Ohio

Everything You Need to See & Do at COSI

May 1, 2023 by Rachel 6 Comments

There are so many fun and exciting opportunities throughout Ohio. We have an incredible amount of art and culture spread across the state. One of my favorite must-see places is located in Columbus, Ohio. COSI, or the Center of Science and Industry, is an innovative, hands-on science center that is perfect for families in all age ranges. I’ll share with you all of the things you need to see & do at COSI.

Who, what and where?

COSI is located in Columbus, just off of the interstate, at 333 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215. On-site parking is located just off of Broad in an underground (and covered) parking deck. The hours of operation as well as ticket pricing can be found here.

COSI food — Various lunch options from Atomic Cafe

Changing tables for kids and adults are located throughout various bathrooms in the building. On-site food and beverage (as well as adult beverages) are available in both the Molecules and Atomic Cafe (and both are delicious).

Must-See Exhibits at COSI

There are so many different exhibits and experiences available. Some of the exhibits are on permanent display, like “Energy Explorers” and “Big Science Park.” While other exhibits are open on a temporary and rotating basis. These can’t-miss experiences are perfect for the whole family:

Dinosaur Gallery

If you’re a parent of any sort, I’m certain your children have gone through at least one dinosaur phase. For many of us, kids and adults alike, we can struggle with the concept of just how huge these creatures were.

So for the American Museum of Natural History and COSI to come together to showcase these creatures in all of their glory is truly incredible.

This permanent exhibit consists of a full size T. rex, a climbable nest, as well as life-scale diorama of the creatures in their natural habitats.

It’s truly a fascinating exhibit. And our dinosaur-obsessed crew could have spent all day learning even more about these creatures.

Ocean

For as many times as I’ve been to COSI, I don’t think we’ve ever made it through the Ocean exhibit. And holy smokes! It is incredible!

It’s like travelling to a magical world of water, where kids are taught about both Greek mythology and science!

This hands-on exhibit allows kids to use actual oceanic technology like sonar and remote operated vehicles to explore the world around them.

They can even climb into a mini submarine!

Fair warning: You may end up just a tiny bit wet from this exhibit, but it’s totally worth it (and it truly is just a little bit, I promise!)!

Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures

Tutankhamun, or King Tut, as he’s widely referred, was discovered just over 100 years ago by Howard Carter.

The huge exhibit walks you through a self-guided audio tour of King Tut and his rise to the throne. The audio tour offers a kid-friendly guide for even the littlest explorers in your group.

Our history-loving 10-year-old was completely enthralled to hear the story of King Tut and get a behind-the-scenes look at so many artifacts.

It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get to see so many replicas and artifacts from a time in history that continues to be so fascinating for many (myself included!).

Everything You Need to See & Do at COSI king tut

This temporary exhibit runs from now until September 4th, 2023. Tickets to the Tutankhamun exhibit are an additional charge and can be found here.

Planetarium Show

The COSI Planetarium show is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Shows run every half an hour from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM from Wednesday through Sunday. The planetarium itself is the largest planetarium in the state of Ohio!

It is currently showing Passport to the Universe, which is about a 20 minute show. It kept 5 kids and three adults incredibly entertained the entire time. To be honest, space stuff just blows my mind. It’s hard to really grasp how big the universe is. And the COSI Planetarium really puts things into perspective.

The shows are on a first-come, first-served basis. So be sure to plan ahead and get in line about 5-10 minutes ahead of the showing of your choice!

Nature’s Superheroes: Life at the Limits

This brand new exhibit explores the cool ‘superpowers’ that certain species have to help them survive. From mammals that can survive for hours without breathing, to extraordinary (and bizarre!) mating rituals, Nature’s Superheroes covers all of it.

This exhibit is included with your COSI admission and features larger-than-life models, dioramas, and interactive learning.

COSI Tips and Tricks

Arrive early.

We arrived just before opening and there were cars lining up the street to get into the parking deck. We didn’t have to wait at all, but there is just so much to see and do. You’ll want to give yourself ample amounts of time for everything.

Build in breaks to your schedule.

Science and technology are so cool, but it can be overstimulating for some folks (big kids and little kids).

Be sure to build in ‘breaks’ to your schedule for snacks, downtime in the play area (where kids can get some energy out), and get outside at the Big Science Park exhibit for some fresh air!

Get the schedule of the live shows upon arrival.

COSI offers super fun and interactive live-shows on the science stage at certain times throughout the day. Be sure to catch a seat during one of the performances to get a chance to see the power of electricity up close!

HAVE FUN! And consider becoming a member!

There is so much to see and do. The memories you make at COSI will last a lifetime. Becoming an annual member includes benefits like member previews and events, as well as discounted or free reciprocal admission to over 360 other science museums.

Learn more about membership opportunities here.

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Family Fun at Castaway Bay

October 25, 2022 by Rachel 11 Comments

As much as my family and I love to travel to faraway beaches, we have plenty of ground to cover here in Ohio. We love exploring all of the incredible places, museums, and amusement parks. And the cooling weather won’t stop us from getting in some family fun at Castaway Bay in Sandusky. Especially now that they are open year round!

The Waterpark at Castaway Bay

Arriving at the Castaway Bay Waterpark felt like we were stepping onto a tropical island. The wave pool was an immediate hit with all three kids (ages 9, 6, and 4). With zero-depth entry and regular wave cycles, it almost felt like we were back on the beach.

Ari, our 9-year-old, loved going down the waterslides with Chad. I would say that it wiped him out completely thanks to all of the up and down of the stairs. (Mom win, right?!).

In addition to the slides (and stairs!) there were plenty of other ways to wear my kids out in the water park. The “School Crossing” activity (where you use a combination of ropes and floating objects to cross without getting wet) was, hands-down, a favorite with our oldest.

He went on School Crossing at least 30 times — and he only fell in once!

Fun for All-ages

Mila is our youngest, and also the tiniest 4 year old. I wasn’t worried one bit about whether or not she would have fun. Sure, the waterslides are still a few years off for her; but she loved playing in Hank’s Hangout. Hank’s Hangout is an interactive water playground, of sorts.

Fernando’s Tadpole Pool was another hot place for younger kids. With age-appropriate slides, water pipes, and splashing gadgets, it kept her busy for hours.

As you can see, it kept the big kids busy for hours, too. Because you’re really never too big to ride a little water slide, am I right?!

Land activities at Castaway Bay

As much as our family loves playing in the water, we needed to take breaks on dry land. Luckily there is plenty to see and do without ever having to leave the resort. And the kids wanted to do these activities just as much as they wanted to be in the water (if not more!).

Gamer’s Grotto

Fun fact: All three of our kids (yes, even our four year old) are obsessed with arcade games. We are regulars at our local arcade at home. So I knew they were going to have a blast playing with the latest video games, racing games, and other classics like air hockey.

The game cards were easy to use, reloadable, and easy to track both tickets and plays.

We literally had to pull them away from the arcade to go eat dinner. And, that’s okay with me.

There were no tears. There was only an excessive amount of fun. And that’s what we were there for! The family fun at Castaway Bay that we were looking to have.

Club Castaway

Club Castaway is an awesome offering of dry activities suited for every age. From crafts, to puzzles, to music, there’s something for everyone.

Lobby Activities

Probably the best thing about staying at Castaway Bay is the fact that there is something interactive for the kids at every turn.

Mini Bowling

My husband and I used to go bowling regularly before we had kids. Our kids are finally at the perfect age to take them bowling, but we just haven’t made it yet. Starting out by introducing them to Castaway Bays Mini Bowling was the perfect way to introduce them to a tried and true American pastime.

With bumpers available at a literal push of a button, and bowling balls that fit even little hands.

They did great — especially for their first time. And, once again, they didn’t want to leave for our next on-site adventure.

Blacklight Mini Golf

On our last day at Castaway Bay we tried out the Blacklight Mini Golf, located just off of the lobby.

Blacklight Mini Golf consisted of 9 holes of neon fun! You swipe your card at the machine to retrieve your ball and grab a neon-colored putter before heading in to the blacklight zone. All the kids had so much fun.

Family-friendly dining at Castaway Bay

We really like to plan our trips around food. And I spend hours looking at menus, dreaming about what delicious foods I’m going to try when visiting a new place. Castaway Bay has so many options for every person in our family — even the pickiest of them!

Quaker Steak and Lube

If you’ve been around here a bit, you’ll know that I have a borderline obsession with chicken wings. It all started when I lived in Buffalo (the home of the chicken wing!).

While I’m not crazy enough to try the Hot Wing Eating Challenge (I like to *taste* my food, not die from it!), I did eat a lot of other flavors of wings.

It’s located on the property of Castaway Bay, which makes it super convenient. In fact, you can take the hallways to the back entrance — so you never even have to go outside.

With 25 featured sauces, and a whole menu of items for kids who don’t eat chicken wings, there’s something for everyone.

High Tide Café

We started both mornings at High Tide Café with their all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.

The buffet was able to satisfy all of our morning cravings — as there was something for everyone. From cheesy potatoes with peppers, to pancakes, to lots and lots of bacon.

Ice Cream from the Sprinkle Shack

Is it really a trip or getaway without ice cream? I think not. We stopped mid-day at the Sprinkle Shack for a treat. And it was everything we needed.

Surfside Beach Bar and Grill

The Surfside Beach Bar and Grill is located within the waterpark area, which makes it perfect for a quick and easy poolside meal.

We ordered a pizza, half pepperoni, half cheese, to appease the masses. It was SO cheesy and definitely filled us up for some more pool adventures.

The Room and Amenities at Castaway Bay

I was so happy to hear that all of the rooms and public spaces at Castaway Bay have been newly renovated. And it certainly showed in our room. The floors were tile — which I love considering how many wet feet will be trotting in and out. The beds were beyond comfortable and the views of the lake were breathtaking.

Unlike some other places we have been, every speck of the resort was clean. Nothing felt even the slightest bit unclean. As a mom of three littles, that is super important to me.

Also, the staff were wonderful. The lifeguards and attendants in the waterpark were always available. They were helpful, knowledgeable, and very attentive to safety. At one point, Ari (our oldest) hurt his toe from dragging it on the bottom of the pool. A lifeguard assisted us with getting him cleaned up and made sure to check on him later during our stay.

Why you should take your family to Castaway Bay

There are so many reasons that you should take your whole family to Castaway Bay. A good three days on the resort property will be all that you need to make memories to last a lifetime.

You can make your reservation here for year-round fun!

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Family Fun at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake

July 9, 2021 by Rachel 19 Comments

If you have ever travelled through or lived in Ohio, you’ll know there is a lot of ground to cover. We are lucky to live within driving distance to so many incredible places. With three young kids, taking 12-hour road trips is less than ideal. But finding places within driving distance here in Ohio is incredibly easy. And the perfect adventure and family fun can be found at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake.

Why the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake?

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is located on the most beautiful lakefront location — right on Lake Erie. The views are truly picturesque. And the lodge is gorgeous — both inside and out! With 109 rooms and 25 lakeside cottages, there is truly a space for all sizes of families. Our family of 5 was more than comfortable in our fireplace room, overlooking the outdoor pool and splashpad.

Here are my favorite parts of the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake:

Lakeside and poolside

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake not only has incredible views, but it also features both an indoor and outdoor pool, and a splash pad. While we spent a lot of time exploring the strip and the state park, my kids wanted to spend every other waking moment at the pools.

We alternated between the indoor and outdoor pools for a change of scenery. But both pools have a view of Lake Erie that would give oceanside cities a run for their money. It is simply breathtaking.

Exceptional on-site dining at Horizons Restaurant

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake features on-site dining from Horizons Restaurant. With stunning views, both indoor and outdoor dining, and a rotating seasonal menu, it’s the perfect place for dinner with the family.

Our appetizer was the kids choice — Warm Pretzels with Guinness Beer Cheese. They were so good that the kids asked for another order!

Family Fun at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake

All three kids ordered their own kids meal while the parents indulged in the most decadent meals we’ve had in a long time. My smoked pork chop with local blueberry beer glaze, and brussels sprouts and kale salad paired perfectly with my all-Ohio wine flight featuring Ferrante’s best wines.

Chad ordered the quinoa crispy shrimp, which he let me taste. Also an incredible option. In all honesty, all five of us were so impressed by both the service and the meals. I truly have not stopped thinking about my pork chop since our visit.

Comfort for the whole family

The service in the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake was outstanding. From our check-in experience, to the friendliness of the gift shop staff, we felt over-the-top welcomed by everyone.

The kids loved the fireplace in our room (despite the 90 degree weather). I couldn’t help but think about visiting in the winter to get the full effect of our beautiful fireplace room.

S’mores and Sunsets

Sure, the views of Lake Erie are stunning during the day. But a Lake Erie sunset is magical. Whether you visit the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake with your whole family, as a couple, or with girlfriends, you absolutely must catch the sunset.

I wish I could put into words how magical this moment was for my small kids. They’ve seen plenty of sunsets before; but none have compared to the sunset on the lake. The only thing that made it more magical for them was getting to make s’mores with this incredible backdrop.

The gift shop at the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offers s’mores kits and it is a must-do (especially if you ask my kids). Heck, even if you’re visiting as a couple, I highly recommend making s’mores with this view. What could be better than s’mores and this Lake Erie sunset?!

Family Activities at Geneva-on-the-Lake

Many people immediately think about the fun activities for couples in Geneva-on-the-Lake. But I am here to tell you there are absolutely so many fun activities for families. In fact, when we were in the car on the way home, all three kids declared that we must return for a visit soon!

Zipline Adventure Park with Lake Erie Canopy Tours

Before settling down and having a family, Chad and I were super adventurous. Heck, if we have a babysitter, we are still super adventurous. But there’s also a huge thrill in watching your children accomplish things they didn’t think they could do.

I will tell you that our middle child, Remy (age 5), is always the first to volunteer for something fun. But she also quickly realizes that she may be too nervous or scared. Luckily the guides with Lake Erie Canopy Tours and her brother, helped to convince her that she is strong and brave.

Both Ari (age 8) and Remy, completed the kids adventure course multiple times. Near the end of their hour long tour, Ari decided to see how quickly he could make it through the ropes course. His best time was about 2 and a half minutes.

I will forever be grateful for the confidence and bravery the staff helped to develop with my kids. And I cannot wait for Mila (age 3) to join in on the fun next year.

Tour the strip and park by renting a golf cart

During our first morning at the Lodge, I convinced my husband and kids that we should walk to get lunch from The Old Firehouse Winery. Honestly, it isn’t far. But what I didn’t factor into our adventure was the humidity and having 3 tiny people making the trek. But we made it! We enjoyed our lunch, wine slushes, and ride on the ferris wheel.

*Wine Slush at The Old Firehouse Winery.*

But, from there on out, we decided to travel the strip by golf cart rather than by foot. The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offers on-site rentals for kayaks, paddle boats, and golf carts. It made exploring so much easier — the strip is a lot longer than I expected!

Go for a ride on #5 Big Eli — and then grab a meal at Old Firehouse Winery

Old Firehouse Winery - Geneva on the Lake

Old Firehouse Winery, just minutes from the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, was purchased in 1956 for the now closed “Erieview Park.” After the park closed, Old Firehouse Winery bought it and it is the only winery in the world with its own ferris wheel!

You can purchase tickets from your server at the winery or in their storefront. But I offer you this pro tip: ride before you eat. The #5 Big Eli is fast. I may have had to put on a brave face for the kids (I’m afraid of heights, but I really wanted to experience seeing Lake Erie from that viewpoint. And it did not disappoint).

It is completely obvious why people visit Old Firehouse Winery. Even without the ferris wheel experience, the views and food are laid back and perfectly paired with their wine offerings.

Explore Geneva State Park

Geneva State Park is located right next door to the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake. It’s easily accessible by walking or riding on the paved trail from the lodge. Or you can take the golf cart through the main entrance. Either way you enter, the state park offers amazing views, and almost 700 acres to explore.

A six-hundred foot beach shoreline is a great place for kids to play on the shore of Lake Erie. Who needs an ocean, right?!

Get your adrenaline pumping at Adventure Zone

Within our first hours in Geneva-on-the-Lake, we walked past Adventure Zone. It’s located less than a half of a mile from the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, so it’s an easy walk. My 8-year-old declared that we must go there! This family-owned and family-run business features a full arcade and a bunch of other exciting attractions.

We made the most of our visit to Adventure Zone by hitting the go-karts (yay for tandem karts), bumper boats, merry-go-round, and bungee trampoline before making the grand finale exit from Geneva-on-the-Lake: the Zip Zone Zipline.

I credit my 8-year-olds willingness to climb the 60-foot tower and fly down the 1000 foot zipline because he had previously done the kids course at Lake Erie Canopy Tours. To tell you the truth, this mama was nervous for sure! Chad and Ari climbed that tower and I watched like a hawk from below. I had butterflies in my stomach and so much excitement for this adventure for him.

And guess what? They both did great!

Whether you take a two-day trip or week long trip to the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, your family is going to have a blast. Book your stay today!

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Invest in their future on 529 Day!

May 25, 2020 by Rachel 29 Comments

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions herein are my own.

We have been on a roller coaster lately. Times of uncertainty have been upon us and our children are going through something that will forever change their lives. Their education has been transformed overnight. Parents are working harder than ever to keep up with working and schooling, whilst also planning for the future.

There isn’t just one way to educate

Education happens in so many ways. Over these last few months, I’ve come to not only appreciate my children’s educators even more, but I’ve also learned that education comes in so many forms. Playing outdoors, making kitchen science experiments, and even planting a garden are incredible ways of learning. My 7-year-old even took part in an online coding camp!

Education doesn’t stop at school

We all now know this (whether we wanted to or not!). Our children are always learning, always listening, and always growing. Literally every single part of their days are spent learning about the world around them. And it’s our job to help nurture the process of education.

Invest in your child’s future with Ohio’s 529 Plan

As an adult with a decent amount of student loan debt, I can attest to the fact that the cost of higher education can be daunting. Regardless of your child’s age, opening an account with Ohio’s 529 Plan right now is the perfect way to invest in their future education.

Ohio’s 529 Plan can be used across the country at both 2- and 4-year programs and technical schools. Using the College Saving Planner you can see how an investment of any amount today can truly help cover the cost of schooling later!

Your child doesn’t need to know what they want to be today. My son still says he wants to be a YouTuber. But tomorrow he may say he wants to be a video game engineer. And, heck! He’ll probably at some point say he wants to be an electrician. The point is, any financial investment in Ohio’s 529 Plan today will help him to be whatever his heart desires. He can use the funds for a 4-year school as an engineer, or he can use the funds towards a technical school to be an electrician.

You only need a few items to start the process of opening Ohio’s 529 Plan and you do not need to be a resident of the state of Ohio! In fact, if you are an out-of-state grandparent or relative of a child and would like to give the gift of education, this is a great way to start. You can open and contribute to the plan for the beneficiary of your choosing.

Ohio's 529 Plan - Invest with Confidence

What better time to make an investment in Ohio’s 529 Plan than on May 29th?!

May 29th, or “529 Day,” is a day to highlight the importance of higher education. Ohio’s 529 Plan has partnered with BlackRock Investments to host a webinar (which you can find here) to provide helpful tips on how to save and prepare for the future during a volatile market. The webinar is completely free and will provide you with all the tips to help you invest in your children’s future with confidence!

The benefits of investing in Ohio’s 529 Plan

Investing in Ohio’s 529 Plan means you’re accruing tax-free compound interest towards your future education expenses. You’ll also receive a tax deduction of up to $4,000 per year for each beneficiary. You can use this tool to see the real Cost of Waiting to see just how much your money can grow by investing in an Ohio’s 529 Plan versus a low-interest savings account.

But what about market turbulance?

Ohio’s 529 Plan has teamed up with BlackRock to discuss this very thing during a live webinar on May 28th. You can register for this webinar at no charge here.

Check out my video for information on how to get started!

Tell me — how many of you could use $250 to start your Ohio 529 Plan?!

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Easy Tips to Help Stay on Track This Year

January 14, 2020 by Rachel 30 Comments

This post has been sponsored by Distillata. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Can you believe we’re about to open a brand new chapter in this book of life? A new decade is upon us and it’s hard not to think about goals for the coming year — or ten! As a busy family of 5, my priorities and goals are a little bit different. My goals aren’t as concrete as they were in the past, but they are attainable and sustainable for a busy family.

Health Tips

Drink all of the water.

We are huge H2O drinkers in this house. And I’m not just casually saying that. I mean that for the longest time my children did not know they could drink other things… like milk.

My biggest tip for getting your family to drink the appropriate amount of water is this — install a water cooler in your home from Distillata. Distillata delivers our 5-gallon water jugs at the intervals we choose. When I say we drink a lot of water, I mean a lot. We go through approximately FIVE 5-gallon water jugs every 4 weeks!

Having a Distillata water cooler in our home has been a game-changer. The big kids can get their own water whenever they want, and that just means they’re drinking even more than they normally would!

Head here to check into having Distillata delivered to your home.

Take a daily multivitamin.

Newsflash: our kids don’t eat what we want them to. Do any kids? I mean, ours used to. But somewhere between two and 3-years of age, they started to get little minds of their own.

Where we lack in food nutrients we make up in the form of a daily multivitamin.

Keep moving.

I have gone through phases and stages in my life where I am always on the move and then never on the move. It’s hard to find a balance. For me, I have found instant accountability by wearing a fitness tracker. It’s like a game for me. I try to stay at the recommended move goal (which is usually 10k steps per day) and I despise breaking my ‘streak.’ It’s a great motivator.

Not every day is going to be a knock-it-out of the park type of movement day. And that’s okay. But the trick is to make a conscious effort to move more.

Life Tips

Stay organized.

As a busy mom of three, having a well-communicated schedule is key. I keep two schedules, the first of which is my Google Calendar. It’s easily accessed when I’m at home or on the go so I can keep track of all of our commitments, work, fun and otherwise. The second is a large wall calendar in our kitchen.

It may seem silly to keep two calendars, but I assure you this is key to keeping the whole family on-track. My husband can glance at our wall calendar and see exactly what we have scheduled on any given day.

Make life easier.

One of the best decisions I made for my family was to streamline whatever I could. I subscribed for services like Shipt, which helped tremendously when I was out of diapers and couldn’t take three kids out during a snowstorm. Or I would schedule grocery pickup with Curbside Express. Heck, I sometimes even subscribe to meal delivery services!

But the real game-changer came when we started having our water delivered by Distillata. Prior to that, I would take all three kids to the store to fill up our two 5-gallon jugs of reverse osmosis water, carry them back to the car and in the house, only to have to constantly pour more water into our fridge container for easy dispensing.

Distillata has changed the way we drink our water. I’m no longer going to the store, trying to manage filling up two jugs of water while fitting them in the cart with my kids. Our deliveries are scheduled every few weeks directly to our home. They take our old jugs away and leave us with four or five bottles of the same water I was struggling to get at the grocery store.

Work Tips

Focus.

Whether you’re a work-from-home mom like me, or a part-time employee, or a full-time worker, we can all benefit from having more focus. Personally, I struggle with wanting to attack all of my goals at once. That just isn’t feasible. Not for me, not for anyone.

I’ve found that by creating a to-do list based on three categories works perfectly. The first category is Must-Do’s. These are items that need to be tackled immediately. The next column on my list is Try-To-Do’s, and it’s exactly how it sounds. They should not be done before the must-do’s, but if I can get around to these items, then perfect!

The last column on my list is Bonus Items. These Bonus Items are things that are less of a priority at this moment (that doesn’t mean they are not a priority!).

Limit distractions.

I know so many people who get sidetracked from their workload due to outside forces and circumstances (*cough, cough* I am one of those people). Limiting those outside forces of distraction can and will be very helpful for your work environment.

Actions such as deleting social media apps off of your phone and drowning out office chatter with headphones can be a tremendous help. I find myself even being distracted by regular music so I’ve found a piano and classical playlist to help me limit the distractions.

The Big Picture

Regardless of how your year has gone thus far, there is one important thing to remember: You have the ability to change. You don’t have to wait for the start of a new year, a new month, or even a new day. You can implement changes all at once or slowly, but the important part is deciding to start.

This is going to be the best year yet.

EASY TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY ON TRACK THIS YEAR WITH DISTILLATA

Giving Gifts that Give Back

November 29, 2019 by Rachel 19 Comments

After becoming a mom, one thing became crystal clear — Christmas is 100%, entirely about the children. Not just my children, but all children. This holiday season my children and I are using the spirit of Christmas and shopping at Gordman’s to give back to St. Jude’s.

I took my littlest helper to our local Gordman’s to grab some gifts while the big kids were in school. Since our main prerogative for this trip was a mission to give back, we picked up some toys at deep discounts to donate to our local children’s hospital. This week we are wrapping the gifts and my kids are going to turn them over to kids who will be stuck in the hospital for the holidays.

Bear’s That Care

I also purchased a couple of Bear’s That Care! Bears That Care is a partnership between Gordman’s and St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Gordman’s will donate $2 of each Bear sold this season to St. Jude’s. St. Jude’s believes that no family should have to worry about a medical bill while just trying to make sure their child lives.

How you can give back

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is December 3rd. Consider giving a donation to St. Jude’s Research Hospital this holiday season.

Use the hashtag #BearsThatCare

From now until December 31st, Gordman’s will donate $1 to St. Jude’s for every time you use the hashtag #BearsThatCare on Instagram. How easy is that? If you’re going to use hashtags, add this into your post!

toddler looking at camera with teddy bear

Shop at Gordman’s and buy a Bear

Shopping at Gordman’s for gifts is at a deep discount is a given; but while you’re there, consider picking up the St. Jude’s bear.

Teach your children the power of giving back

As parents, we are delivering lessons to our children daily. Make one of those lessons the tradition of giving back this holiday season. Help in a soup kitchen, deliver toys to the hospital, or donate to a food drive. However you choose to make a difference, get your children involved in the process.

Tell me — how are you going to give back this holiday season?