Antiquing in Ohio

January 22, 2019 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

My friend Amy and I were suppose to go on a weekend trip to Antique Alley in Richmond, Indiana but a foot of snow ruined those plans. So we improvised and created our own antique trail.

We started the day at Antiques Village in Dayton, Ohio, which is only about an hour drive from my suburb right across the river from Cincinnati. This 800,000 square-foot mall has over 350 booths. I have never seen so much Pyrex in one location and it was all reasonably priced.

This booth had mostly Pyrex. Several other booths had Pyrex as well.

Every booth was setup so that we could easily move through it an see all of the merchandise. It took nearly two hours to walk through the entire antique mall. We loved seeing the old toys, furniture, games, decorations and albums. It was like taking a walk down memory lane. Although we really enjoyed seeing everything in the mall we only made one purchase since we both live by the theory of if I don’t have a specific place or use for it, I’m not buying it.

Amy purchased this fun ornament for only a few dollars.

Next we had lunch right down the street from the antique mall at Chappy’s Social House. We chose this strictly based on location but we’re so happy with the choice. We both got a shrimp po boy and cheesy mashed potato casserole. The french bread is from Sam’s and amazing. The mashed potatoes are homemade and seriously delicious.

Lunch at Chappy’s

Our next stop was the Ohio Valley Antique Mall on Dixie Highway in Fairfield. This mall features 550 dealers in the 85,000 square foot mall. This mall is also fantastic but some of the booths are overcrowded making it hard to see everything. We spent at least 2.5 hours here. We did leave with a few more items though.

Amy chose the game because she had fond memories of playing it at her grandmother’s. One of my husband’s favorite movies is Pinocchio and he loves listening to records. He will enjoy sharing this with our 3-year-old granddaughter. I bought the old valentines to decorate with. We both spent less than $15.

You would think all of this shopping would be enough but we weren’t finished yet. We headed to the Valley Thrift just down the street from the Ohio Valley Antique Mall. Amy found a cute bag of gnomes to decorate her plants with for only a few dollars.

Even though our legs were tired we made on more stop at the nearby Goodwill on Dixie Highway. I bought an adorable Minnie Mouse helmet, that looks as if it was never used, for $4, for my granddaughter to use at our house when she rides her bike with the neighbor kids. I also got my daughter a nice hoodie for just a few dollars.

We decided 10 hours of shopping was enough and finally headed home. We actually discussed spending the next day on the Kentucky side of the river hitting the Fort Thomas and Florence Antique Malls but we were deterred by the pouring down rain and chose to clean our homes (making room for new stuff) instead. Hitting the antique malls in Northern Kentucky is definitely on the list for a future day of shopping as well.

Do you have a favorite antique or second-hand shop? What is the best item you have ever found at one of these shops?

Learning to Say Yes

April 13, 2017 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

People talk about learning to say no all the time. You don’t have to volunteer for every school fundraiser, be on every work committee or give money to every walkathon. It can be really hard to say no, which is something I had to learn to do. But it’s even harder to say yes. I’m not talking about saying yes to running the school bake sale or hosting a benefit. I’m talking about saying yes to help.

yes

Most of us have had a crisis in our lives, whether it is a death in the family, a car accident or an illness, and have heard the question “what can I do?” from our friends and family. They might even be more direct by offering meals, to go to the store for you, be a taxi for your kids or even clean your house. And we often say “no, that’s okay” or “I’ll be alright.” But you know what, it’s not okay and it’s not alright. There are times we need to just say yes.

My son Joey was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Langerhans Histiocytosis when he was 10. He had to undergo major surgery, spend months in a wheelchair and receive steroid treatment. Dozens of people offered to help and I often found myself saying that we were okay. But the fact is, we weren’t. Luckily there were people who insisted on helping anyway. They brought food, games to keep Joey entertained, took my daughter places and helped however they could.

Histio Warriors Supporting Each Other

In September of 2015, my step-son was in a terrible car accident and spent three months in the hospital. He was in critical condition for the first three weeks, two hours from home. My husband and I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House while my two teenage children were two hours north trying to maintain some type of normal life.

helping hands

This is when I learned to say yes. I knew we needed help and luckily we have tons of friends and family who were willing. People took care of our kids, brought them meals, sent us meals, made sure my kids got to school and my daughter got to work, and did absolutely anything we asked of them. People who we didn’t even know very well helped our family. It was truly amazing.

It was hard to accept the help at first but we quickly realized that we had to. We also learned that people weren’t making empty offers. They truly wanted to help us and they didn’t expect anything in return.

Whether you have a child in the hospital, a parent who passed away, or surgery for yourself, say yes when friends and family offer to help. And when they ask “what can I do?” be honest. Tell them you need someone to go to the grocery, do your laundry or make a meal. Learn to say yes.

My High School Senior Looks Back on her Four Years

January 25, 2017 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

Four years ago, when Andi was an 8th grader scheduling for her senior year, I wrote a post called Transitioning to High School. This inspired Andi to write her own post called Andi’s Version of the High School Transition. I showed her that old post last night and she decided to write an update (I suggest reading the original first by clicking here):

Well my mom’s bloggies, I made it thru. I should have been scared when i wrote that the first time. High school was scary, I probably was scared and just lied. In general, I was afraid of the upperclassmen and what everyone would think of me. I wanted to be cool and popular, unlike myself in middle school. I tried too hard and was intimidated by other girls in my grade and the grades above me.

Beginning of junior year i realized that it didn’t matter what they thought of me and I stopped wearing makeup everyday and trying to look stylish all the time. I learned to love myself more. Now that i am the “headmaster” (as my past self called it) of the school i realize that when I was a freshman the seniors probably didn’t care about what i wore or how i looked bc I sure as heck don’t pay attention to the freshman. I also realized that nobody is going to remember that one day I went to school without makeup and greasy hair. I learned to embrace the way I look. I wish I could tell my freshman self all of these things because she’d probably poop her pants if she knew I don’t wear foundation every day to school, heck sometimes i don’t even wear makeup around the boy I like. When I think about my freshman and sophomore self I don’t hate it, I just wish she didn’t hate herself.

As far as classes go I’m still taking Spanish. I moved all the way to AP, and let me tell you, lamp is not el lampo. Spanish is definitely difficult. I stopped taking journalism after freshman year because I wanted to take other classes & it wasn’t really my forte. If you are sending your child into high school next year I definitely recommend taking regular classes & ignore the pressure for AP, ESPECIALLY regular social studies courses. AP world would be the death of your child. AP English is really no biggy as long as you already understand grammar because they don’t really teach that in AP.

Even though I was annoyed about how worried my ma was about me going to high school, I’m thankful for it because there were times I was happy I was her little princess.

Yes, I was teary eyed when Andi sent this to me last night. It shows how much she has grown, not just physically but as a person in the last four years. She’s a young woman now. She plans to major in social work at Northern Kentucky University this fall. She might even minor in Spanish…

Andi’s graduation

She might be almost 14 but has the heart of a 4 year old

Andi Pandi the Panda Bear

This Diva doesn’t get dirty

Spice 101 with Colonel De

January 17, 2017 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

I fell in love with Colonel De Herbs and Spices during a Tasting event at the Kenton County Public Library a few years ago. The Colonel and one of his chefs served barbecue made with their spices and sauce. It was so good that I convinced them to teach me how to make it and a few days later I visited the Findlay Market location to purchase the items needed. I made a huge pot of it for a party and it was a huge hit. I was sold.

So I was obviously very excited to find out Colonel De was opening a location, that would also offer classes, in my hometown of Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The newer store is considered head quarters for Colonel De’s, which offers thousands of spices, gift sets, teas, sauces, oils and more.

Colonel De teaching Spice 101

I loved going in the store to enjoy the smells and the food (he often has samples) but I was somewhat overwhelmed and never knew what spice would be best for what dish. The Colonel and his staff are always more than happy to help with those decisions but taking the Spice 101 class at the Fort Thomas store was the best thing I could do.

We discovered how to use spices, match flavors, what are the Top 10 spices or blends that every kitchen should have to prepare a meal for any occasion, how to properly store and care for spices, quality, freshness, where each spice is from and how to recognize each. Chef Matt allowed us to taste several spices in the appetizers he made for us to sample.

One of my favorites was bread dipped in the the French Fines mixed with Olive Oil. It was so yummy I had to buy some of the Colonel’s oil and French Fines. I really liked the Adobo spice mixed with anything but the Colonel suggests using it as a dry marinade with chicken, beans or pork. We also learned how long each type of meat should be marinaded for.

My shopping bag

Colonel De Herbs and Spices mixes all of it’s own spices in store. There is something for everyone, including those with gluten, onion or nut allergies. Nothing is cross contaminated. Anything with a nut product is locked up separately from the other spices. One of the things I really like is that I don’t have to buy an entire jar of anything. I can buy by the ounce so I don’t have to worry about waste or freshness. It also seems to be cheaper per ounce than our local grocery stores.

De’s also offers classes on baking cookies, choosing the right salts, menu planning, easy appetizers and kitchen hacks. Check out the Facebook page for upcoming events. Most classes cost $20 per person. I am looking forward to attending future classes and improving my skills in the kitchen.

Disclosure: I attended the class at no charge in exchange for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

How to Prep for Your Child’s Senior Year

January 11, 2017 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

Note: This post originally ran on Kenton County Public Library’s Blog, written by me.

Okay, I admit it… this title is misleading. My daughter Andi is a senior in high school and I’m not really sure what the best way to prep for senior year is but I can tell you some of the do’s and don’ts we have learned along the way. I will say you should start preparing before freshman year even starts.

Draft a plan for the next four years that includes what classes your student will take and when. Make sure you cover all of the requirements and then figure out what electives your child might want to take. Andi changed her mind throughout the years on the electives but at least we had a plan and knew exactly what had to be taken to meet her graduation requirements.
Decide with your child if they will take advanced or college placement classes and do your research. Not all colleges accept AP credits and even some of the credits accepted do not actually give you the general study credit you need. Your teen must pass the AP test, a college exam, at the end of the year to even receive the credits. Although some colleges accept a weighted GPA (a B is an A if it’s an AP course), not all colleges do. Since high school students are taking college level courses in the 10th and 11th grades, they don’t always score as high as they would if it was a regular course. This will impact their GPA. Along with your student, decide if you want to focus on college credits, rigor or GPA.
Most colleges require students to have two consecutive years of a foreign language in high school. Think about this when scheduling freshman classes and drafting the four year plan. My daughter started taking Spanish as a freshman. She is now taking AP Spanish as a senior. Our hope is that she passes the final exam and that the college of her choice will take that credit since she plans to minor in Spanish.
Unless you have a huge college fund sitting around, instill in your child that they are their ticket to college. There are a lot of opportunities for scholarships based on grades, ACT tests, community involvement, etc. Make sure they understand that 9th, 10th and 11th grades count. High school can be fun but don’t sacrifice grades for a good time.
Unless you are looking at an elite school, most colleges require a decent GPA and ACT score. Many do not look at rigor, extracurricular activities or even require an essay. However, scholarships look at all of that. You do not have to be a 4.0 student with a 36 ACT to receive a scholarship. Scholarships are given to cancer survivors, students who volunteer their time to work with the elderly, those who take on a service project, children of alumni who have at least a 2.5 and worked a soup kitchen. Okay, it might not be as specific as that last example but it’s close. Andi has done a lot of volunteering over the years but it was here and there type stuff. Now that we are looking at scholarships, we wish she would have picked at least one agency to really focus on all four years. Take a look at scholarship opportunities when your child is a freshman so they can plan ahead and be sure to meet any requirements. Your school’s guidance counselor should be able to lead you in the right direction.
Take the ACT more than once and take a prep course. Andi took the pre-ACT as a 10th grader and the real ACT in March of her junior year. This gave us a baseline for a very difficult test. We then enrolled her in Torch Prep (there are several courses out there to choose from), which taught her the strategy behind the ACT. She took the test again in July and received an increase of four points. The course was definitely worth the cost since she will now receive merit scholarships based on her ACT/GPA combined.
Choosing a college is difficult for the child and the parents. Obviously cost plays a huge part but you still want to choose a place that your child will be comfortable and receive a good education. Go on several college tours, even to schools you didn’t think you would consider just to compare. Consider whether the child will live on campus, off-campus or at home. Make sure the school offers the program of study your student is interested in, even if they do change their mind 10 times. Once you have narrowed down the college choices, have your child shadow a student for the day at the schools they are interested in. Andi will be shadowing a social work student at Northern Kentucky University next month. She will have lunch with that student and professors. I believe this is the best way for her to decide if this is the program for her or not.
Dig out your and your child’s financial information at the start of their senior year to prepare for FAFSA. This is the financial aid application that everyone is encouraged to file, even if you don’t think you will receive money. This application even determines if they can work on campus. Visit the FAFSA website in advance to make sure you have everything you need. The application process starts Oct. 1 of your child’s senior year and the money is given to first come first served. This includes some student loans. Make sure you understand the rules and regulations so that your application is not delayed.
Your child will start applying to colleges in the fall of their senior year. Take a look at the common college application and help them get a head start.
There are a lot of fun things that happen senior year as well – senior photos, prom, senior pranks, college acceptance letters, graduation parties, senior trips and more. My daughter is so focused on grades, college aps and paying for college that I do have to remind her to have a little fun. It think helping our children balance, especially their senior year, is a big part of our job.

And remember, just because you and your child choose one path freshman year, doesn’t mean you have stick with it all four years. Your student will be figuring out what works best for them as they go. It’s not set in stone, just a draft to guide your student through the next four years.

Suggested Resources (click on the link to put on hold):

Book of Majors

The Other College Guide: a Roadmap to the Right School For You

Winning Scholarships for College

Paying for College without Going Broke

Up Your ACT

Online Resource:

Kenton County Public Library’s Learning Express – ACT and SAT Prep

Disney on Ice Presents Dare to Dream

October 10, 2016 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

My granddaughter and nieces are so excited! Disney on Ice’s Dare to Dream is coming to the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati! And Raising2Tweens is about to make another family’s dreams come true with four free tickets to the show! Giveaway details below.

cinderella1

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream is bringing Disney’s princess stories and most beloved fairy tales to the ice in a sensational live production coming to your hometown! The show, featuring scenes from Tangled, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and The Princess and the Frog, visits Cincinnati from October 27-30 for seven performances at U.S. Bank Arena. Tickets are on sale now.

Mickey and Minnie will share the heroic stories of four of your favorite Disney Princesses. Families will laugh along as the heroic princesses tell their stories on ice. Nothing can stop a princess from a courageous adventure when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream skates into to your hometown.

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream start at $17.00 and are available at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Giveaway: Four tickets to the 7 pm show on Thursday, October 27.

Enter to win by 10 pm on October 15:

Visit Raising2tweens on Facebook
Comment here saying who you would take to the show

The winner will be contacted on October 16.

Update: The winner was chosen by Random.org and the contest has come to an end.

Ringling Brothers presents Circus Xtreme

February 26, 2016 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey present Circus Extreme March 3-6.

RBBB-145-1200x628-Photo-BMXFlip

Tickets can be purchased at http://m.ticketmaster.com/US-Bank-Arena-tickets-Cincinnati/venue/180631.

Attending the circus at US Bank Arena has become a family tradition. My 14 year old son is so in love with the circus that he has doing Circus Mojo and someday hopes to be a professional circus performer.

RBBB-145-1200x628-Photo-TabaTigerJump

This is the last year you can see the elephants perform so be sure to buy your tickets today.

Running off with the Circus

February 18, 2016 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

Joey Holt, a 14-year-old Fort Thomas resident who is an 8^th grader at Highlands Middle School, is running off to Germany with the circus this summer. My son Joey really is an extraordinary kid who has defeated a rare disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. The cancer attacked his hip bone causing him to need a bone graft and making doctors wonder if he would ever walk again. After months in a wheelchair, years of physical and occupational therapy and counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, not only can Joey walk, he can perform in a German Wheel and do tricks on a cable wheel.

Joey met Paul Miller, owner of Circus Mojo, and some of his team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital while waiting to see doctors in 2010. Joey enjoyed their entertainment so much that he asked me to schedule his appointments for when they would be in the waiting room. They taught him to balance a feather on his hand, spin plates and a little bit of juggling. The next year was quite a battle for Joey. He was in a wheelchair, doing therapy, dealing with nerve pain, in and out of the hospital as an inpatient all while trying to go to school. He was a fighter though.

The next summer, 2011, I won a week of camp to Circus Mojo from a local blogger. Joey was ready to go learn more tricks but was using a wheelchair and crutches again due to pain. Paul said they would work around it and to send him to camp anyway. Joey was so determined to be able to do the silks, German wheel, cable wheel and everything else the circus had to offer that by the end of the week, Paul was balancing the wheelchair on his chin and Joey balanced the crutches in his hand.

Joey fell in love with circus that summer and has been working with Mojo ever since. He trains every Saturday, performs for the public every chance he gets, attends summer camps and practices constantly at home. His hard work has paid off. Circus Mojo is taking Joey to Germany this summer to train with Circus Pimparello for a few weeks. His trip is estimated to cost approximately $2000. Joey is for hire to perform at parties, teach kids circus tricks, babysit, take care of pets and do other odd jobs. All money earned will go toward his trip.

You can also help give Joey a chance of a life time by sponsoring a portion of his trip with a tax deductible donation. Donations can be made to Circus Mojo’s Foundation, The Social Circus Fund, at https://socialcircus.wordpress.com. Just click on Donate Here. Donations can also be mailed to the Social Circus Foundation, 326 Elm Street, Ludlow, Ky., 41016. PLEASE write in the memo or comments that the donation is for JOEY HOLT’S Germany Trip. Please contact Gina (gina5620@gmail.com) or Nick Stegner (nstegner68@gmail.com) with questions or to hire Joey.

Note: Learn more about Joey at http://local12.com/news/local/circus-helps-teen-recover-from-rare-disease

Zipping Over the Gorge

February 17, 2016 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

I’m a big believer in experiences as gifts. A coat will go out of style, small appliances break, we lose interest in toys and electronics but are memories are forever. So my husband and I gave our five children (Josh, 24, Jordan, 21, Joel, 20, Andi, 16 and Joey, 14) an experience gift for Christmas 2014. We booked a beautiful cabin at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky and took all but Jordan, who was pregnant, ziplining last June.

Photo by Josh Stegner

We had planned this trip well in advance so there wasn’t much we could do when we found out it would be pouring down rain all weekend. We weren’t going to let rain and cold stop us though. Ziplining with Red River Gorge Zipline Tours over the Gorge was breathtaking. I won’t lie… the rain hurt my face and I was shivering at times but it was worth it. The tour offered five ziplines anywhere from 330 feet to 1900 feet and lasted about 2-1/2 hours.

We stayed at Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals – A Ma Zing Grace. The four bedroom, two bathroom cabin could easily sleep 12 people so the seven of us were more than comfortable. We stayed out of the rain some by playing board games, pool and watching movies. The kids even embraced the rain with a dip in the hot tub.

We had an amazing view from the cabin.

No trip to the Gorge would be complete without a stop at Miguel’s Pizza. It is just a little family owned business that serves great pizza, bottled drinks and has a cool outdoor area. I definitely suggest checking it out.

On our way back to the cabin from Miguel’s, we decided to checkout a nearby waterfall.

Natural Bridge is basically next door to the Gorge so we checked it out as well. Some of us had been there a few times but it was a first for some of the kids. They couldn’t believe the gorgeous view. You can hike up to the bridge but we took the Sky-lift.

We had fun exploring.

We stopped on the bridge for a family photo.

All of us loved every aspect of this trip and suggest staying at the cabin I mentioned, enjoying the nature all around the Gorge, checking out Natural Bridge and taking a zipline adventure. This was our last trip before our blended family started to expand. Nick and I couldn’t be happier that Jordan has found Chad and has a gorgeous baby girl. It was nice though to have this one last experience with just mine and Nick’s kids. But I can’t wait to have Chad and Eden join us on our next adventure!

DIY: Decorate for Fall on a Budget

September 23, 2015 by WriteAcrossTheRiver

I don’t often write about crafting because to be honest, I’m not very crafty. But once in a while, my job requires me to step out of my comfort zone and make a few things. Making fall lanterns for a Fox 19 segment gave me the crafting bug so I made a few things for my house and a friend’s. I chose very simple and inexpensive crafts.

Fall Picture Frames

Fall Picture Frames Supplies:

Four picture frames ($4 – Dollar Tree)
Card stock or scrapbook paper ($3 – Michael’s)
Chipboard letters ($5 – Michael’s)
Craft Glue ($3 – any store)

Fall Picture Frame Instructions:

Cut the card stock or scrapbook paper to fit your frame
Glue the chipboard letters to the paper
Frame the paper and letters

Wine Bottle Vase

Wine Bottle Vase Supplies:

Empty wine bottle (Free)
Artificial leaves, berries, acorns, pumpkins ($4 – Dollar Tree)
Twine, ribbon or raffia ($1 – Dollar Tree)
Optional: Chalk board sticker ($1 – Michael’s)

Wine Bottle Vase Instructions:

Place artificial plants in wine bottle
Tie twine, ribbon or raffia around plants stem at top of bottle
Place sticker on bottle and write Fall, your last name or other word of your choice

Fall Lantern

Fall Lantern Supplies:

Mason jar, vase or glass bowl ($1 – Dollar Tree)
Glue dots or craft glue ($3 – any craft store or Target)
Battery operated candles (2 for $1 – Dollar Tree)
Bag of artificial leaves ($1 – Dollar Tree)
Optional: Twine, raffia or ribbon ($1 – Dollar Tree)

Fall Lantern Instructions:

Glue the artificial leaves inside of the jar or vase (Tip: The glue dots make this very simple)
Place a battery operated candle inside
Tie raffia, twine or a ribbon around the jar

Fall Lantern, Ghost Jar, Candle Platter

Candle Platter Supplies:

Fall scented pillar candle ($2.50 – Michael’s)
Fall colored tealight candles ($5 for box of six – Michael’s)
Gold or fall colored tray ($3 – Michael’s)
Bag of rocks ($1 – Dollar Tree)

Candle Platter Instructions:

Arrange pillar candle, tealight candles and rocks on tray

Ghost Jar Supplies:

Mason jar ($1 – Dollar Tree)
Ghost Peeps ($2 – Walgreen’s)
Candy Corn ($2 – Walgreen’s)
Optional: Ribbon ($1 – Dollar Tree)

Ghost Jar Instructions:

Fill the jar about 1/4 of the way with Candy Corn
Place the Peeps facing out inside the jar
Fill the jar the rest of the way with Candy Corn
Tie a ribbon around the jar

I was able to make three Fall Lanterns, a Candle Platter, a Ghost Jar, a Wine Bottle Vase and Fall Picture Frames for under $40 since some of the supplies overlapped. I also have extra supplies to make more fun decorations.

What is your favorite fall decoration?

Note: I found most of these ideas online but gave them my own twist.

Write across the river

Category Archives: Around Town