Jellystone Park Columbus North: Where Fun and Adventure Collide!

Jellystone Park Columbus North: Where Fun and Adventure Collide!

Last week my family packed up the minivan and headed 45 minutes north to go camping. Yes, you read that right. I went camping. My kids were shocked. My husband was shocked. I was shocked.  My husband and kids love to go camping and typically go several times a year so this was an elevated camping experience to my brand new experience.  They have been trying to get me to go with them and I always refused until we found Jellystone Park Columbus North. Now I can’t wait to go back.

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2023 Touch-a-Truck Events in Columbus, OH

2023 Touch-a-Truck Events in Columbus, OH

Touch-a-Truck events hold such a special place in my heart because of how much my kids LOVE them. Seeing their faces light up at the site of a big fire engine or a dozer makes this mama's heart very happy. I’m always searching for any Touch-a-Truck I can fit into our schedule and I thought I’d share my list with all of you. I hope this helps you plan your family adventures this spring/summer. If you know of one that isn’t on this list please comment and I’ll be sure to add it.

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A little life update…

A few weeks ago I sat in my doctor’s office with a long list of things I wanted to discuss.

My doctor had left the practice so I had to establish care with someone new. It felt like a great time to address all of the things I’ve had on my mind. We knocked through the easy items pretty quickly.

✅ Anxiety medicine refill

✅ Request for full set of labs

✅ Heel pain

The doctor had 30 minutes for my appointment and we went over by 45 minutes (so incredibly thankful) because she listened to me as I explained my relationship with food, my struggle to eat most of the time, and how desperately I want to feel better. I cried. I was desperate for someone to confide in and someone to listen to how difficult this is for me on a daily basis. She gave me exactly what I needed on this day. An ear to listen, professional advice, and the push to share these things with someone close to me.

After a long conversation with lots of questions she spoke the words…”eating disorder”

Not me. Nope.

I’m not purposefully doing this.

I’m at my largest size.

I can’t have an eating disorder.

After weeks of reflection, results of my labs and some honest conversations with myself (and my husband) I get it.

Disordered Eating.

Gut punch.

The truth is…

I’ve been pretty unhappy with my current weight for awhile so I never really cared that I couldn’t eat. My body didn’t want the food and that was okay. Maybe that will help me lose the weight I already struggle with, I would tell myself.

But the truth is I’ve been working on the wrong problem for a long time. Instead of worrying about my weight, I should have been worrying about my unhealthy relationship with food and the fact that nothing ever sounded, tasted or felt good to eat.

A relationship that stems from a lifelong concern over my weight and the way my value as a human is strictly determined by the size of my jeans.

I don’t know why I share this because I’m absolutely terrified to hit publish on this post but I think it’s important to shine light on the hard stuff too. If I’m going to be on social media I want to do so in a way that is authentic to me and not hiding the truth behind a screen.

Welcome along on my new adventure of falling in love with food again and maybe somewhere along the way falling in love with myself again too.

Regular content will still be here too. 😘

2022 Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory

POLLINATOR PALOOZA 

We love the Franklin Park Conservatory + finding fun new events to attend as a family which is why we are excited to attend the Pollinator Palooza next month! If your kids love birds, bees, butterflies, and all of the creatures that make our gardens grow as much as my kids do - then mark your calendars because they will LOVE this event

June 25, 2022, in conjunction with National Pollinator Week, Franklin Park Conservatory will be hosting Pollinator Palooza, a free event for the community. Attendees will get to engage with various organizations that are raising awareness for pollinators while enjoying learning opportunities, crafts, music, time in the garden and more.

This event is free to attend; no tickets or reservations are required. Please note that this event is held in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus, located southeast of the Conservatory. Admission would be required if you wish to also explore the Conservatory before or after the event.

Schedule of Events

Organization Fair & Activities | 11am–3pm

Stop by pollinator-centric booths from the Conservatory and participating organizations for activities, crafts, games and more. The full list of participating organizations is below.

Exploring Pollinators in the Garden | 11am & 1:30pm

Take a walk in the garden and observe bees in action. Led by Denise Ellsworth, the Program Director of Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, OSU Extension.

Food Demonstration | 11am-3pm

Taste delicious foods made with ingredients that are only possible thanks to pollinators. Led by the Conservatory’s Sustainability Educator, Heather Bell.

Fort Hayes Student Band led by Jeff McGarish  | 11am–3pm

Students from Columbus City School Fort Hayes will perform live music throughout the event.

Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2pm

Greet the mascot of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Food Trucks | 11am-3pm

NAICCO

Tortilla

Dirty Franks

Dessert Food Truck (TBA)

Participating Organizations

Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center/Center for Applied Plants

Bat Conservation International

The Bee Collective

The Bugman

Child Development Council of Franklin County

Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks

Columbus GreenSpot

Columbus Recreation and Parks

East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

For All Species

Fort Hayes

Franklin County Master Gardeners Volunteers

Gahanna Herb Center

Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council

Grange Audobon Center

Greater Columbus Growing Coalition

Hinton Apiaries

Kiwanis Club of Columbus

Love Your Alley

Ohio History Connection

Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative

Ohio State Beekeepers Association

Ohio State University Extension

Ohio Wildlife Center

Red Bearded Honey Man

Scioto Gardens

Wild Hare Prairie Native Nursery

Wild Ones Columbus

The Salvation Army and the Summer LemonAiD Campaign

The Salvation Army and the Summer LemonAiD Campaign

I’ve shared a lot about The Salvation Army and their LemonAiD campaign this summer, but it wasn’t until recently that I got to visit one of the Salvation Army Learning Centers. Filled with smiles, structure, and kindness, this particular Learning Center hosts their own lemonade stands all summer long. It was so fun talking with the children at the center and hearing directly from them on why they love giving back to the community.

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Peace, Love, Lemonade

Peace, Love, Lemonade

Parents, Andrea and Dan with their girls Libby and Hannah agree that The Salvation Army LemonAiD program is a great way for “Kids to help kids.” They raised over $1,400 last year with their virtual stand called “Peace, Love, and Lemonade.” This year they plan to meet or exceed that goal by hosting both a virtual and a physical stand where both Libby and Hannah can sell delicious lemonade.

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Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory - FREE Event in Columbus

Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory - FREE Event in Columbus

Franklin Park Conservatory is an absolute family favorite. We love it there. I could spend all day exploring and taking it all in and thankfully my kids love it just as much, especially the Children’s Garden. In just a few weeks you can celebrate the birds, bees, butterflies, and all of the creates that make our gardens grow during Pollinator Palooza!! It’s already on our schedule and we CANNOT WAIT! The best part? It’s FREE! You don’t need reservations or tickets to take part in Pollinator Palooza.

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