... Because I can't marry someone that hasn't experienced the Butler County Fair

there isn't much to this post... Mainly just a few photos of fair food booths. But I haven't missed a fair in probably 15 years and when Andrew said he had never been to one, I couldn't resist. Growing up, I would run around at the fair when I was probably definitely too young, with a $10 bill in my pocket and ready to take on the world. I would eat funnel cakes and win gold fish and ride the strawberries. Not much has changed at the fair; the same short shorts and cowboy boots on girls and cut off t shirts on the boys. Rows and rows of oversize tweety birds and Pokemon dolls strung up just waiting to be taken home. Screaming men with microphones telling Andrew to "win somethin' for ya girl!" and the hot hot sun beating down on us while we walked around with our hot dogs. Ah, summer. I love you.   

a day at the renaissance festival!

last sunday, i cracked and decided a festival was in order. old habits die hard and the renaissance festival was always a must when i was little. it was more something that was enjoyed by my dad and myself but my mama was always a champion and went with us. we would order the turkey legs and buy head dresses and play all of the ridiculous games and we always always always left with a dragon egg. as an adult, i realize more and more how much time and money my parents spent in days like this! so last sunday i left sans dragon egg but still had a great day. it was a lot warmer out than i anticipated and i'm pretty sure all of cincinnati got the memo because EVERYONE was at the festival. i've never seen it so packed but as a firm cheerleader for cincinnati events, i was happy to wait in 10 minute long bathroom lines. ok, i wasn't happy but i didn't complain either, so. 

the roomie and i took the drive up and walked around and if you guys have ever been in years past, it has grown a lot. there's a lot more booths and vendors and lots of goodies. it took all of my strength not to buy all of that fur you'll see when you scroll down. so here's a few hundred photos of the day! if you plan on making the trip out, ORDER YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!! or somehow get them in advance. the line to get in the door was bananas and easily avoidable if you plan ahead!! 

 this was the crowd to get in the place. like i said, preorder those tickets!

 sooo much furrrrr

 

i've gotta brag on jon for a second. he did the tomato toss where you throw tomatoes at this guy that basically just sits back there and mocks you and gets in your head. he threw a few and missed and then smacked a tomato right thru the hole! it was pretty impressive and the crowd loved it.  

 this was taken right before the lady realized i was taking a picture of her butt. she laughed, thank god. 

the highlight of the day was when jon said that i MUST ride a camel since i never had and then we were informed that i wasn't allowed to ride it alone. so with a little coaxing i was able to get him to jump on board, too. it was hilarious. before we got on, we watched the worker bottle feed one of the camels with a bottle of gatorade. jon assumed the camel was probably hung over from the night before. 

 dragon eggs! as a kid, i would throw mine in my fish aquarium. as an adult, i just take photos of other people's and don't buy any. whoops!

 the best show ever. the kamikaze fireflies! 

take off work if you have to because everyone needs to experience this festival! and be sure to check online for discount codes and preorder options! 

LUMINOCITY

last night, we went to probably the coolest thing i have ever seen in Cincinnati called Luminocity. it was a music/lights show put on at washington square park in OTR featuring the pops orchestra and it. was. amazing.  the lights show lit up across our gorgeous music hall while the orchestra performed. the weather was absolutely perfect and not to mention the event was free. *but looking back, i would have gladly paid a cover, because this thing was waaaaay too crowded. the show started at 8:30 and we got there at 5 (5!) and there were already about 200 people setting up chairs and marking their territory. so we set up a blanket, and headed over for some sammies and sodas and took a walk around OTR. that area is so gorgeous these days.

once we got back to our spot on the ground, it was really starting to get packed up. on my first trip to the bathroom, i tried my very hardest to not step on other's blankets but by the second trip, it was impossible. i mean, we're talking blanket to blanket lawn chair to lawn chair grass coverage here. lots of "i'm so sorry. excuse me. pardon me. i'm so sorry. oh, i love that bag. excuse me"'s going on. thank god we got there when we did, because we were in the perfect spot, right next to the sound system!

a perfect mixture of classical songs and broadway tunes that leave goosebumps on your arms. and mixed with the smell of bug spray and barbecue in the air?? we're talkin' heaven on earth. and then the ballet performed and it was all over for me. so gorgeous! it was all like something out of a movie and i'm so glad we- along with the rest of cincinnati- go to see it. i got plenty of photos but i'm holding back posting every single last one. i'm gonna try and get the videos up on here but if i fail, go check out Instagram hashtag "luminocity"!!

oh, and just so everyone gets an idea of what kind of building we're talking about, i uploaded this picture off google of music hall. this is the building that the light show was shown on. i know, right?