Our state fair is a great state fair

Saturday was actually kind of a hard day as a hospital advocate so when Kyle brought home Ohio State Fair tickets, I was relieved to spend the evening out and about. It was closing weekend for the fair so it was pretty crowded but we enjoyed ourselves. One of my biggest passions/interests is in American popular entertainments and I especially love carnivals and sideshows so, naturally, I had to take pictures of the all classic midway spots.

Fair food is scrumptious which is a good thing since it’s also deep fried and overpriced. We saw the sign for the smorgasbord and all I could think of was this.

And as crowded as the fairgrounds were, up at the top of the Ferris wheel, the world felt very small and far away.

Speaking of which, did you know the first official Ferris wheel was constructed in 1893 in Chicago? Now you do.

I love that you can see the Columbus skyline behind Kyle in this picture.

We didn’t get a chance to see everything but we did spend some time in the sheep barn and met this fuzzy guy. I wanted to give him a hug but I’m not sure he felt the same.

Have you visited your state fair recently? What’s your favorite thing to do at the fair?

love, elizabeth

moh-tuh-vey-shuhn, noun, from the medieval latin mōtīvus

Uhhh, you know how bloggers, lots of bloggers, get into a rhythm and a schedule? Like they post every day and they plan ahead and work it all out? This is not one of those posts. I just needed someone to talk to.

I am really flagging when it comes to my personal motivation lately. I have a reading list the size of Mars and the end of summer is looming ALREADY and I can’t summon the energy to clean the apartment or empty my inbox or study or ANYTHING. I want to be successful, I want to buckle down and get stuff done. But right now I feel like I’m just watching the calendar pages floating away like they do on old Saturday morning cartoons and I just want to stop the clock for another five or six weeks. WHEW.

I just needed to get that out there into the universe. This weekend, I plan to clean the apartment until it squeaks. And then maybe that reading list will seem more manageable somehow. I just can’t think inside the mess.

Alright. Make me feel better. What helps you get re-motivated when you’re in a slump?

love, elizabeth

“I’d go to the ends of the earth with you…”

my mother said, as we packed the car and headed for the mountains. She’s like that.

We spent Friday and Saturday in Leadville, Colorado and Mom indulged every blogger impulse in my body. “Oooh, look, Mom! Buffalo Bill’s grave! We have to stop…I can blog about that!!!”

“Mom, an antique store! I can blog about that!!!”

“MOM! FRESH ELK JERKY! BLOG!”

And not only did we visit every little nook and cranny I requested, she allowed me to photograph her in every nook and cranny. Here are a few of my favorites.

Mom on Lookout Mountain near Buffalo Bill Cody’s grave.

Mom at the Tennessee Pass café for breakfast.

Mom in the box seats at the legendary Tabor Opera House.

Mom outside of The House with the Eye museum off of Main Street, downtown Leadville. Oh, yeah. And there were some mountains. No big deal.

 

I only took about a bazillion picture so I have TONS more to share. Stay tuned!

love, elizabeth

ps: I miss your blogs! As soon as I’m back in Ohio, expect visits and comments galore.

My Indispensable Summer Beauty Products

I’m not a huge believer in “the indispensable.” I’m pretty sure I could live with very little (and certainly way, way less than I have) if I had to. But in these humid Ohio summers, there are a few beauty products I’m totally thankful for.*

1. Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner.

I’ve talked about this stuff before. Sarah introduced it to me and now I can’t stop raving. It smells great and my skin is soooooooo happy. Since I’ve pretty much sent my foundation packing, this toner has been my best friend.

2. John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray.

If you like my hair in this picture, you might also enjoy this fine hair product. It’s kind of a miracle for a girl with wavy, frizzy hair (emphasis on the frizz) like me. If you don’t like my hair, then you might still enjoy this John Frieda concoction. I don’t know. I’m not omniscient.

3. Intuition Plus Razor by Schick.

This is totally my beauty splurge. I realize that we all define “splurge” differently but since the replacement blades for this razor are kind of on the expensive side of the drug store (they actually lock them up now), they’re a splurge in my book. And um…totally worth it. Since I’ve switched from the old-fashioned razor and shaving cream combo, I have completely eliminated razor burn and the 25 minutes of shower time it used to take to achieve it.

4. Women’s One multi-vitamin from Rainbow Light.

A bajillion thanks to Kate for introducing me to the Rainbow Light line of supplements. I have a sensitive stomach when it comes to vitamins but these are whole-food (rather than synthetic) and I can totally take one of these on an empty stomach, no problem. I realize that not everyone is a vitamin person but I’ve noticed a difference in my complexion and energy levels so…I guess I’m a vitamin person.

*This is a totally sponsor-free ad. That’s right. I am just THAT in love with these products.

Alright, share with me. What is on your “indispensable” summer list?

love, elizabeth

PS: Did you get a chance to meet these bloggers? They’re awesome.

Sangria and a Summer Night

I’ve been dying for a good excuse to try to make a yummy summer drink and I finally had my chance this last weekend! I made this delicious sangria recipe on Saturday night and, if I do say so myself, it turned out pretty darn delicious. I poured it over frozen strawberries and ice and it was so cool and refreshing. The best thing about sangria, I’ve discovered, is that it keeps well in the fridge for a few days and actually tastes even better after about 24 hours (which is good because I still have half a pitcher in the fridge). The perfect drink for a summer night. For a non-alcoholic version, you can also try this recipe out.

I hope that this Memorial Day is a time of remembrance and honor for our fallen service members and their families, as well as prayer for our active-duty and veteran armed forces. A special thank-you to both my parents and little brother for their service to their country and to any members of the military or their families that might read this blog! Please know you are loved.

Happy Memorial Day!

elizabeth

Summers at North Market

I’ve seen lots about farmers’ markets making the rounds on my favorite blogs and well, I’m a band-wagoner at heart. No fiction here.

Here in Columbus we have one of my favorite year-round markets, the famed North Market in the heart of downtown. It’s full of restaurant and specialty food stalls, fresh flowers and gifts, and just generally creative, innovative people. But North Market is most awesome in the summer. The vegetables get brighter, the flowers get bloom-ier, and the market extends into an amazing outdoor farmer’s market for the warmer months.

Don’t you just love that smell of fresh bread and really good cheese and freshly cut flowers? Those smells are like summer to me.

So who else has been hitting the farmers’ markets? And has anyone ever had a BAD experienced at a farmer’s market? I’m super curious.

love, elizabeth

Summer is Like Being Seven Again

This last weekend Kyle and I indulged our inner kids a little.
Saturday night, I made s’mores over the stove…because we were too lazy to go outside and fire up the grill. I think they tasted better with the two of us, barefoot in the kitchen, eating over the counter, and giggling like 2nd graders. Kyle made a lot of fun of me because my method of toasting marshmallows is basically setting them on fire and blow them out, instead of patiently toasting all sides. Because that takes too long and I like them crispy.
I love how smooshy and messy and delicious they always are…



And then Sunday, after church, we decided we needed to get out in the sunshine so we went to one of our favorite outdoor spots in Columbus, the Park of Roses. Which, in case you didn’t know, is a park. Of roses. It’s actually a really big park and we had a lot of fun walking around and snapping pictures.



And spying on this very large, very bizarre expedition of people with gigantic butterfly nets that piled out of a van and set off for the woods. We, uh, we kept our distance from THOSE people. I was a little afraid of the guy in the safari hat.
We had a picnic under the trees, complete with basket, blanket, and our very own picnic ants!


Madigan really wanted a sandwich.

I think we took over a hundred pictures but here are a few of our favorites…







There’s a huge weeping willow tree in the middle of the park that hundreds of people have carved their initials in. Maybe someday I’ll be feeling rebellious enough to add ours.









What does your inner kid love to do?
love, elizabeth
PS: Start the countdown…just NINE more posts till our next giveaway! Tell your friends, tell your fellow bloggers!

Mad for Madigan: Summer Beauty Edition

Dear Readers,

If you haven’t been keeping up with Mad for Madigan, CLICK HERE to read past features!

Today I’m talking summer beauty. Obviously, I am pretty much an expert on being beautiful. And since Mom is pretty clueless, I thought I’d share 3 indispensable beauty tips to bring out your inner babe:

1) Drink plenty of water and leave the makeup at home. Mom thinks I just lick her face because I like the taste of her foundation. Puhleeease, girlfriend, you need to wash that gunk off and let the summer air do the rest!

2. Get outside with your pets and enjoy the sunshine. Nothing to put color in your cheeks and a spring in your step like a walk with your furry pal. Trust me. I’m GORGEOUS.

3. Accessorize with kindness, not trends (think: smiles, not purse dogs). It’s hot outside and people are in a hurry. Take that extra minute to hold a door open, thank a grumpy salesperson, pick up that stray piece of trash, offer to help your neighbors with a chore, and give your people and puppies kisses. There is nothing more beautiful.

Stay excellent.

Madigan

PS: If you own an Etsy shop that offers pet accessories, I would be happy to review and advertise any product you would like to send me or to host a pet-friendly giveaway!

PS2: Have a topic you’d like Madigan to cover? Submit your suggestions to loveisadventure@gmail.com.

Flower clip: Goody

Collar: Bow-Wow Couture on Etsy

Gorgeous fur coat: Mine, all mine.

Be Kind to Yourself: The $7 Vacation

It’s that time of year, isn’t it? It feels a little like everyone and their grandma is taking a vacation.

“Where are you going on vacation?” we usually ask.

“Oh, nowhere special just the Bahamas/Hawaii/a Caribbean cruise/St. Barts/a fill-in-the-blank-exotic/tropical-locale-that-you-would-kill-to-visit.”

I know that’s not really true. A lot of us are really struggling to afford lots of things these days and a lot of the people who ARE taking exciting trips have been working and saving to make those happen.

But it was a conversation with some friends about our summer vacations (or lack thereof) that prompted…the mini-vacation. We are very thankful to have a pool in our apartment complex but I was realizing how little time we spend in it. Also very thankful that yesterday brought an entire day of sunshine to the city of Columbus! Back in Colorado, we have more sunshine than air and so I, the eternal sun baby, have learned to take it for granted. But in Ohio, you apparently have to do a special dance and sacrifice some chickens to get the sun to make an appearance (not that I tried that).

I just had this silly little epiphany that being kind to ourselves was not just the big grand week-long vacation or the tropical destination or the money we sometimes have to spend but about the peaceful hour I am fortunate to find in the day-to-day. And I thought, Hey! I can make a frozen drink and sit by the pool for next to nothing!

So yesterday, I ran over to the two cheapest places on earth, Wal*Mart and the Dollar Tree (where, in case you hadn’t heard, everything is exactly a dollar…which is, you know, crazy town for someone like me) and spent about $7 or so for an afternoon at the pool.

Strawberry margarita mix: $2.88 (in case you’re not a margarita girl like me, these babies cost about $8-14 each in a restaurant).

Drink glasses, bendy straws, leis, and tiny umbrellas: $4.79

The book I brought to read, Flapper. This one has been keeping me up late and I think it’s a great “beach read,” too! Click here to check it out on Amazon!

It took a considerable amount of cajoling (enough to make the use of that word in this post necessary) to get Kyle to wake up (after all, he didn’t get home from the night shift until after 9 AM that morning and he was exhausted). And it took all of my feminine wiles to get him to wear that lei for all of the five seconds I needed to snap this picture. And that was also the sum total of time he spent actually wearing it. Dollar. Well. Spent.

It’s a testament to how much I like all of you that I am posting a bathing suit picture. I can’t remember the last time I allowed something like this to happen!

So now I want to know…what kind of mini vacation have you taken or are planning to take? How are you being kind to yourself THIS week? And if you ARE lucky enough to be taking an extra special vacation to somewhere amazing, where are you going and what are you most excited about?

love, elizabeth

PS: If you haven’t already, click here and enter to win the Teeny-Tiny Spa giveaway! And feel free to share the link with your friends and fellow bloggers! I’d love to share it with anyone who is interested.

Be Kind To Yourself

During a recent counseling session with my therapist, I began listing off all the things I hated about myself, all the ways I was sure I had failed. I wasn’t disciplined enough, I told him. I was unsure of my path. I say the wrong thing. I second-guess every relationship and friendship I have. I am constantly questioning my abilities and my feelings. There’s a drum beat in my head and it’s sounding off the same, familiar rhythm again and again. You are not good enough. You are not good enough.

My counselor smiled at me as I told him all of this and his eyes were sad. “You’re not very kind to yourself, are you?” he asked. That hit me hard.

The whole notion of “taking care of yourself” is deceptively simple. Often, I think, I say that I am. Maybe I even think that I am. I rush through the day, moving too quickly to really consider how things are hitting me, affecting me. But lately, I’ve been making a concerted effort to stop and take a real kind of inventory of my state of being. Am I being kind to myself? Am I okay? And if I’m not, is it okay that I’m not okay? Too often, I find myself stepping quickly over the most painful moments because I feel like I don’t have the time or energy to feel them or let them pass through me.

I guess that’s what this summer is about for me. I want to be kind to myself. I want to learn how to do that. I want to learn to be more patient with my heart and more gentle with my soul. I’ll be making an effort to keep blogging about the self-kindness journey. What about you? What can you do to be more kind to yourself this week?

Hurry up, June, I haven’t got all summer…

For a multitude of reasons, chief among them being my need to procrastinate, I am posting a list of all the fun things I am going to do this summer. I realized I plan and chart and schedule all the sucky stuff so why not make a list of all the exciting things, too?
And because I like to keep a little mystery, I’m going to post a picture of ten things WITHOUT a description. I’m excited to hear your best guesses below! Photo credits will be in my next post along with the answers.
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8


#9

#10

Alright. Any guesses? Would you believe me if I told you I don’t even need to leave the state of Ohio (except for picture #7) to have all of these awesome experiences? Eh…you probably would.
What about you? What are YOU doing this summer?