14 Days. Or 359 Hours. Or 21,547 Minutes.

It's coming.  It's only 2 weeks away.  It's almost here.

The anticipation is building.

It's my favorite time of year.

If you've been around for the past few summers, you already know that I'm just a little obsessed with our State Fair.  I love it.  I don't even know that I can find the words for how excited I get about the Indiana State Fair.

This year, I've got to plan carefully.  My favorite day of the Fair- Farmer's Day- is already not going to happen for me because I've got so many things going on that day that I've got to sort through (work commitment, Teagan's first day of 1st grade).

But I will make the best of it.  I will find the other days I want to attend and I will seek out the hidden treasures that the State Fair offers me each year.

Things I am eagerly anticipating this year:

• $2 Tuesdays. I want to take the kids on Tuesday, Aug 9.  With a special voucher from Turkey Hill, admission is only $2.  Many food vendors will have special smaller portions of their foods for $2 and the Midway will offer rides for just $2 each. 
• Having the kids' handprints done at the Pioneer Village by the coppersmith.
• Seeing, again, Howard Helmer, The World's Fastest Omelet Maker.
• The Peking Acrobats are back this year! They were incredible the last time I saw them!
• Big horses.  I love going in the last week of the Fair and seeing the Percherons and draft horses.
• The Fido 500 / Weiner 100.  I have no idea what it actually is but I'm guessing it involves racing dogs.  And weiner dogs racing each other just sounds adorable.
• Food! Ice cold chocolate milk from the Dairy Bar, roasted and buttery corn on the cob, tomato juice that I fix up with worcester sauce, celery salt, and tabasco, deep fried cheese, pork burgers from Indiana pork producers, a ribeye sandwich from Indiana beef producers, and I must track down those tomato ball things we discovered before!
• Visiting the 4H Buildings to see the projects that 4H kids from around the state have done.
• Visiting the Home & Family Arts building to see the sewing, quilting, photography and artwork done by Hoosiers.
• Watching a Habitat for Humanity home being built by volunteer crews.  I love seeing the early stages at the start of the Fair and the finished product at the end!
• Riding the Fair Train! My kids are already talking about riding the train this year.  It's a little pricey but it makes the day really special for the kids and we don't have to worry about getting into a steamy hot car at the end of a long day of fun!
• Goats.  I seriously love visiting and feeding the goats.  My tip- get up to Goat Mountain early in the morning before the goats are hot and overfed for your best goat experience!
• Riding the tractor shuttle.  It's a fun way to get a glimpse of the Fairgrounds- it takes the big loop all the way around the Fair.

But the part I'm most geeked about is that I will have media credentials at the Fair this year!!  I'd really love to find something unique or different to share with my readers so if there is anything you've always wanted to know about the Indiana State Fair, please let me know!