Watermelon is a summer necessity

We've been enjoying summer at its finest which included a lovely break from the Internet and lots of good eating.


Thank you to Joe's cousins who took these beautiful photos of Madeline last weekend. I love that they totally capture two things Madeline loves: food and her wonderful uncles.

Nap Time in Naptown: Simply Sweet Shoppe

Photo credit: Simply Sweet Shoppe

Last week, my family made a sweet discovery in the heart of downtown Carmel: Simply Sweet Shoppe.

From the moment I walked in, I loved the magical feel of this place crammed with sweets. (Harry Potter fans: think Honeydukes.)

 

The walls and aisles are lined with every kind of candy, chocolate and treat imaginable and the best part is they are sold per piece.

Yes, that's right. You can literally send your kiddos in there with a dime and they'll walk out with something special.

In addition to the rows of sweets, they also have a cafe which serves blended coffees, smoothies, gelato, sorbet, muffins, scones and pastries. Again, the best part is they were all reasonably priced.

We tried the lemonade slushies for $1 (yes, a dollar!) and they were yummy.

The Simply Sweet Shoppe is now on my list as a great place to take Madeline for an afternoon treat and also pick up quirky additions to birthday gifts.

I already want to go back to buy the three-foot bubble gum stick for my nephew which is under $3.

As much as I love Target, you can't find those little touches at a chain store.

Simply Sweet Shoppe
30 North Rangeline Road
Carmel, Indiana

Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1 - 4 p.m.

Nap Time in Naptown: Glick Peace Walk

In addition to all the fabulous holiday happenings around Indianapolis this weekend, make sure to check out our city's newest asset, The Glick Peace Walk, part of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

Last night was the unveiling ceremony for the 10 luminary gardens honoring Americans who achieved greatness through peaceful pursuits.

The gardens completely transformed Walnut Street between Meridian Street and Capitol Avenue and turned this two-block strip into a place you want to explore and discover with friends and family. It looks great around the clock but I think the best time to visit is dusk or after dark because the lighting effects are spectacular.

Last night, Madeline loved running through each garden, chasing the ever-changing lights on each person's timeline and I loved learning more about the lives of Andrew Carnegie, Susan B. Anthony and others and having a new place to go downtown to show off to friends and family when they come to Indianapolis.

And since it's just across the street from the Central Library, I also envision this as the new place for Madeline to burn energy after library trips.

If you want to learn about the Glick Peace Walk, Indy Star and Urban Times Online have great articles today with photos of the gathering last night.

(In full disclosure, my husband had the amazing opportunity to be on the design team for the Peace Walk and I'm incredibly proud of the beautiful work he did. But my opinion is, as always, an honest and sincere opinion: The Glick Peace Walk is amazing.)