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Name: Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 1 (5-count) package of Johnsonville Bratwurst; 5 large yukon gold potatoes; Cleveland Kraut, Gnar Gnar or Beet Red; 5 hoagie rolls; Coleslaw; 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Everything You Need to See & Do at COSI

May 1, 2023 by Rachel 7 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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The Bratsgiving Polish Boy : A Cleveland Twist

August 12, 2020 by Rachel 25 Comments

As a foodie, I’m always on the lookout for the daily ‘national food holiday’. It’s a fun and exciting way to switch up meals and meal plan. So I was excited to see that this month we are celebrating National Bratwurst Day (or, as we call it, Johnsonville Bratsgiving) on August 16th. I grew up in the Midwest. And, here in Ohio, we LOVE a sandwich called the Polish Boy. A traditional Polish Boy is made up of kielbasa, topped with french fries, cole slaw, and barbecue sauce, in the middle of a hoagie roll. So why not put a Cleveland twist on Bratsgiving with the Bratsgiving Polish Boy?

Well that’s exactly what I did.

Why Johnsonville Brats?

I personally love the flavor of Johnsonville Bratwurst. The Beer Brats and Original Brats are staples in our house. They don’t take long to grill (or cook on the stovetop) and our whole family will eat them up!

Why the Cleveland twist?

Cleveland is a foodie haven. What was once a rundown city in the rustbelt has turned into a bustling foodie travel destination. We have world renowned chefs, like Michael Symon and Dante Boccuzzi. But we also have critically acclaimed restaurants all over the place. It’s truly an incredible place to live. So why not “Cleveland”-up the Bratwurst?!

What makes it a “Polish Boy”?

A traditional polish boy is on a hoagie bun and topped with coleslaw, french fries, and barbecue sauce. The french fries are a DEAD giveaway to this Cleveland twist. And, in this case, I ended up using both traditional coleslaw and a beet-sauerkraut.

I opted for fresh cut fries, using this knife. While it does make it slightly more labor intensive, it makes the Polish Boys 100x more delicious. My kids, however, are ‘weird’ about crinkle cut fries — so I sliced some string thing fries for them.

How to make your own Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich

Yield: 5

Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 (5-count) package of Johnsonville Bratwurst
5 large yukon gold potatoes
Cleveland Kraut, Gnar Gnar or Beet Red
5 hoagie rolls
Coleslaw
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Clean potatoes well. Using the crinkle cut knife, cut 5 large potatoes into fries.
Line a baking sheet with the cut french fries. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt on potatoes. Bake for 45 minutes.
Prepare Johnsonville Brats according to the package instructions.
Once Johnsonville Bratwursts are cooked thoroughly, remove and place in hoagie rolls.
Remove baked fries from oven. Add on top of bratwurst.
Add your choice of slaw or sauerkraut.
ENJOY!

Vote for your favorite Midwest Cities #Bratsgiving Creation!

Here’s what I need you to do. Head to the Johnsonville website and choose which Midwest city has the best Bratsgiving recipe creation. Vote for your favorite chef-inspired recipe and Johnsonville will donate $5,000 to the winning chef’s charity of choice. How great is that?! I love when a company gives back!

Tell me — What’s your favorite type of Johnsonville Brat!?

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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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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?

Gift Giving that Gives Back with Gordman's

Experience Holiday Family Fun at Pinecrest

November 25, 2019 by Rachel 34 Comments

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

Now that I’m a mom of three little kids, I’ve found that gift-giving to adults can be difficult, to say the least. We have two sets of grandparents to ‘buy’ for and, quite honestly, none of them need any more ‘stuff.’

But the act of gift-giving is still important. As is creating a magical holiday season for our children. So, as a family of 5, we are creating ways that our children can both have fun this season and make and create gifts that their relatives will enjoy for years to come.

Family-Friendly Events

There are so many opportunities for family fun at Pinecrest this holiday season.

Tomorrow, November 26th marks the beginning of Skate in Central Park and this event is open daily through January 5th, 2020! Bring your own skates, or rent at the rink!

If ice skating isn’t your thing, there are other events to check out. Mingle with Kringle while you’re out shopping, or check out the choreographed light show, Pinecrest Nights of Lights.

Check out the full holiday event schedule here.

Creative Gift-Giving

Gifts made with love are the best types of gifts, am I right? This year we decided to make all of our grandparents’ gifts at Pinecrest.

Color Me Mine

My kids ADORE painting. I, on the other hand, would prefer not to have them ruin my kitchen table. Color Me Mine brings both my desire for cleanliness and my children’s desire to paint together in perfect harmony!

Color Me Mine, a DIY paint-your-own pottery studio. Their options of pieces range from small to extra-large, and they offer over 60 colors.

My children took approximately five hundred minutes picking out their pieces to paint. But, where they lacked in decision making, they made up for in creativity.

I have to include major props to the employees of Pinecrest Color Me Mine. See, I had Mila with me and I was unable to be as hands-on with the big kids as I originally intended. But the employees helped my big littles bring their visions to fruition.

We picked up our finished pieces after the glazing process was complete (within just a few days). My kids are obsessed and they cannot wait to give them away as gifts to their grandparents.

The Candle Studio

Making candles is one of my favorite experiences. My kids have been dying to try their hand at it, so we decided to try The Candle Studio.

The employees at the Candle Studio were incredibly patient with my kids. They explained the steps from picking out their scents, to deciding on a container, and then mixing it all together. It was adorable to see them run back and forth to find scents they liked. It turns out they both like watermelon and bubble gum (shocker).

I sipped on a local craft beer as my kids decided the perfect watermelon to bubble gum ratio for each of their respective candles. Surprisingly, both of their candles smell different, despite both using the same two scents! Mixing is everything, friends!

I, on the other hand, mixed my own candle with a variation of hops and pine scent. Basically, it smells like Christmas beer.

I was surprised at how easy (and fun!) the Candle Studio was with young kids. I fully expected them to have zero interest and for me to be doing all of the work. But that wasn’t the case at all! They loved it. And just ninety-minutes later, we picked up our finished soy candles for the grandparents.

Making Memories Through Experiences

I know that these gifts aren’t extravagant, but they are perfect. Their grandparents will know full-well what kind of effort they put into these handcrafted presents. They will see the joy in the eyes of their grandchildren as they open up these gifts made by teeny hands.

The memories we’ve created will last a lifetime. Long after the soy candle has been burned down and well after the dust has settled on the unicorn tealight holder Remy made (sorry, Mimi — hope you like bright pink unicorn tealight holders! 😛 ).

Make your own memories this holiday season and discover all of the holiday magic at Pinecrest.