Flip Out Mama

Disclosure: Wilderness at the Smokies provided our family with a complimentary stay for our original visit in 2013. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post has been updated in 2026 with current resort information. Wilderness at the Smokies has changed quite a bit since our family originally stayed there—and honestly, “quite a bit” might be an understatement. We first visited Wilderness at the Smokies during one of our family trips to Tennessee when our kids were much younger. At the time, we stayed at the resort, spent plenty of time in the waterparks, explored the Adventure Forest family entertainment center, and came home with a whole lot of Smoky Mountain vacation memories. Since that original visit, Wilderness has undergone some major renovations and expansions. The indoor Wild WaterDome has been expanded and renovated, Stone Hill Lodge's guest rooms have been completely updated, and the resort has added new lodging and attractions—including mountain-modern ...

Dollywood has always been one of our favorite places to visit in the Smoky Mountains, and looking back at these pictures now makes me realize just how little my kids were when we first started taking these trips. We spent an entire day at Dollywood during one of our family trips to Pigeon Forge, and it ended up being one of those vacation days everyone enjoyed for completely different reasons. Some of us were there for the rides, some preferred the slower attractions, and obviously there was plenty of food involved. 😂 Our original visit in this post was years ago, so Dollywood has changed quite a bit since these pictures were taken. I wanted to update the post while keeping our original experience and photos, and I've added some current information for anyone planning a Dollywood trip today. Here's what our family loved about our day at Dollywood—and a few things to know if you're thinking about adding it to your own Smoky Mountains vacation. A Full Day at Dollywood O...

2026 Note: If you're planning a trip to Gatlinburg, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is probably going to show up pretty quickly on your list of things to do—and for good reason. Disclosure: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies provided complimentary admission for our family for our original visit. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post has been updated in 2026 with current planning information. We visited Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies as a family during one of our trips to Gatlinburg, and it ended up being one of those attractions where we spent way more time than I expected. We were there for around four and a half hours, and the kids still weren't ready to leave. It's been a while since our original visit, so some things at the aquarium have changed since then, but I wanted to update this post while keeping our original experience and photos. If you're considering adding the aquarium to your Smoky Mountains vacation, here's what o...

Throwing a baby shower can get expensive ridiculously fast. Between the food, decorations, invitations, games, favors, and gifts, it's easy to spend way more than you planned. The good news is that you absolutely do not need a huge budget to throw a baby shower that feels special. With a little planning (and knowing where it's actually worth spending your money), you can put together a really cute shower without spending a fortune. Whether you're planning for a friend, sister, daughter, or someone else you love, here are some of my favorite ways to throw a baby shower on a budget without making it look like you threw a baby shower on a budget. 1. Choose a Budget-Friendly Location One of the easiest ways to blow your baby shower budget is paying for a venue. Before you book one, think about the free or inexpensive spaces you already have available. We ended up having my baby shower at my sister's townhouse, which gave us a cozy space without adding a venu...

  Last year, my boys and I finally got to check a HUGE item off our bucket list: we went to WWE Royal Rumble 2025 in Indianapolis. We had wanted to go to a Royal Rumble for years, so when we finally got the chance, there was absolutely no way we were missing it. We drove up from Central Kentucky, stayed downtown in Indianapolis, and spent the weekend doing something all three of us had talked about forever. This isn't really a review of the actual Royal Rumble matches—there are approximately nine million wrestling websites better qualified for that. 😂 This is about our trip: getting to Indianapolis, where we stayed, what it was like going to the event, and whether I'd do a Royal Rumble weekend again with my boys. Spoiler: absolutely.   Driving From Kentucky to Indianapolis Coming from Central Kentucky, Indianapolis really wasn't a bad trip at all. I HATE driving on the interstate, so naturally I turned what could have been a faster drive into about a four-and-a-half-hou...

Surviving the Holidays with Heart: A Chill Guide to Self-Care Hey there, friends! The holidays are supposed to be all twinkly lights, good vibes, and cozy moments, right? Well, not for everyone. Sometimes, they're a stark reminder of what's missing, and grief hits a bit harder during this season. So, let's talk about it and share some self-care tips to make it through. 1 . Reflecting on Loss: First things first – it's totally cool not to feel the holiday cheer 24/7. Seriously, who made those rules anyway? If you're like me, missing loved ones for decades, guess what? You're not alone. Embrace your feelings, and forget about feeling guilty. I gave that up a long time ago. My parents are gone, and even though it's been over 20 years, it SUCKS. I think that's totally normal, and I no longer feel bad that my grief isn't on anyone else's "timeline".  2. Set Those Boundaries: Boundaries are your holiday BFFs. If you're not feeling that of...