We recently took a trip to a local greenhouse called Randy's Raisings, and it was such fun. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by rows upon rows of colorful flowers in every direction. It's the first nice weekend we've had in a while in Western PA. and we were happy being surrounded by so much sunshine and natural beauty.
One of the things that stood out to us about this particular greenhouse was the warm and friendly staff. The owner took the time to chat with me and he even gave me the rundown on how they grow a field of sunflowers for a local photographer to use exclusively for her photoshoots. Such a brilliant idea!
Of course, we couldn't leave without buying some flowers of our own. We picked out a few different types that caught our eye, including some Dahlias and some Marigolds. And as a bonus, we also bought some of their homemade honey, which is delicious.
Throughout our visit, we took tons of photos to capture the memories. My daughter loved posing with the flowers and even picked up the camera herself to grab some photos! My husband and I enjoyed simply taking in the sights and smells and appreciating the moment.
Being surrounded by so much natural beauty and kindness from the staff lifted our spirits and left us with cherished memories. We appreciated the experience and will undoubtedly return to Randy's Raisings for more flowers and local honey. ♥
The local farmers market just opened for the season and I had the chance to visit on opening day!
My favorite part of the market was the variety of produce available. It took everything in me not to purchase at least one of every vegetable plant and fruit bush.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, there were also plenty of other local products available. Fitzgibbon Meadery caught our eye pretty quick! They're a micro-winery based in Ellwood City, PA that specializes in Meads and Country (Fruit) Wines. Definitely check out their website!
If you're thinking about visiting your local farmers market, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:
Bring cash: Many farmer's markets only accept cash, so be sure to bring enough to cover your purchases.
Go early: The best produce tends to go quickly, so arrive early to get the best selection.
Bring a reusable bag: Not only is it better for the environment, but it's also easier to carry your purchases in a sturdy bag.
Talk to the farmers: Take the time to talk to the farmers and learn about their growing practices. You might be surprised at what you discover.
Try something new: Don't be afraid to try new fruits or vegetables. You might discover a new favorite!
Visiting the farmers market is a wonderful way to support local businesses, discover new products, and connect with your community. I highly recommend it and can't wait to go back next week!
My 31st Birthday in Erie PA ♥
Monday, November 21, 2022 Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505, USA
I never shared these photos from our trip to Erie this summer. 😊
We had originally planned on visiting Clearwater Florida but with my wedding, having to cancel my wedding, my brother's wedding, and everything else on top of it, we were exhausted and pretty tapped out for the summer. We decided to save our Florida tickets for a rainy day and visit Erie PA instead. I had promised my daughter a trip to the beach so a trip to the beach is what we did!
We stayed at this little place called the Glass House Inn. It was a small motel run by the family who owned it. All the other guests were really nice and Aubs was obsessed with the "butt-shaped pool" in the parking lot. 🤦🏻♀️ The rooms were half renovated and half original. It gave me Gilmore Girls vibes and I really enjoyed the novelty of it all.
We spent time at Presque Isle on the beaches and visited the lighthouse. I even got Aubs to climb to the top of it with us! We bought tourist merch and ate way too much takeout.
For my 31st birthday, we spent the morning walking the beach in the rain searching for seashells and pretty stones. We grabbed some lunch and took a nap at the hotel until the rain cleared. That evening, we grabbed a birthday cake and ate it on the beach at sunset together. Just our little family.
After that, we decided that we missed our beds too much so we left Erie that night and drove home.
Sometimes I get so lost in the hustle and bustle of life that I forget how little I actually need to be truly happy. So far, I really like being 31. My back hurts and I can never get enough sleep, but I've also never felt more satisfied and content. 💕
A parent review:
We did not get there at 10:00 AM (naturally) so I can't speak for the Halloween parade but the rest of the event felt more zoo than boo.
It took over 30 minutes to find a parking space. The line of cars was backed up out the front gate and people were just parking wherever they wanted. As a result of this, when we went into the zoo there were continuous announcements about people needing to move their cars. Not the spooky sounds I was expecting.
There was a not-so-spooky haunted house at the garden tent that was adorable! No scares and very kid friendly. The displays were really nice, the fog was a bit much, and the employees that dressed up were great!
There were only a couple tables to get candy from throughout the zoo so this definitely wasn't a trick-or-treat event. If candy is your goal you might want to look somewhere else.
There were a couple pumpkins thrown into the animal pens to try to make it festive but not much else was done past the Garden Tent area.
A lot of the animals were away, the pens looked extra dirty, and the smell in the Tropical Forest building was almost unbearable. I can handle my smells but it was gag-worthy.
It was an extremely busy event so if you're still interested in social distancing or just personal space in general, this is not the event for you.
Maybe if we would have been there earlier it would have felt more festive but overall, it was more zoo than boo.
A really cool kid's review:
Will we be going back?
It's actually been a hot minute since we took this trip to the Wexford General Store!
I just thought about it the other day while talking to a friend about furnishing a new home. This place is a gem! Their inventory is overwhelming, and I may or may not have knocked over at least one thing.
If you're ever in the Pittsburgh area with a couple of hours to spare, I highly recommend taking a long walk through this antique store. If you love treasure hunting, you will not be disappointed. ♥
I can't believe that I get to marry my best friend! I prayed, manifested, and whispered to the universe for a love like this. We'll be celebrating 4 years together this Spring and later this Summer we'll celebrate our wedding surrounded by all of our loved ones.
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