Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY

If you have any small children, chances are you've been to a zoo in the last handful of years. It's a great outing for little ones, and if you live close to one (as we do), it's a relatively easy way to get out of the house without spending a ton of money. While the kids may be into repetition, and you all may develop a little love for the specific animals in your zoo, sometimes the same old place can get boring!

I have a tip for you!

We were gifted a membership to the Buffalo Zoo for Christmas the past couple of years, and with our membership we get free or reduced admission to tons of other zoos.  If you have a zoo membership to many other locations in the Northeast, they'll offer you the same deal - I highly recommend taking advantage of it! (Also, asking for a zoo membership for Christmas from Grandparents is a great way to avoid getting TOO many toys and also have a way to make great family memories all year!) It was really cool to see a new zoo, and they had lots of animals that our zoo doesn't have. Plus, with it being a new place, it was extra-exciting for the kids to get their grubby hands on everything for the first time. ;)

Almost exactly a year ago, my family and I took a quick trip to Syracuse, NY to take advantage of our zoo discount and to visit my sister and her family. They actually just moved back to the Buffalo area recently, but had been living there for a few years. It worked out perfectly!

So on a Friday evening, we loaded the crew in the van and made our way across the state.

The next morning, we went to the zoo bright & early. We ended up getting my entire family in for only $10 - which was awesome! (See? Pack snacks and drinks, and you've got one heck of a cheap family outing!!)

I was expecting this zoo to be really small and not as nice as the Buffalo Zoo (as I've heard from many that Buffalo is the best zoo in Western & Central NY), but I was pleasantly surprised! They did a lot of recent renovating, and it was really cute there!

The first thing we saw was a big octopus - the kids loved it!

  
We followed the twisting hallways and saw meerkats, lemurs, fish, snakes, and all kinds of monkeys. Their lion den was even visible through a hallway, and we found ourselves separated from a massive male lion by only a sheet of glass! It was so crazy to be that close and see him so well - I don't think I've ever been that close to a lion before!! (Coincidentally, I wasn't able to get a good picture because there was a bad glare due to the glass - oh well!)

  

Some necessary goofy picture posing ;)

We saw lots of birds (big and small), tigers, elephants and farm animals (like pigs, chickens, and ponies) before we got some lunch in the zoo's cafe - which was yummy!


Our "Zoovenirs"...haha ;)
They had a great little gift shop, and since this trip counted as a family vacation, I let them all pick out a small souvenir. I was wearing the baby through our whole trip, and as we walked passed a little display of squirty bath toys in all different animals, he reached out and grabbed a lion! I tried to put it back, and even show him some of the other animals, but he insisted on that little lion! I'd never seen him show a preference for something like that before, so that had to be his little toy! The big boys each picked out a Jeep toy, and I picked out a magnet for our fridge.

I would highly recommend a trip to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo if you're in NY or passing through - it's really nicely done, and the kids really enjoyed it!

-
Jenn is a mom of 3 boys living near Buffalo, NY, and blogs about her life and hobbies on her blog, Rych In Love. 


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Blog of the Week: My Sensational Kid

This week's blog of the week features Joy who writes the blog My Sensational Kid!  Meet Joy:

Tell us a little about you:
I am Joy- and am addicted to my sensational 7 year old son... I am also passionate about writing, FOOTBALL, Adoption (I'm adopted), food, fitness, yoga, family and BEING YOURSELF! I love to learn about ways to live my best life! My family is my #1 priority and being a WAHM allows me to balance work & family the way I was meant too! Namaste ~

What is your blog about?
My blog originally started out as a way to express the challenges and triumphs of raising my son who has Sensory Processing Disorder as well as some other challenges......however it morphed into my diary if you will. I write about anything and everything I want- Life according to JOY! I love to include recipes, cool DIY crafts and activities as well the occasional review & giveaway! I kinda have something for everyone (IMO)........

Where do you live and what do you love about it?
I live in Warwick, RI! The smallest, yet mightiest state! We have an amazing art scene and food to die for....... Waterfire in Providence is a must and being so close to SO MANY beaches doesn't suck either!  

What is your favorite spot to visit in the Northeast?
I Love LOVE LOVE NYC! I am a Jersey girl and living so close to NYC was amazing! Weekend trips, mid week dinners in Manhattan....I just love it all! I live in RI now and we still go to NYC every chance we can! My son loves it! He is already counting down until our next trip!     

What do you love most about blogging?
EXPRESSION! I love to see my thoughts on paper (or screen if you will)........ it just makes everything seem so clear......... 

What is your favorite form of social media?
FACEBOOK! Like I said before, I originally hail from Jersey- so moving away I can still keep in touch with so many people from back home! I love it for that reason! Plus I learn so much from other people from their posts.......cool recipes, different destinations to visit, places to see, things to do.....I like the adventure of Facebook! You never know what people will post tomorrow! 

Thanks for the great interview Joy!  Be sure to visit her blog this week and follow her on social media!  Check out a few of Joy's favorite posts below:

• Baked Apple Chips 
• Sensory Activity: Calm Down Jar and I-spy Bottle 
• Adoption & Motherhood   

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Italian Inspired Noodleless Side Dish

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! I'm Kelly. I am one of the Massachusetts reps here at Northeast Bloggers, and I write A Lovely Life, Indeed. 

Getting to our healthiest selves is important to my husband and me, so I want to do whatever it takes to make the journey more fun. He has been doing a great job on the 21 Day Fix; he's making a great effort to clean up his diet and he is working out with a trainer as well. 

One way I am pushing outside the box is in finding ways to make comfort food more 21-Day friendly. We like Italian flavors, so I wanted to find a way to bring that comfort food flavor into a "cleaner" side dish. 

Here's what I did. 

Italian Inspired Cabbage Slaw Saute

3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Olive oil for sauteing
1 bag of cole slaw mix
Spaghetti sauce to coat
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: feta cheese, chopped bacon or pancetta

Saute the garlic (and bacon or pancetta) in the olive oil. Add the onion, pepper, and cook until softened. 

Add the slaw mix and cook down until it is tender. 

Finally, add the spaghetti sauce to coat and add another level of flavor. 

Make pockets in the mixture to add the sauce. It makes a full skillet easy to mix. 

Before serving, add feta cheese, if desired. You may also add Parmesan cheese. 

That's it. It's super easy and surprisingly flavorful. And, if you're avoiding rice or pasta, you can find the Italian comfort food sweet spot with this convenient substitution. 

Buon appetito!

Do you use vegetable substitutions in comfort food favorites? Please share. 


Thank you to Northeast Bloggers Network for letting me guest post. If you're looking for an upbeat blog about love, travel and the good life, visit me at A Lovely Life, Indeed. Have a great week!

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Blog of the Week: Six Pack Mommy

Today's blog of the week feature is Stephanie of Six Pack Mommy!  Stephanie is a mom of six who blogs all about their shenanigans as well as heartfelt moments.  Meet Stephanie in our interview:

Tell us a little about you:
I'm Stephanie, aka Six Pack Mommy, & I've been blogging since 2013. I'm a former English teacher who figured I'd take just a year off after having my first child... then had another, and another, and another....

Six kids later, I'm a stay at home mom who loves photography, running, reading great non-fiction, sketching, and celebrity gossip, yet.... has no time for any of those things these days. Hence the blog! :)  

What is your blog about?
Six Pack Mommy is a humor blog, devoted to the shenanigans of my six kids, and my own observations about life. I mainly write about amusing, crazy experiences, or meaningful, heartfelt moments. But sometimes, something I randomly observe will strike me as funny or worth discussing, so that goes up there, too!

Where do you live and what do you love about it?
I live on Long Island, and I love that we have access to so much; close to New York City, close to so many great beaches, and everything within a reasonable drive.

What is your favorite spot to visit in the Northeast?
New York City- specifically, Central Park. I love that there's a beautiful section of greenery right in the heart of my favorite city.

What do you love most about blogging?
It's cheaper than therapy! :) Blogging has been a great way to de-stress from those crazy, chaotic days where everything seems to go wrong.
One of my greatest joys is making people laugh, so I enjoy writing posts that entertain people.

What I've also come to love about blogging is networking with fellow bloggers; I have been fortunate enough to meet so many fantastic, supportive bloggers. And a new hobby of mine is not merely writing posts for my own blog, but reading other people's blogs.

What is your favorite form of social media?
I used to be a Facebook fan, and still use it, but once I got the hang of Twitter, I became addicted. I've met some really fun, entertaining people on there with that perfect blend of humor and snark. 

Thanks for the great interview Stephanie!  Please be sure to hit up her blog this week and follow her on social media.  Check out a few of Stephanie's favorite posts:

• No Park-ing: 10 Reasons I Dread the Playground
• Let's Not Be Catty 
• There's Always Something (There to Remind Me)

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Why You Should Join Facebook Communities

Let's face it, when you're a blogger (especially one trying to monetize) networking is everything. You have to hustle to put yourself out there and get your blog noticed. That's why I love being part of some great Facebook Communities. Not only do you get that networking in but you can also learn a lot from connecting with other great bloggers. Here are some more reasons why you should consider joining in on some Facebook Communities.

It's all in the name...community- Like I mentioned above, fellow bloggers can be very supportive of each other.  We know the struggle, we know that it's hard to get noticed in this huge blogging world. Use this as a chance to get to know some great people with even greater ideas.

Collaborate- A Facebook Community is a great way to collaborate with other bloggers. Want to setup a giant giveaway but you need fellow bloggers to join in? Just post it to a community board! Looking for guest posters while you're away? Find some willing participants by asking within a community. You're not alone out there in blog land!

Common Interest Groups- Obviously life is not all about blogging. (It's not?) There are so many niche community groups on Facebook that are also such a great way to network. For instance, I'm a total planner nerd...it's beyond a hobby. I belong to several "planner girl" communities on FB and I've met fellow bloggers (and non-bloggers) who are as obsessed with planners, notebooks, and all that good stuff, as me. (Planner nerds mean serious business!) The point is, any kind of networking is good exposure for your blog. Join in!

Get help when you need it- Sometimes you may be struggling or just in a blogging rut. It happens to the best of us. Some community groups offer writing prompts or challenges that will help you get those creative juices flowing again. Maybe you have a technical question or just need some feedback on something, a community is a place to ask that question and receive some really helpful answers.

Did you know that within the Northeast Bloggers there are at least two bloggers (just that I know of) who run awesome Facebook Communities?  Val  founded and runs the group All Bloggers United which is awesome for post sharing and social media boosts. Caroline founded Coffee and Creatives, a community where women entrepreneurs can connect.

Do you belong to any great Facebook Communities? Are you a Northeast Blogger that would like to promote yours? Leave us comment below!

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A Little "Rhody" Summer!

Summer is almost upon us! If you are like me, you are already planning your weekend getaways, road trips and/or a list of all the places to see & things to do! Should you find yourself heading up to “Little Rhody” (or even passing through it), there are so many fun & unique things to do here. Summer is the best time to visit Rhode Island; we aren’t labeled the Ocean State for just any old reason! Below are my Top 5 activities you should consider when visiting RI in the summer!

5. Roger Williams Park Zoo

This is a perfect cloudy day or late afternoon trip idea for the whole family. This zoo has more than just animals. Kids can cool off in the Drip Drop Water Garden, climb the treehouse where there are things to see & hear or build a creation at the Sticks & Stones Building Zone. There are even camel rides, giraffe feedings, rock climbing & a butterfly garden! At $14.95 for adults/$9.95 for children, it’s a great price for all it offers. Plus, you can bring in your own picnic lunch (some zoo’s do not allow outside food), which is amazing!

4. Rustic Drive-in Movie Theater

There is something to said about sitting under the stars on a cool, breezy summer night watching your favorite movies with a bunch of friends! It just screams SUMMER to me! This authentic 1950’s drive-in has 3 screens, with 2 shows playing on each screen. Outside food can be brought in (or purchased there) and it is only $27 per carload! With movie tickets at almost 12$ per ticket, per show- this is a great bargain! Kids & adults will love this place!

3. Newport, RI

Visiting Newport can be broken into many parts. 1. A visit to one of the 11 mansions, which were built during the Colonial era through the Gilded Age. 2. A visit to one of the popular beaches. 3. Shopping & dining along the harbor that boast spectacular views. You can visit Newport during the day and have a completely different experience at night. There is truly something for everyone. 

2. Waterfire

Waterfire is a non-profit arts organization whose goal is to bring to life the downtown urban area and revitalize it with art, music and more. Over 80 bonfires are set amongst the water at WaterPlace Park. Visitors walk along the banks enjoying local music, watch performances, grab local fare from food trucks as well as the sites & smells of the burning embers.  It’s always free admission and it really is a site to see. Check their schedule online for more info.

1. Galilee & Point Judith

This quaint fishing village is home to the largest fishing fleet in RI, as well as home to the Block Island Ferry. The beach is small yet gorgeous. A jetty formation lines the beach where onlookers wave to all the ferries that pass by. George’s of Galilee serves the best clamcakes & chowder and there are tons of places to buy fresh fish & lobster right from the boat.  Small shops, ice cream parlors & other eateries make this #1 on my list!

Thanks so much for sharing your top 5 places to visit in Rhode Island this summer JoyMarie! 

Have you been to any of these spots?  Which ones do you plan to check out this summer?

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