On our latest Explore Indiana adventure, we visited a 200-year-old city in Southern Indiana along the banks of the Ohio River. While heading to a soccer tournament in Cincinnati, we stopped for an afternoon to explore Aurora in Dearborn County. A few of the main tourist attractions are closed for winter (dang winter!), but luckily, Aurora is full of historic buildings, beautiful outdoor murals and quaint shops to visit. Hillforest Mansion Our first stop was Hillforest Mansion. It is closed for the season, but I still thought it was worth a peep. Completed in 1855 and built in the Italian Renaissance style, the mansion is now a national historic landmark and absolutely beautiful. As I love poking around old homes, this will have to be a re-visit next time I get down this way when it’s open for tours. Hillforest Mansion is a beautifully restored tourist attraction in Southern Indiana Downtown Aurora After snapping a few pictures of this gorgeous tourist attraction, we headed downtown. I parked the car (ample free street parking) to stroll the main street and see what we could discover. River towns are so interesting as they tend to be laid out so that the businesses head down towards the river versus the traditional Indiana downtown square. Aurora was incorporated in 1819, so they just celebrated their 200 year anniversary. Most of the downtown buildings have been carefully restored and maintained, which makes for captivating architecture. In addition to several large, eye-catching murals, there is a walking tour called the Windows of Aurora that show scenes of life in the early 1900s. Go to their...
Wondering how to begin planning your Disney trip? Whether you are planning your first or your fiftieth trip to Walt Disney World, there are certain things you must do to prepare. Taking a little time before you travel will improve the quality of your trip substantially. Are you ready to plan your Disney vacation? Here are my top 5 must-do’s before you leave home. Decide Upon a Budget I know it’s not exciting to think about how much you want to spend on your trip, but Disney can be EXPENSIVE. Once you are on vacation, it’s also really easy to let things slide and justify purchases you’d never make at home “because after all, we are on vacation.” Sound familiar? So, take even half an hour and think about what your spending limit is for areas like park tickets, food, lodging, extra activities, and souvenirs. Even if it’s a rough estimate, it gets you to start thinking critically about your expenditures which will help you think twice before making foolish purchases. Insider Tip: If you are looking for specific ways to save money for your next vacation (so you can do more!), check out my FREE guide 5 Tips to Help You Save Money for Your Next Vacation. Sign up for My Disney Experience when planning your vacation This website/app is a must for planning and executing your Disney vacation. It’s free, and you can start by signing up at My Disney Experience, but make sure to also download the app for your phone. Once you are in the parks, you can use the app on the go to...
It’s that time of year again! Time for a new Style Challenge – wondering what I’m talking about? It’s similar to a capsule wardrobe, but check out this short video for all the details: GYPO Style Challenges has helped over 6 thousand women from all over the world make getting dressed in the morning the easiest thing you’ll do all day! Want to learn more? The great news is the Spring 2020 GYPO Style Challenge just launched. The Style Challenge takes all the headache and guesswork out of shopping and trying to stay in fashion. You don’t need to worry about putting together outfits or if you’ll get enough wear to justify buying something. Every item on the seasonal shopping list is selected with intention and purpose. This means only buying pieces that you love and will wear over and over. And honestly, you likely have a lot of pieces in your closet you can use already, that’s a win for the budget! I know I’ve only purchased two tops and one pair of shoes (that I’ve been looking for several seasons now), for this challenge. You can register for the Spring 2020 GYPO Style Challenge for just $39 HERE. What’s included in the style challenge? You’ll get the following tools to help you on your style journey: A capsule wardrobe shopping list of on-trend items and classics basics (you’re free to shop where you want and spend as much or as little as you want!) Links to shop for recommended items online or in store (we’ve done the work for you by choosing items to suit every budget...
Are you looking for good books to read? I have done a fair amount of reading this winter – not as much as in previous years, but still a decent amount. I know many people who set a goal of reading x number of books in a year, but I’ve always been afraid that would take away the joy and relaxation for me. So, I just go through periods of reading a lot and times of reading a little less – regardless, I always have a few books going – just might take me longer to get through them during busy seasons of life. Here are my favorite books from my winter reading: Non-Fiction Book Reviews The Wellness Project was a book I just picked up at the library when I saw it on display and I’ve really enjoyed it. Reminiscent of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, the author tackles one aspect of her health every month for a year. I love how at the end of each chapter, she shares a list of ideas for implementing some of these changes into her life. She’s also keen on not creating such a rigid routine in any area that she can’t enjoy life – which I feel is always a struggle when making lifestyle changes. There are recipes after each chapter which is a fun touch. My rating 4.5 out of 5. Fiction I just finished Cilka’s Journey, and like The Tattooist of Auschwitz (the first book in this series), it was challenging, upsetting and hopeful all at the same time. Cilka entered Auschwitz as a 16-year old Jewish...
How can a non-skier still enjoy a ski trip? Are you a non-skier in a family full of skiers? Or just someone who’s been invited along to a ski trip and aren’t thrilled with the idea of skiing every day? Or maybe you are like me, and love to ski, but don’t want to spend every minute of your vacation doing it. If any of those scenarios describe your situation, then this post is for you! Even though the main focus of a ski trip is skiing, there are almost always lots of other activities nearby for those family members who don’t ski. When we go skiing every year, we always sprinkle a few of these activities into the trip, but honestly, we could still have a fabulous winter vacation even if we ONLY participated in the non-skiing activities. Relax by the fire There is nothing as relaxing as snuggling up next to a roaring fire with a good book and a hot cup of coffee (or something stronger if you prefer). If you are extra lucky, said fireplace has a view of the ski slopes so you can also watch the excitement of the slopes while you are warm and cozy. If you love to read, you can easily spend a few lovely hours enjoying yourself while the rest of the group is out on the mountain. Explore the nearby towns We ski Boyne Mountain every year and the little towns surrounding it are wonderful places to spend a few hours poking around cute stores, enjoying a cup of local coffee and picking up some local treats for...
Hi! I’m Pam. I’m a busy mom of two teens who loves to travel and enjoy each and every day. My hope is to inspire other busy moms to create family memories and discover everyday adventures wherever they are! Check out my About Pam page for more details.
