A Military Friendly Guide to Exploring Pittsburgh

Since coming to Pittsburgh just last Summer we've had to adjust to living in a different part of the country. Moving and traveling isn't new to us, but it does take a while to get adjusted to a new place to call "home." Our first Summer in Pittsburgh, though we had many days of great weather, was spent house hunting and exploring the area for the best neighborhoods and schools. This Summer we've been able to explore and enjoy a lot more of the city's outdoor activities. Many of which offer great military discounts;) Take a look at some of our favorites below!

• Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
The zoo offers FREE entry to any active duty military member everyday with a photo ID! While this is a great deal, it doesnt include the whole family. So we purchased a very reasonably priced Family membership for only $85. This includes 2 adults, and 2 kids and is good for one year from the purchase date. This is probably one of the places we visit the most. On a nice day, we pack our lunches and head to the zoo, our son loves it! It has more than paid for itself, considering single admission is $14! 

• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
During the Summer months between Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Pittsburgh Children's Museum offers FREE admission to military families and up to four additional guests. This is part of the Blue Star Museum program that many museums nation-wide take part in. This is a great way to keep your kids busy in the Summer, and keep them engaged. Also a great way to check out museums in your area before choosing to buy those yearly passes.

• Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Another one of my son's favorites! He loves to see all the dinosaur bones and even dig for bones himself in the children's area. This museum also participates in the Blue Star program. They also offer great family memberships that include access to the Carnegie Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum.

• Frick Park-Blue Slide Playground 

Out of the several parks that we've visited around Pittsburgh, this is one of the whole family's favorites. It's a great place to take the whole family including the dog. With a large off-leash area and several wooded trails, there are several options for exploring and hiking. My son's favorite part is the popular Blue Slide which he can slide down for hours. Unlike any other playground slide, this is great fun for all ages. Just dont forget to grab a piece of cardboard to sit on as you slide down. 

 

 

• Idlewild and Soakzone

We made our first trip here this Summer and the whole family had a blast! It's definitely a must for Western PA residents. Giant Eagle has some great sale days throughout the Summer, such as "buy one, get one tickets" and even a car load deal. Just pay $99 for a carload of up to 8 people to get in the park making it less than $15 per person! They also offer $8.00 off the regular admission price of $29 for Active Duty Military members. Don't just trust my opinion, Idlewild has been named "Best Kid's Park in the World" and "Best Park for Families" several years in a row!

 

• Triple B Farms

The local farms aren't just for the Fall. Triple B Farms, among many of the other local farms in Western and Central PA have great Summer festivals and Summer Day Camps for the kids. There is always fresh produce to pick yourself, or available for purchase in their market. Check their website for their harvest schedule and activities. Don't forget to come back in the Fall!

 

• Spray Parks

This is such a great way to cool off and have fun during the Summer, and the best part is that they're FREE! I grew up in the hottest, smallest, most rural desert valley of Southern California. And even though the beach was only an hour and a half drive away, I wish we had other ways to stay cool locally. There are several of these fairly large spray parks throughout the Pittsburgh area, and some just recently built. Pack a lunch, grab the sunblock and towels and spend your afternoon at the spray park. Check the Pittsburgh Citiparks website to find a spray park in your neighborhood.

• Baseball/Football Games 

You can't come to Pittsburgh without heading to a ball game of sorts. Whether you go to a Steeler's game at Heinz Field, or a Pirate's game at PNC Park you're bound to have a good time. PNC Park is a great family stadium and has a great view of the city. Not to mention the Pirates are currently in first place which should ensure a good game! As a Steeler's fan, I may be a little biased when I say there's nothing like going to a Steeler's game, but there really is nothing like going to a Steeler's game! Because tickets can get pretty pricey, I recommend checking StubHub or other ticket exchange sites to purchase tickets. We have found some great deals AND great seats, especially for pre-season games. 

*Just a reminder if you can't make it to a game, don't forget to check out the FREE Steeler's Summer Training Camps in Latrobe. Great opportunity to see the players practice up close, and possibly get some autographs. (My son got Troy Polamalu's autograph, yes I might be bragging a little) :) They also have several activities and games for the kids to play and enjoy. 

Whether you're a Pittsburgh native or just visiting the area, you can be sure to have a good time enjoying a few of our favorite activities just mentioned. We've only lived here a year, so we are always looking for new things to do and new places to explore! 

 

 

Do you have a favorite and inexpensive place to visit in Pittsburgh? Please share your favorites, I'd love to hear your feedback!

Weather, You Like it or Not

It's unofficially known as the "End of Summer," Labor Day is upon us and I can't believe how quickly this Summer has flown by. Our first Winter in Pittsburgh lasted for what seemed like an eternity. I've spent these Summer months trying to defrost and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine that my Southern California roots so highly need to survive. <That's not an exaggeration either. Although, since becoming a Navy wife (in 2007) and moving away from home, I've never craved Southern California sunshine and beaches more than now.

What's slightly more disappointing to me is all the RAIN we had this Summer! Sure, someone who's lived in Seattle for 5 years may be used to a little rain, but a light drizzle doesn't compare to the downpours and street flooding we've dealt with this year. Our first Summer in Pittsburgh wasn't nearly as wet and wild. 

When the sun did come out, with probably a high of 87 for the warmest temp of the year, we spent our days outdoors. While native Pittsburghers complained of the warm temperatures, I couldn't help but enjoy the Summer I knew would'nt last, even if we did have to deal with humidity. I knew the rest of our family was suffering in the Southern California desert with average temperatures above 110°!  

Rain or shine, we did manage to have some enjoyment this Summer. A list of some of our favorites can be found here. It's a bit of a bittersweet feeling for me with the return to school and the end to swimming pools. I have always looked forward to the Fall, with all the spicy warm smells, boots and sweaters, and of course the highly anticipated FOOTBALL season... and YES we are Steelers fans! But knowing that another Winter is shorty behind, I'm not as ready to jump for joy at the end of Summer. 

As I look out my window it's yet again raining, which explains our lack of plans for Labor Day weekend. Despite some of the unfortunate weather, we still have another Summer of memories in the bank that we will enjoy forever. Part of what I've learned through moving is no one place is like the other, nor is one place technically better, each place has something to offer and should be enjoyed for what it is. As a military family, we have always enjoyed the adventure and taken in each opportunity to get out and "explore." So, even though I vent about my frustrations of unfortunate weather, we always find a way to enjoy the day through the inevitable. Because the rain doesn't last and neither do the days... whether we like it or not. 

Get Healthy, Stay Healthy!

Recently I've added another activity and challenge to my plate. This one involves a long time passion of mine which is fitness! As a teenager (which is hard to believe was over 8 years ago!) I was always very lean, very active, and very fit. I LOVE sports of all kinds and played a few throughout my years of school.

Well, like what many women go through, especially after having children, I gained quite a bit of weight. With breast feeding and exercise I was able to lose most of it, but eventually gained ALL of my pregnancy weight back. I never thought myself a poor eater, but something had to be contributing to my weight-gain, I just couldn't figure out exactly what?!

Over the next few years, I balanced being a practically single, stay-at-home mom, and Navy wife living in Seattle which is over 1000 miles away from my family. 

Was I depressed?

Was I dealing with too much stress? 

Was I eating too much? 

The answer to these are all YES, unfortunately. I just didn't realize it at the time. 

-I was mildy depressed from being away from family, having a regularly deployed husband, and was ridiculously self-conscious about my appearance and the weight I had not been able to lose.

-All of these things, in addition to having a newborn stressed me out constantly. 

-And as many of us know, STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards and that explains my poor eating habits. Not to mention I was very particular about my son's healthy eating habits that I basically neglected my own. 

My weight had rollercoastered UP and DOWN, and at one point through diet and exercise, I lost ALL of the baby fat. Again, failing to maintain these habits eventually caused me to gain it all back which is where I'm at now. 

Another thing you should know is that I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease- a form of Hypothyroidism caused when the immune system attacks the thyroid (for whatever reason) therefore resulting in symptoms of extreme tiredness, lack of energy, weight-gain, and depression just to name a few. The thyroid's mayor fuctions include regulating your metabolism and increasing utilization of cholesterol, fats, protein, and carbohydrates. This, in addition to what I mentioned above had been contributing to all of my symptoms. After nearly 5 years of dealing with these, it was hard to take in a "diagnosed disease" but relieved to have found an answer and a solution!

                                                      Anatomy of the thyroid and it's function.
                                                   http://women.webmd.com/picture-of-the-thyroid
 

So, now that you're aware of my health history I can explain my new goals and plans. Like I said, I've always been passionate about health and fitness, but throughout the last 5 years I've lacked the drive and motivation to take care of myself and be healthy. Being on my new thyroid hormone regulating meds, I have noticed a big change in my energy levels. I have much more motivation to get where I want to be! 

I have tried to organize several fitness groups/meet-ups throughout the Pittsburgh area to get other women, MOMS to be motivated and healthy! I haven't had much success yet but hope that within the next few months I can spread the word and develop more interest. Many women want to work out, want to eat healthy, look AND feel good, but just don't know how and where to start. I just hope that I can inspire and encourage others to gain a bigger interest in their health. 

I've learned that being healthy is NOT about a specific number on the scale, but about your internal health as well, diet affects your organs, not just your appearance! I was surprised not to find any "Mom Fitness" classes and organizations in the area when we moved out here. With more research, more education, and more awareness I hope to change that in the near future. Not only for myself, but for all the moms out there who are struggling with similar issues. :)

2010

 

 

down 20lbs in 2011

 

now (2013) up 15lbs

 

                                            "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you"


 

Family Hike at Frick

We recently had a few days of ugly, rainy, stormy weather here in the Burgh. So I was thrilled to finally have a warm weekend to spend outside. The boys and I decided to take a little hike at one of my favorite Pittsburgh parks, and one of the largest parks in the area Frick Park.

We took our one year old Puggle, grabbed the camel pack, piled on the sunscreen and headed out the door. When we got to the park, we filled up a jug of water for Steele (our dog) and started on the Lower Riverview trail, (which I've hiked before alone) and just kept walking. 

We walked through wooded areas and lots of uneven territory. We eventually came up to another trail, that I'd not hiked before... and of course, my husband was feeling adventurous so we kept on. 

 

After what felt like several miles of walking, we realized we didn't exactly know how to get back to our starting point. I LOVE hiking, and being outdoors, but the frustration definitely kicks in a little quicker when you're hiking with a kid, a dog, and a thrill-seeking, know-it-all husband who navigates us through the most wooded of paths.

We saw a snake during this hike, and more large spiders than I have ever seen in my life. No way was this similar to our most memorable hikes in Hawaii when we were rewarded with GORGEOUS picturesque views, and waterfalls, I couldn't help but keep thinking.

Any who, after 2 hours of walking, changing course, and backtracking we finally made our way out. And I swear we had to have walked nearly 5 miles. I let go of my frustration and most definitely had to give props to our son Aiden who hiked all on his own, with minimal complaining. And what was even more surprising, after the hike he STILL had enough energy to check out the playground and test out the popular big "Blue Slide." 

 

A few things I learned from this hike;

1. do NOT wear Nike Frees on a hike! I felt every single rock with each step and I now have blisters on my feet and toes. :(

2. Wear some sort of bug repellant. I normally try to avoid things with chemicals and harsh ingredients so I found an interesting DIY recipe from the Curious About Health-blog to make your own, or you can use one of those clip on ones.

3. No matter how much you PLAN, PREPARE, and PREVENT, things will rarely EVER go according to plan. What is important is how you handle and learn from each situation despite the small obstacles and frustrations!

 

I have to say, overall we had a great day and another great adventure to add to our list of memories! Until our next hike :)

Couldn't fit Steele in this pic... and this was before the mild complaints and frustration. ;) 

Checking out the Big Blue Slide after the hike

Catching up... Summer Time!

I've been away for far too long. This is a much needed personal update and blog post. Ahh, it's finally Summer now and we are definitely trying to enjoy the warmer temperatures. After going through our first Pittsburgh winter I have to admit, I've never craved sun more than now!

I've been keeping pretty busy with my tutu business Maddie Bear's Tutus. I have my Facebook page up and running along with the Etsy shop. Things aren't perfect yet, but I've had a great response and customers have responded in a such a positive manner, that it only encourages me to continue.

With my son Aiden out of pre-school on summer vacation, I've also been keeping him busy just as he's kept me on my toes. We've been doing many of the parks around Pittsburgh, going swimming, baseball games, children's museum, zoo, festivals, etc. He also recently attended Vacation Bible School at the church/school we attend. Not to mention all the sports he plays, SHEESH! He's busier than me and has a bigger social circle than I do.

One of our most recent outings was when he headed down to Point State Park for the Three Rivers Regatta on the 4th of July. It's was such a perfect day, sun was out, the rain (surprisingly) stayed away, and we got to see an amazing fireworks show! This was our 2nd Independence Day in Pittsburgh and we've had a blast each time!

Among the fireworks were BMX shows, (which the kid loved) boat races, dog shows, many yummy food vendors, and the fountain that seemed to be the [2nd] main attraction. Our last minute decision to head downtown seemed like a good one because, our part of town on the East end stormed pretty badly! :( Here's to quick thinking!  

The Summer is quickly passing and we will continue to enjoy it in the weeks to come. Until next time, stop wasting time and head outside! 

The longest fireworks show ever (at least that we've seen) :) 

Aiden and Daddy having a snack. 

Watching the boat races from the bridge. 

The 3 of us. 

-Yvonne Copeland 

Birthday/Cupcake Tutu For a Special Birthday Girl

Today I shipped my first official and paid for order! Excited that people have been responding pretty well and interested in my dresses. I mean, I haven't gotten too many orders yet, but there have been several inquiries. That's good right?! The word has been spread pretty quickly and I've received a lot of positive comments. This particular dress was ordered by a cousin of mine for her niece who will be turning 4 this month! This was a custom order, and the colors are very bright and reminiscent of Spring. I can't wait to see more pictures of her wearing it on her special day! If you're interested in any of the dresses please visit and "LIKE" my Facebook page!