only place where dinosaurs still roam: Isle Saint-Hubert – a small island close to the equator that offers a habitat where these magnificent creatures can continue to thrive.

As the crew begins their journey, we cut to a family enjoying a day at sea. Reuben and his two daughters Isabella and Teresa and Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier. They are in the middle of a lovely vacation when all of a sudden, something big hits their boat. It’s not an ordinary something but a Mosasaurus, the biggest dinosaur at sea. The family’s tiny boat is no match for the mighty creature and they will be lost at sea if they don’t get help quickly. A life saving radio call alerts Team Dinosaur to their rescue and they will track down a village located on the island they are traveling to so they can return home.

The ride to Isle Saint-Hubert is not smooth sailing in the slightest and they are being foiled by dinosaurs at every turn. The boat is being destroyed, people are falling overboard or being eaten, and by the time they get to the island the family is separated from the crew and the boat can no longer function. On the bright side, they did manage to get a sample from the Mosasaurus. As the family attempts to make their way to the village, Team Dinosaur begins hunting down the remaining two samples they need – Titanosaurus of the land and Quetzalcoatlus of the air.

The mission for the DNA is essentially timed as the crew must obtain them and reach a helicopter port in the village. The helicopter will circle for two minutes and leave for their own safety, with or without any passengers. As the family works together to get themselves to the village, tensions rise in Team Dinosaur. Krebs is risking the safety of his crew left and right and leaves Zora and Loomis questioning their mission. Is all of the money in the world worth a cure that is not obtainable to anyone but the super wealthy? There in lies the rub should all of the samples be obtained. Will the crew and family too leave Isle Saint-Hubert in one piece with an accomplished mission? Watch Jurassic World Rebirth to find out!

From start to finish, this movie was just pure fun. The cast was rocking, the scenery was stunning, and the dinos were out of this world. The plot was incredibly straight forward and simple but obviously the location added such a sense of urgency that it kept this almost two and a half hour long flick moving at a rapid pace. It felt so much shorter than that because I was so invested! Minus the token villains on Team Dinosaur, everyone in the cast was so darn likeable that it made it feel like you were right there with them every time they got into trouble. It certainly made for a thrilling ride!

Jurassic World Rebirth tipped its cap to so many Jurassic Park classic moments: Tumbling falls, close calls, don’t wake the sleeping dinosaur, and yes – a trapped under a car scene too. This movie was a celebration of a beloved franchise and the bad reviews shocked me after all was said and done. Jurassic World Rebirth asks nothing but to join in on the adventure and it is up to the viewer to immerse themselves in it or not. If you do, you are going to be in for a treat and will leave the theater wanting to see it again. I definitely did. 🙂

Overall, I am going to rate Jurassic World Rebirth with a seven out of ten stars. This is a must see summer feature and I highly recommend it!

Have you seen Jurassic World Rebirth yet? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Geneva On The Lake Getaway

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Geneva On The Lake Getaway

Hello!! A few weeks ago Johnny got an invite from one of his coworkers for us to join him and his partner for a Fourth of July weekend getaway at Geneva On The Lake. They rented an Airbnb right on the water, had a spare room, and said the more the merrier. We happily accepted the opportunity for some fun in the sun and had the absolute best time! The last and only time Johnny and I had been to GOTL was for a work event for my dumb old boss and it was the freaking worst. To go back there in good company and actually enjoy the sights was a gift because I didn’t realize how awesome it was when I was punching the clock in misery lol. 😀

^^^ Hell yeah!!!

Johnny and I headed to our getaway as soon as I got home from work on Thursday and arrived at Geneva On The Lake in about an hour and a half. The travel traffic for the holiday weekend was blessedly nonexistent and that was great because we couldn’t wait to start our mini vacation. The Airbnb that our friends rented was seriously perfect. It was cozy, quaint, and was like having our own private beach. After getting settled and having a quick tour, we decided to hit the boardwalk for drinks, dinner, and visiting an awesome arcade bar.

The boardwalk at GOTL is the cutest and I would love to go back and explore it more. It was old timey, bursting with color, and bustling with activity between the shops, restaurants, and snack booths. It felt like going back in time and enhanced the vacation vibes even more. No stuffy offices, no chain stores or eateries, just quirky local establishments. It’s exactly what Johnny and I like! After stopping at a bar for a bevvie, we decided we were famished and went to a lovely beach side restaurant. They had the best Peach Sangria I have had in a long time and their pierogie platter was to die for! Once we finished our meal, we headed straight to an arcade bar for more drinks (Hey, it was a vacation!) and ALL of the skee ball before calling it a night. And, as per ushe, Johnny and I totally crushed at skee ball which is our all time favorite. I wish we had one in our house!

The following day was Fourth of July and our plan was to hit the beach for the day, head to the boardwalk, and watch the fireworks over the water. We made our way to the actual beach area of Geneva On The Lake and there were no parking spots in sight. Rather than make endless loops trying to find a place to park, we just headed back to the Airbnb and made use of our own slice of paradise instead. We brought chairs, coolers, and beaucoup sunscreen and spent all afternoon on the water. There wasn’t another person in sight and it was absolutely wonderful! It sure beat being in an endless sea of people and I didn’t want to leave! However, there came a point when all of our sunburns got too bad to ignore so we packed up and went inside. (As a side note, my sunburns were BRUTAL so I’ll be in my closet for the rest of the summer!)

We hung out at the Airbnb for a bit and freshened up, then we made our way back to the boardwalk for the rest of the evening. We, once again, had an incredibly difficult time finding parking which ate up a ton of time and ended up finding the last spot in an entire lot. It was a miracle! After playing some more games at the arcade, it was about time for fireworks to start and we just stayed where we were for a while to watch. It was spectacular and the most amazing way to commemorate our mini vacation!

Geneva On The Lake might have only been an hour and a half away but we felt like we were on another planet entirely. It was just the getaway Johnny and I needed and I would love to plan a long weekend trip for us this summer. I’m thinking Hocking Hills for sure!

How did you spend your holiday weekend? Where is your favorite weekend getaway spot? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Feeling Ducky

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Feeling Ducky

Hello!! In good ol’ Akron, Ohio we have a minor league baseball team called the Rubberducks. They play at Canal Park which is a mere ten minutes from my apartment, but I have never been to a game! That changed in April because Johnny’s work generously gives free tickets to the Rubberducks games all season long. Johnny snagged us some tickets and we went to a game with our best friend, Cliff, and my big brother, Andrew, and had the absolute best time. It was freaking freezing during the game, but we enjoyed every minute of the ridiculousness that is minor league baseball: The spectacle, the mascots, the contests, and the cheering at anything and everything like crazy!

This past weekend, my crew and I ended up at another Rubberducks game with a twist. They were no longer the Rubberducks but the Galley Boys. What is a Galley Boy, you might ask? If you’re not from Northeast Ohio, you’re not going to know lol but it is a hamburger from a local staple called Swenson’s. Everyone in my neck of the woods has been to Swenson’s and the Ducks rebrand their name with the drive-in’s signature meal once a year. As my husband is most fond of a Galley Boy, he had to get tickets to the Galley Boys versus the Senators and we all couldn’t wait to go to Canal Park for some fun.

Just like the last game we attended, it was a total blast but this time was even better because we weren’t freezing our nads off lol. To be back at the ball park with my boys was such a treat and we picked up right where we left off the last time: Noshing on stadium food, sipping on sodas, and being super fans. We were hooting and hollering, stomping and clapping, and cheered our Galley Boys on to a victory. The park was packed and to be in the mix of all of the excitement was intoxicating.

If there is a minor league baseball team in your general vicinity, I truly can’t recommend going to a game this summer enough. Even if you don’t like baseball, there is literally no way that you aren’t going to have a good time. If your team is anything like ours, you are in for hilarious sponsorships, mascots that don’t make a lot of sense, crowd pleasing entertainment, and the joy of being out on a summer evening. Johnny, Andrew, Cliff, and I are going to try to go to as many Rubberducks games as our schedules will allow and I am already on pins and needles for the next game we attend. 😀

Our Rubberducks have dominated in both games we have been to and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a threepeat the next time. My crew’s official slogan is DUCK THEM UP and the Ducks haven’t disappointed us yet. Let’s go!!!

Do you have a minor league baseball team near you? What are they all about? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun16

A Discussion With Lisa Jewell

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A Discussion With Lisa Jewell

Hello! Libraries are such an amazing, beautiful, wonderful thing and the ones in my neck of the woods astound me. Every day, there is always some kind of event going on. Whether it’s story time for the kiddos that my nieces love to attend, cooking classes, crafts, concerts, and anything in between they are completely free and open to the public. My family and I frequent library events and have a jam packed schedule this summer to go to as many as we can. In fact, I just attended one this past week.

My sister recently sent me a link to a talk with Lisa Jewell through the Library Speakers Consortium. In this series, authors are interviewed and will do a question and answer session with the questions that viewers submitted. We simply couldn’t believe that Lisa Jewell was on the docket because we are such avid fans of her books! We have read countless thrillers by Jewell and have, for the most part, loved everything we have read. And, as luck would have it, her talk was scheduled exactly during my break time on Tuesday so I could join in.

During the discussion, Lisa filled us in on her new book, Don’t Let Him In, which will be released this month on the twenty-fourth. She guided as through the plot sans spoilers and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into it because it sounds like a doozy! Lisa also answered at least ten audience questions and it was so fun and interesting to hear her on the spot responses. I was especially fascinated by her writing process. She does zero research for her books, she limits herself to writing one thousand words per day, and the most mundane encounters sometimes inspire a whole novel. It truly felt that she writes for the pure joy of writing and that really resonated. There is nothing better to me than taking my talons to the keyboard and seeing what happens!

It sounds silly, but it was just so cool to hear Lisa speak. Her accent and infectious laugh were simply charming and I was on pins and needles to hear what she was going to say next. Like her books, the way she speaks and the words she chooses are handled with such care. She delighted in the questions she was asked and I loved to hear how much she enjoys interacting with her fans on social media. Throughout the discussion, Lisa seemed like the woman you would love to grab a coffee with and chat away. She was so truly herself, didn’t put on any kind of airs, and it was evident that she enjoyed this talk just as much as the audience did. It was wonderful!

I am so happy that I got to attend this virtual discussion with Lisa Jewell! After way more years than I care to admit of reading her books, this was an awesome experience from start to finish. I wonder which author will be next in the series!

What is your local library like? Does your library host fun events too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun5

Fun & Games: Horrified – Greek Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – Greek Monsters Edition

Hello!! One of mine and Johnny’s all time favorite board games is called Horrified. It is a co-op game where you have to save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Wolfman. Each monster has specific challenges that you must complete to defeat them while still protecting yourself and the villagers on the board. It is a complete and total blast!! Johnny and I have played the original Horrified countless times and would often lament on our desire for new boards. You couldn’t imagine our surprise when we learned that there were three other expansions: American Monsters, World Of Monsters, and our newest addition – Greek Monsters!

We are simply elated to have the completed set of Horrified and we busted out Greek Monsters for the first time this weekend. Also lol at the headline “All Hades breaks loose!”. The monsters for this board include: Medusa, Cerberus, Minotaur, Chimera, Siren, and Basilisk. As per the game’s recommendation, we started with the Cerberus and Basilisk and I am pleased to report that we dominated! Check it out:

Like the other Horrified boards, the way to play remains the same: You take a turn, the monster takes a turn, and so on, and so forth. Johnny and I really appreciate this because it can be intimidating to learn a brand new game and the only thing that changes on the Horrified boards are the monsters and challenges to beat them. If this game looks intimidating to you – I so get it. It honestly does look like a lot lol. However, this is one of the most simple co-op games Johnny and I have ever played and once you get the hang of it, the entire Horrified collection opens up to you.

As Johnny and I played Greek Monsters, it only felt appropriate that we listened to our record of Hadestown! It was the perfect soundtrack to protect our village from Cerberus and the Basilisk. These monsters were recommended as they were the easiest, but it was actually quite challenging due to the special actions of the monsters. In fact, we were getting down to the wire and the game could have gone either way – a victory for us or the monsters. Through the power of teamwork, Johnny and I prevailed and I cannot wait to play again!

If you are looking for a super fun and super cool board game, you have just got to try Horrified!! I am absolutely terrible at learning games and if I can tackle this co-op, anyone can!

What is your favorite board game? Have you played Horrified before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah