Author: Karyn Locke

10,000 Reasons Why you Need to Visit this Ohio Leaf Peeping Spot this Fall

Karyn Locke
Rose Lake in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Photo Credit: Amy Weirick

If you’re looking for reasons to visit Ohio this autumn, leaf peeping should be at the top of your list. And, when it comes to Ohio leaf peeping, it’s an hour south of Columbus to an outdoor-lover’s dream location. From cavernous hikes to inspiring views, Hocking Hills is the place to be for autumn leaf peeping. 10,000 Reasons to Visit Hocking Hills in Fall When it comes to unbroken forest, Hocking Hills, Ohio has 10,000 acres of it! There’s cool lodging options including sleeping in a restored caboose near Ash…

HalloWeekends 2017 at Cedar Point: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky

Karyn Locke
HalloWeekends 2017 at Cedar Point Fright Lane pass

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, is the roller coaster capital of the world, no disputing the fact. But, when summer’s over, the park turns into a Halloween fun spot: kid-friendly by day and hauntingly fun by night. Last weekend, we had the pleasure of checking out opening weekend for HalloWeekends 2017. What we found was a delightful mix of family entertainment and a cast of creepers good enough to scare the pants off folks. Add those two together and it’s an ideal weekend for this family! Here’s the scoop –…

Lemonade Sweet Tea Cupcake Recipe: Perfect for End of Summer!

Karyn Locke
sweet tea lemonade cupcakes recipe

In our travels, we discovered the delicious combination of half sweet tea, half lemonade. And, while sweet tea is a quintessential Southern summer drink, adding lemonade to the mix is a fun way to combine two of our favorite drinks. So, I thought, why not combine the two for a cupcake recipe? This Lemonade Sweet Tea Cupcake recipe uses real iced tea in the cupcake batter and lemon zest in the frosting. Ready for an easy, sweet cupcake recipe that’s perfect for end-of-summer snacking? Here’s the easy recipe and directions.…

My Favorite Five Minute Updos for Long Hair

Karyn Locke
Super easy and under two minutes to get The Knot - an easy updo.

This shop and tutorial on my favorite five minute updos for long hair has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #CareWithKeratin #sponsored When it comes to my hair, I generally get the same curious questions. “Do you have hair extensions?” “How did your hair grow so fast?” “What do you use to keep your hair so shiny?” While these are just a few of the beauty questions I get, I think folks are generally very inquisitive as to my hair. That’s a good thing. And, although, these questions are super easy to…

Off the Beaten Path Travel: Why Ruidoso, NM Is on my Bucket list

Karyn Locke
Ruidoso, New Mexico Alto Lake

When it comes to traveling, I love off-the-beaten-path destinations. And this gal, used to a moderate climate, would rather visit destinations where I don’t feel like I’m melting, you know? I recently discovered a good one, Ruidoso, New Mexico, and learned about just what makes it so fun for families, couples, solo travel -you name it. Here’s why you need to consider a visit to Ruidoso, NM, especially when you want to escape the heat! This sponsored post featuring reasons why you need to visit Ruidoso, New Mexico is sponsored…

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Hacks and Tricks

Karyn Locke
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2017 Mickey and Minnie

It’s that time of the year at Walt Disney World! Its theme parks are decorated to the hilt with autumn beauty, and the temperatures and crowds are getting lower. No wonder it’s our fave time of the year to visit! Add in Disney World Halloween party fun and I’m doing the happy dance on Main Street U.S.A. And, while you may have your costume locked down and your tickets bought, you may not know about these party hacks. From when to visit to queueing up for character meet and greet…

Four Reasons to “Fall” for Fort Wayne, Indiana

Karyn Locke
fall events in Fort Wayne: Downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana in fall

Have you visited Fort Wayne, Indiana? True, it’s full of family-friendly spots any time of year, but add autumn into its mix and it’s the recipe for fun! Looking for some Midwest autumn fun? From zombie invasions to zoo boos, here’s four fall events in Fort Wayne you’ll want to check out. I can never resist a good pun, so “falling” for Fort Wayne, Indiana is fun on so many levels. I had the pleasure of visiting the city this year and fell in love with its cool, family-friendly vibe and…

Disney Composer Christopher Willis Gives the Scoop on New WDW Ride

Karyn Locke
Christopher Willis with wife at Disneyland

When it comes to all-things Disney, I’m on board. Give me the scoop on what’s to come in the world of WDW theme parks, I’m downright giddy. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Christopher Willis, award-winning Disney composer. Not only did we chat about Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Special, but I got a little bit of back story for the newly-announced attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey’s Runaway Railway. Here’s what Chris had to say. Blind Casting Calls? Yes! Disney puts out casting calls and does…

Pittsburgh-Style BBQ Pulled Pork Slider Recipe: Simple and Delish

Karyn Locke
pittsburgh style bbq pulled pork sliders recipe

This Pittsburgh-style BBQ Pulled Pork Slider recipe sponsored post was written by me on behalf of Smithfield® Marinated Pork as part of an Influence Central campaign. All opinions expressed in my post are my own. #RealFlavorRealFast #IC  #ad I adore BBQ pork sandwiches and sliders. I also adore Pittsburgh-style sandwiches topped with meat, cole slaw, and French fries. So, a no-brainer recipe was to meld the two together and create a Pittsburgh- style BBQ Pulled Pork Slider! Using only a handful of ingredients, the simple recipe can be jazzed up in so…

Outdoor Activities in Charlotte, NC: US National Whitewater Center

Karyn Locke
US National Whitewater Center Rafting

When it comes to summer travel, I love to visit a city and submerge myself in the culture. I especially love to do what the locals do, go where they go, and eat where they eat. I want to have the full-on local experience. So, when it comes to outdoor activities in Charlotte, NC, where do the locals go for affordable fun? The US National Whitewater Center! Here’s the scoop on why you need to make time for USNWC on your next visit to the Queen City. US National Whitewater…