
The 614 Mom Blog
Tips, Adventures, and Local Gems

Health and Fitness at Balanced Family Academy
One of my favorite things about BFA is how they care about the whole family and the whole body. As many of you know fitness is a huge part of my life and I’m passionate about creating a love of being active in my kids. BFA gives me so many convenient opportunities to make that happen by providing so many organized activities for every member of our family.

5 Ways to Enjoy Kona Ice All Year Round | 614 Mom
Earlier this year I shared all about the Kona Ice House Calls and you guys LOVED it. I had so many messages asking for more information and thanking me for sharing the info, I was tagged in your photos, and Kona Ice had their phone ringing off the hook. Now that we are all bundled up in coats and scarves it’s not as appealing to sit outside in a line to order a large Kona Ice cup with cotton candy flavor but I know you all love Kona just like my family so I wanted to share with you some ways you can still enjoy the treat without freezing. :-)

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
This time of year my home is filled with the smells of freshly baked cookies, muffins, and Pinterest fails (I’m looking at you peppermint ornaments) but nothing makes a cold day a little warmer than my favorite apple crisp in the slow cooker. It’s my favorite thing to throw together before a potluck, holiday event with our families, or just a random Tuesday evening when we just need some comfort food.

Experiences Over Things | 2019 Holiday Gift Guide | 614 Mom
My husband and I are big believers in experiences over things when it comes to gifts for our kids. Don't get me wrong - we are not against toys, we just try to make smart choices when it comes to toys and then use the rest of the budget for fun experiences. I've done a lot of research on different fun experiences happening in Columbus over the next few months, that would be perfect for our kids, and I'm sharing it all below. I hope it helps inspire you to find something fun to experience with your family.

Our Favorite Holiday Gift Giving Tradition | Holidays | 614 Mom
When I was child my Pa, created this super special gift exchange for our family. It didn't involve a lot of money or a few moments in the store, but it did require a lot of thought, and a great deal of planning. On Christmas Day, the members of our family who participated had a blast exchanging their gifts, and when I became a mom I knew that this gift exchange was one I wanted to recreate for my family as a special tradition.

Celebrating The Holidays In Dublin | 12 Elves of Dublin | 614 Mom
If you’ve been a reader for awhile you know that this is my favorite time of the year! I LOVE the holidays! We have a few very special traditions that make this time of year extra special and one of those traditions including spending time in Downtown Dublin. We love walking through Downtown Dublin and checking out the local shops, grabbing ice cream at Jeni’s, and warming up with a hot chocolate from Starbucks!

Everything You Need To Know About Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights | 614 Mom | Columbus, OH
We recently discovered Fantasy of Lights and I am so glad we did - our Decembers will never be the same. :-) Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is a drive thru light show located at the Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds.

614 Mom Speaking Engagements | Nationwide Insurance
A few weeks ago I was asked to speak, for a second time, to the moms group at Nationwide Insurance. It’s always so fun to meet the people who read 614 Mom, invite new readers to check us out, and give everything I can to everyone there.

Spending Intentional Time With My Daughter
As my daughter has gotten older I’ve noticed that we are very similar and we share similar love languages. The biggest one we both hold is Quality Time. I just want to spend uninterrupted time with the people in my life, and when people put what they are doing on hold to focus on me I feel more loved. My oldest is very similar in that way and I am always looking for fun ways that she and I can spend quality time together.

30 Unique Experiences To Gift The Adults In Your Life, Columbus Ohio
I’m a big believer in experiences over things which is why I’m so excited to share with you my suggestions on experiences to gift to the adults in your life. These can be used for anyone - your boss, parents, spouse, babysitter, etc. I’ve broken them down into categories so they are easy to browse. If you have one I should add to the list - comment and tell me!