Shibori Summer

Hello and happy August. It has true been a summer, right? From a hot June, to a wet July and now here we are, August…hot and humid. It’s also the final countdown until the littles go back to school and while I am typically a touch sad…ours MUST get back to routine. From mornings in front of the tv, to Nerf attacks in the house, some learning and schedules will be good for everyone. In the meantime we are getting in all of our crafts that we have been talking about doing all summer including the stinky but stunning Shibori dip dye projects. Check them out!

To start, I purchased a Shibori kit and got my vat of dye going the night before my dip. The vat of dye is literally a living, breathing thing, it’s so crazy. It bubbles and makes a weird smell, and magically turns your cotton pieces from yellow to green to blue with the addition of oxygen. It is one of the most interesting artistic processes I have ever worked with. While it is cool, it is a delicate thing to handle…wear gloves and clothes that could get dye on them. Come prepared with all of your napkins, dishtowels, t-shirts and onesies ready to dip and dye. Wrap them in various ways using pieces of cardboard and rubber bands to make your negative patterns. Once your pieces have sat in the dye for awhile, take them out and let them dry, then remove the rubber bands to reveal the magic. To keep your vibrant blue tones, wash the pieces in a tub of cool water and vinegar before they make their way into your washing machine. This will cure the ink and keep the vibrancy.

A Shibori dip is a really fun activity to do with friends. Have someone organize the dye vat and you can dip and wrap for hours with friends…a glass of rosé is always a fun addition to the artists event as well. Happy August, happy dipping!

Flowers for your Mama!

Be the Favorite this Mother’s Day! Show up with fresh, custom flowers from one of Clevelands best florist; Plantscaping & Blooms,
a Family-owned Plant & Floral Company delighting Northeast Ohioans since 1979.

I love Mother’s Day because it is a day filled with family, fun, food (I typically don’t have to make) and FLOWERS!!! These beautiful blooms from Cleveland Florist Plantscaping & Blooms arrived just in time to decorate our home for Mother’s Day “week” which adds and extra special look to our home the week leading up to the special day.

My personal favorites are branches of fresh lilacs and sweet tulips, the familiar scents immediately transport me to springtime holidays.

The two arrangements that I received were the Mother’s Arms Bouquet and the Family Forever Bouquet. Each of these so pretty and fragrant.

The Mother’s Arms Bouquet is packed with big, beautiful white hydrangea, gently opening roses, pops of anemones, lilac, muscari, tulips, delphinium, and delicate clematis all in an artfully sorted bed of greens. This bouquet is super happy and brought an instant smile to me and my mom. It is SUCH a happy bouquet, I promise it will make any recipient feel extra-loved.

The Family Forever Bouquet is a charming and colorful arrangement filled with signature spring blooms including fluffy hydrangea, lisianthus, alstromeria, traditional roses, spring lilac, eucalyptus, calla lily, sought-after peonies and show-stopping ranunculus. This bouquet is SUCH a SHOWSTOPPER, I literally keep moving it from room to room to enjoy its beauty.

Did you know, as with many industries, COVID has significantly disrupted the supply chain for fresh cut flowers this year? Plantscaping and Blooms are determined to fulfill all orders, but the company kindly suggests placing orders as early as possible. Visit their page or call 216.367.1200 to order today!

To show your Mom (or any friend) how you feel this Mother’s Day, visit their site for stunning florals and show-stopping house plants. I promise if you show up wit one of these floral gifts you will be the favorite child or friend for life! 😉

SPONSORED POST : Thank you for supporting area business owners like Plantscaping & Blooms as you select the perfect Mother’s Day gifts.

A creative collaboration based on a love for color and jewelry!

A few months ago, before the holidays I was bantering with one of my favorite jewelry designers Sara of Sasha Handmade about how much I loved her work, the wrapped string technique, and all of her interesting color combinations. I’ve known Sara for a few years now and I am always drawn to her work for gifting, a treat for myself, or to recommend when someone is looking for a unique piece. Based out of the Pittsburgh area this Cleveland native has an eye for trends in fashion but also roots to giving back to her community. She is such a kind soul that I was instantly on board when the idea of a potential collaboration was suggested…and here we are.

Sara and I went back and forth a few times and landed upon a bold but delicate, 3-piece collection, including a necklace, bracelet and earings in 3 different colorways. The new line launches today at noon along with some other really fun pieces Sara has for Spring. To visit her shop and purchase a few of these beauties for spring or Mother’s Day, go to her site here! I can’t wait to hear what you think of her work (AMAZING!) and the pretty, spring/summer collection we made up over dm’s, zoom and, phone calls! Happy Spring, Happy Sasha to you all.

A celebration of creativity, fashion & friendship; our Frances Valentine backyard trunk show

How is it already mid-March? With the onset of spring and a few warmer days under our belt, I am quickly reminded about how much I love spending time outside in our yard as the seasons change. While 2020 had us on lockdown , the daily adventures of baking, cocktail-ing, crafts, virtual learning/working, and other small luxuries made the year a practice in patience and constant optimism.

One of my fondest memories of last year was hosting the Cleveland; socially-distanced, Frances Valentine trunk show in our backyard. Not only was it a great excuse to spend days working on the yard itself; it was an opportunity to bring fellow Frances Valentine enthusiasts together to celebrate fashion, creativity, sequins, and all things sparkly when the world felt VERY heavy.

Did you know that Frances Valentine is the brainchild of the ever-so-stylish Elyssa Arons along with her friends Kate & Andy Spade? The modern American lifestyle brand is not only sophisticated and chic but also is filled with vintage touches and joyful hues…and I simply adore it all. Having them bring the entire clothing line for us to touch and feel in our backyard made all the difference in the world. You were able to experience the quality and craftsmanship that went into making each garment very special. Along with caftans, sweaters, swing coats, and capri pants, they also brought many a tote and straw bag to test out which made envisioning ourselves dressed for a summer outing even more fun. In addition to clothing and bags, they also had a handful of shiny baubles and housewares to explore up close and personal. To say I wanted one of everything was an understatement.

For the guests, we served a light bourbon + apple cider cocktail along with custom FV monogram cookies by Luna Bakery that were just the right amount of sweet. There were small, conversation sets of chairs and tables if you wanted to connect with a friend you hadn’t seen all year in a safe, outdoor way. Thank you to my friends at Borrow Curated for the most perfect seating for such a lovely afternoon occasion.

Connecting with the very special, FV brand ambassadors was also a huge highlight of the afternoon event. Not only did these women share stories of how the business grew from the ground up, but what it was like to work in the most creative environment one could ever dream up. They worked countless hours to grown the business from a start-up to a global attainable-luxury brand, and they have SO MUCH to be proud of.

While the fashions and cookies were lovely, probably my favorite memory of the afternoon was how this event was the catalyst to connect so many of my Cleveland friends. Whether if it was I hadn’t seen someone in a year due to Covid or I had the opportunity to meet some of my Instagram friends in real life, it was the Cleveland community showing up and celebrating creativity and fashion that brought me such joy that I will never forget that special day.

If you aren’t familiar with the Frances Valentine brand, they recently released some lovely spring prints perfect for any Mother’s Day gifting (hint hint 😉) or special Spring event. If you do make it to NYC this summer, the brand also recently opened a new store on Madison Avenue…you can see some great pictures of the new interior on their Instagram stories, stunning. Until then, I will covet their print catalogs and live stories as I relive that fall afternoon last September when through fashion we were able to be a bit lighter and brighter all in the name of style.

A big thanks to Lynda and Abbie for lugging all the boxes, steaming all the dresses, and the behind the scenes magic it took to pull off this event during a global pandemic. You two are amazing!

Getting Organized with Wayfair (sponsored)

Hi friends! I don’t know about you, but as January comes to a close and February arrives, my household to-do list kicks into full swing. The holiday decorations are taken down and stored for next year. It’s not quite time for starting seeds and springtime yard work. So household organization projects here I come. First up, the playroom!

To kick off the project, we removed all the odds and end furniture and bought this blue velvet couch from our friends at Wayfair. It’s the perfect place for reading books and playing beginner video games, Just Dance anyone? (I kinda love it too!) To keep the couch bright and kid-friendly I also scored a pair of sunny, yellow velvet throw pillows to add a touch of playfulness to the space. The pillows also come in handy with our daily pillow-fort-making-adventures.

I needed a way to organize and display books and little collectible toys and for that, I chose a pair of long white display shelving. I lined them with some of our current favorite books and some of our favorite toys. It was also fun to get the books off the ground and teach Max the idea of putting things back on the shelf as part of the clean-up-the-playroom habit.

Baskets, bins, and more baskets! As our little guy has grown out of baby blocks and more into massive collections of Legos and Matchbox Cars, coming up with an organizational system was super important for this new playroom set up. We selected a series of plastic bins with lids to hold the various collections and labeled them so he knew what goes where. This has helped both kid and mom figure out where things go at the end of the day.

Moms out there, how many times a week do you hear “can I have a snack?” I must admit it drives me a bit bananas…until now. I bought this adorable white metal and wooden basket that I have been filling with a few snacks, the always-missing “memote,” and a couple of toy treasures. Now instead of asking for daily snacks, he chooses something from the little basket playroom basket! It has become an independent, but a curated experience for him, and for me it is one less thing I have to think about regularly. Organized and easy, love when these two things come together.

A couple of other cool playroom refresh and organizational things I found at Wayfair were these metal and wood handle baskets. Pretty enough just for display but also functional for keeping mid-sized toys and games organized. To be honest, I also have a few of these baskets in my pantry and love their overall aesthetic of modern and clean.

Wayfair also sells one of my favorite affordable-luxury brands made by the design-duo of The Novogratz family. I had been looking at this bold, colorful rug for some time but couldn’t quite make it work in other parts of our house. While we do have light gray carpeting in the playroom, using this graphic rug near the new couch keeps the area grounded and separate from the other play areas. Plus, this rug makes a great Lego rug to use as a guide for designing towns, roads, and buildings!

For the final touches on making this refreshed and organized playroom extra special, Max and I worked together to create his ultimate gallery wall. I let him comb through my phone to find his favorite pictures of his friends. I typeset some of his little “Max-isms” as a way to capture them before he grows up and they go away ("Wook it!") and we also framed up some of his favorite color combinations to pull the room together. It was a labor of love but a fun project to do together. He is so proud and the photos make him so happy.

So hope you like this playroom update. Getting organized makes me feel like a super human…especially when I am battling hundreds of little Lego blocks and a gaggle of stuffed animals! Also, thanks to Wayfair for the fun collaboration, if you ever need some fresh organizational pieces for your home, check them out, they have so many options. ❤️

Bring on the Holidays!

Can we talk about Tuesdays snowstorm in Northeast Ohio? We lost a bunch of trees around our home due to the weight of the ice on the branches. Man, I wish all the snow was around when I took these holiday pics! But all in all, I was decorated and ready before the snowstorm…so bring it on Mother Nature, I am ready for the holidays!

To decorate the side-door entry, I used our summer planters and filled them with holiday greens from our neighborhood. I purchased the red and white holiday swags from Joann Fabrics. I also pulled out our vintage Santa wood cut-out to add a touch of festive cheer to our side door. I purchased this Santa over 20 years ago from a live auction in Parma Heights. I remember waiting and waiting until this friendly fella went up for sale…I “won” him for $12! Money well spent.

Cheers to making your home holiday ready. If you are looking for free greenery, head outside, with so many tress down from the storm, our street tree lawns were filled with bunches of fresh greenery for the taking. Happy holiday decorating!

Creek Walking in Shaker Heights

While it may feel like August, it’s officially fall here in Northeast Ohio. These warmer temperatures are making playing outdoor, after-school especially fun. Have you ever explored the creeks in Shaker Heights? Or for that matter anywhere in our own neighborhood? It’s one of our favorite activities when we want to feel like we went on an adventure, but truly didn’t go that far.

A few tips for creek walking…wear your tall, waterproof boots unless you want to get wet. The water is chilly because of the cooler fall nights, so it helps to have a towel or two nearby for any slip ups that may occur. On the way down to the creek we look for the best walking stick to keep our balance, plus they are just fun.

While we may not have seen any small fish this time out, we searched and searched for snails, rocks to dry & paint and watched as the tree leaves changed colors before our eyes.

Mother nature is being SO KIND to us in this year of such uncertainty. Your local parks and the regional Metroparks systems of lakes, beaches and trails can be such a fun destination when the world seems a bit sleepy. Remember to be safe and wear masks when others are around, but if you find yourselves alone in a creek…go crazy and have a blast! Cheers to November warm weather.

Fall Picnic Style

Welcome to the refreshed, I Heart Cleveland site. I hope you enjoy this new format and come back often to see all the creative fun happening in our world. As summer draws to a close we are still trying to catch each warm day and head outdoors to eat, play, exercise and more. No one really knows what the winter will hold for us so for now let’s get outdoors and celebrate the joy of fall!

Virtual school ends early afternoon and so on the days that I don’t have our tutor, I try and think of fun ways that I can keep our little guy engaged and off the screens…we all love a good picnic! Part of the picnic itself is in the picnic-planning. Early that morning we baked a tiny picnic cake, we picked out the perfect picnic books, I had Max pick other snacks (marshmallows, bananas & oranges!) and I dragged out my favorite vintage throw.

This week, make time to squeeze in a picnic with your family and or friends. If it’s chilly, bundle up, bring a thermos of spiked cider and make a pot of warm soup to socially-distance share. Happy picnics everyone!

Notes From Quarantine

I wanted to check in and say “hi” to all of you guys. How are you and your loved ones doing during these SUPER uncertain times? I hope you are doing well. 

Honestly, if you would have asked me 6 weeks ago if I could stay at home 99% of the time, home school our son, continue to work as part of a strong, creative design team plus improve my cooking (& cocktail) skills, go crazy with organizational OCD, find continuous joy on daily walks, rides and gardening sessions….I would have said “NO WAY!” 

“Pre-corona” I would leave the house daily, to grab coffee with a friend, go to the studio, do some therapeutic thrifting, shop at the West Side Market, check out a new restaurant, explore a new hot spot, attend an after-work meeting, grab wine with my gals… and on and on and on.

But here we are…together…week 7. My daily “outfit of the day” story posts have evolved into daily breakfast and dishtowel posts. Bedtimes have gotten a touch later but mornings feel longer and more lazy even on the busiest of “social distancing” days. Where once I would buy bread from our Cleveland bakeries, now I am self-challenging with homemade Naan, NYT no-knead bread, muffins and more. Gosh do I miss my girl Meredith and her manicure masterpieces; and while I love my new lavender polish it’s just not the same…and let’s not even talk about my bangs trims. 

I recently had an urge to go thrifting, to discover a one-of-a-kind, a score, instead I turned to Etsy. While I have been trying not to shop during these uncertain times, that day I was in need of some solid retail therapy….so for $19 I picked up a pair of fluorescent orange, JCrew heels and I felt a touch more normal. Then there is home schooling…to all you teachers out there, bless you. While I am enjoying arts & crafts and read-a-loud time, kindergarten new math and keeping our guy on track and attentive on Zoom is a daily challenge I can do without. 

All in all, these last few weeks have been filled with many challenges and sacrifices…but also so much joy. The time together as a family has been incredible. Our long walks and “family meetigs” (to decide what’s for dinner) have brought us closer together as a little family unit. We for sure have our roles in this new normal…I do school, laundry and “grocery management,” Mr C. does Taco Tuesdays, “baseball practice” and the recycling and NinjaMax wears his noise cancelling headphones when Mom and Dad want to watch a movie with questionable 5 yr old words in it….and so far it’s all good. I mean, we’ve for sure had our challenges…like I want to spend this time doing every constructive, DIY project around the house while my boys want to spend this time to get caught up on all of the Harry Potter movies,…and while I like movies…I don’t like them all day…but that is so minor, I can’t really complain.

We are healthy, so for that I am deeply grateful. We are wearing our masks and gloves and using our hand sanitizer. We are social distancing…not even a glass of wine in a driveway, 6 ft apart…YET. I’m not saying never, but so far I have been pretty strict with the new normal rules and while I know I can’t do this forever…I will approach re-entry into the world full of hesitations.

A couple of things that we have loved during these times…
– Bike Rides. NinjaMax learned to ride a bike! So we have been riding all over town including the Saturday morning North Union Famers Market. We go online and order meats, lettuce and herbs and then we ride our bike to pick up our goods. I love this routine.
– Instacart! What can I say, it’s a new neccesity to either pick up or have your groceries delivered. I have always loved this service and in these times, I love it even more. Here is my trick…place your order for a few things early in the weeknand then add to the order throughout the week…by the weekend your order will be ready for delivery…or at least this has been my experience. 
– The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. This local nature preserve has been our escape from the daily routine. We’ve enjoyed watching the trees bloom, the birds arriving for the summer season, the little flowers sprouting up from the earth and the neighborhood park coming to life. Thanks to the staff at the Nature Center for all you are doing durng these days.
– Amazon. Amazon for everything…from board games, to hair clippers, to fancy cherries for manhattans, to new baseball mits, to vegetable seeds and paints, cookbooks and sidewalk chalk! Just to name few household things. Thank you to all the friendly drivers who are delivering during these times. We are so appreciative.
– TV! While I mentioend I dont want to watch all day…I am good to go in the evenings. Currently loving Little Fires Everywhere, The Beastie Boys Movie, Tiger King, Ozarks, and Hook; circa 1991.
– Peloton. As a “user” for over two years, this bike and wellness company is currenlty my lifeline to sanity, fitness and funky afternoon dance parties. Thank you Peloton family for evolving and changing with the times, I am a tried and true user for life. Thank you!
– Food pick ups. The first few weeks we had zero food other that what I was cooking. Then after the 3-meal-a-day food prep I was loosing steam and open to the idea of pick up. Then when Vero opened their phone lines for pick up, I was totally game! From there we have picked up burgers and fried califlower from La Albatros, fancy pasta from Dante, Ban Mi’s from On The Rise and grain bowls from Luna Bakery. We take precautions filled with lots of hand sanitizer and leaving the bags and boxes in the garage but these few food purchases have kept us connected to the Cleveland food scene while staying safe (& somewhat sane) at home.

Last but certainly not least THANK you to our nurses and doctors for taking care of Cleveland on the front line. Thank you to the delivery & mail people for bringing notes and packages that bring our family joy. Thank you for our teachers for pivoting and teaching our kids during these scary times. Thanks to our friends for touching base to check in on us and make sure we are doing okay, personally I will be FOREVER grateful for the silly Zoom calls, the sporadic “HouseParty’s” and the day to day text check-ins with my community of friends, family and even those of you who have reached out just to say “hi.” Thank you.

So I hope you are well. I look forward to seeing you later this summer…with masks on of course…but I truly miss you dear Cleveland and I can’t wait for what the future holds. Be well. xo -Charity

An Evening with M Cellars

Have you ever been out to Geneva and visited some of the amazing wineries of Northeast Ohio? One of my favorites is the exquisite vineyard out at M Cellars.  Last summer I had the opportunity to visit this family-owned winery and what a complete TREAT it was.

Speaking of treats, this past weekend I had a few friends over to celebrate the end of summer, good food, and even better wine; compliments of M Cellars. During the evening we had the opportunity to experience the chosen wines of this year “M Cellars Select Collection:” the vineyard’s wines made from their estate vines.

We kicked off the evening with some of the Brut Rosé paired with a charcuterie board. We tasted their Reserve Chardonnay with our watercress, roasted beets, and goat cheese salads. Keeping things casual I served an assortment of flatbreads paired with an M Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir and then finished the evening with a homemade stone fruit tart and a glass or their 2017 Meritage. To say it was a delicious and indulgent evening would be an understatement.

From bubbly to bold reds, The M Cellars Select Collection  gave us the perfect introduction to the premium wine grown and produced close by in Ohio’s Grand River Valley.

Over the next few weeks, purchase their 4-bottle, Select Collection and you can choose one of their upcoming, intimate vineyard-to-bottle tour of the vineyards and tasting; complete with special wines and small bites with the winemakers or sommelier. This collection and day trip opportunity would make for the best gift for any wine lover in your life…plus the wines are delicious; trust me! To find out more about this opportunity, check out their site and follow the easy steps to purchase your collection and schedule your vineyard tour. Who wants to join me? Let’s do it!

SPONSORED POST: Thank you to M Cellars for inviting us to experience their new M Cellars Select Collection. Thank you for supporting this creative, wine-loving business, while allowing me to create special content like this for iheartcleveland!

Goodbye Summer…Hello Fall Cocktail!

With only a handful of summer days left, I’ve started to feel the onset of fall in Northeast Ohio…and I love it!

From planning our pumpkin patch visit and apple picking adventure to new boots and sweaters, this is MY SEASON. Personally, I also LOVE all fall food and flavors and don’t even get e started on pumpkin space everything…the best.

It’s also the time of year when my summer drink of choice does a bit of an overhaul. It typically goes something like this…Rosé’ to Red and vodka soda to bourbon ginger…overall richer, deeper, warmer. Then I discovered this drink, a Rosemary Maple Peach Bourbon Cocktail or what I like to call “Goodbye Summer…Hello Fall!”

I had a few friends over for an officially cocktail tasting and I think it was a smash hit! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Here is the recipe…give it a shot this Saturday when fall is officially here! Enjoy…CHEERS.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall Cocktail
(Makes 1 cocktail)

• 1/4 of an over-ripe peach, plus a few slices for garnish
• 1 1/2 tablespoons rosemary maple simple syrup (below)
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Bourbon (I HEART Watershed!)
• tiny pinch smoked sea salt
• ice
• rosemary sprig for garnish

Muddle together the chopped peach, rosemary maple simple syrup, lemon juice, bourbon and salt in a measuring cup or glass. Strain the mixture into a tumbler filled with ice, pressing on the fruit pulp to get out all the good stuff. Garnish with the peach slices and rosemary sprig.

Rosemary Maple Simple Syrup
Makes about 1 cup, enough for 10 drinks

• 3/4 cup lightly packed rosemary leaves (from about 10 sprigs), roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup (5 3/4 ounces by weight) maple syrup
• 1/2 cup water

Combine the rosemary, maple syrup, and water together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then cover and steep for at least 15 – 30 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the rosemary to extract all the liquid. Discard the rosemary. Chill the syrup until cold, 1 hour (or mix your drinks right away if you just can’t wait). The syrup will keep, refrigerated, for at least several weeks.

Lilly Pulitzer at Lovely Paperie & Gifts

Last month my friend Kate invited me to be part of her first annual Lilly Pulitzer fashion show and to say I was honored is an understatement. As a big Lilly fan and lover of everything bright hued and pattern-covered I immediately jumped at the fun opportunity to hang out with some of my favorite Cleveland ladies, get all dolled up and decked out in Ms. Pulitzer and hang out in Kate’s truly “Lovely” store for the evening.

At Lovely Paperie & Gifts they have a complete in-store boutique filled with all things Lilly Pulitzer. From party maxi dresses to work appropriate shirt dresses…from silk blouses to weekend workout clothes…from dresses for your kiddos to tunics for your mom; Lovely is your west side Lilly destination!

Thanks to all of my gal pals who stopped in for the evening of fashion fun. I love the photo of me and Shibani Faehnle (above) captured by the talented photographer Kailey Marie of Kailey Marie Photography. Also, thanks to Mr. C for surprising me and stopping by with NinjaM for the after-party!

(all of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lovers!)

(My favorite long tunic and a little, Lilly lover enjoying a sweet treat!)

(Rachel of Shore Society rockin some preppy patterns)

Thanks again Kate and her team of helpers that made the entire evening a big success. You made all of us feel beautiful as we showed off your amazing collection of Lilly Pulitzer fashions. If you are feeling like a pop of color in your summer wardrobe make sure to go see Kate and she will help you find just the perfect shade of Lilly for you! Happy shopping, happy Lilly everyone!

Our Indian Adventure

Warning, this is probably my LONGEST post I have written in the eight years I have been writing this blog. I wrote it for those of you who may be interested in our trip, but I also wrote it so that I personally didn’t forget any little travel details as a  journal for myself. I hope you enjoy!

Today is exactly a month from our return from southern India. It seems like only just yesterday I had butterfly’s of excitement deep down in my belly as we landed in Bangalore around midnight on a warm spring evening. So many friends have asked me to tell them about our trip that I thought I would write a few fun stories down. While this isn’t a true Cleveland-centric post, it’s about an experience that has provided me a new perspective on the world and I hope you enjoy it.

You see…in 2008; just a bit over ten years ago, I was a proud Cleveland Bridge Builders participant. If you don’t know what “Bridge Builders” is, it’s basically a young-professionals, leadership organization where you have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a handful of other passionate Clevelanders for a solid year of programming. In this group I met a friend, he was an undergrad student at CASE and we were placed in the same small group project. I am happy to say that while the project wasn’t super successful our friendship has endured for just about ten years.

Last year, around Christmas I got a phone call from my friend who had since moved to NYC and it was kinda odd he was calling me since we typically text nowadays. I answered immediately worried something was wrong; but just the opposite…he was engaged and wanted to personally invite me and Mr. C to his wedding celebration abroad and just like that…we were going to India!

As a designer, I have always wanted to visit this country known for its abundance of vibrant colors and unique patterns. I had magazine tears on my desk (pre-Pinterest) for when I “someday” got to visit, things I should do or see.

We left Cleveland on a Thursday afternoon and arrived on Saturday “morning” which was actually the middle of the night. We flew through Atlanta and then through Amsterdam onto Bangalore. Our flights were all on time and from one to the next, our excitement grew. When we landed in Bangalore the airport seemed quiet, we got through customs just fine (note: remember to always print a hard copy of your Visa!) and our luggage was happily at baggage claim to meet us. We had been instructed to meet a driver who would take us to our first hotel. When we got through customs…we didn’t see any drivers so we decided to head outside. As soon as the sliding doors opened we were immediately smacked with warm air and hundreds of people shouting names of others at the arrival gate. As a first impression of this land, it couldn’t have been more hectic but all the while, so happy and full of warm welcomes. We finally found our driver and off we went into the city night.

Our hotel was about an hour drive from the airport. It was in the middle of the night and  my body had no idea what time it actually was, the adrenaline was pumping and I was wide awake. From the airport to our hotel I knew right away I was no longer in Cleveland, HA! From the cows walking down the sides of the road to hundreds of scooters whizzing by our car, from apartment buildings covered in lights to numerous religious temples on the side of the road…we had for sure arrived in India.

When we pulled up to the hotel our friend had waited up for us and greeted us with a warm Indian welcome. I still couldn’t believe we were all there and ready to celebrate with them their glorious occasion. We got into our room and literally crashed…we had made it.

The next morning, we woke up pretty early to discover how cool our resort was since we couldn’t get a good feel for it in the middle of the night. The property had something like five pools for us to explore, an indoor spa, badminton courts and everything you would expect for a high-end resort to have. We met our friends for our first official Indian breakfast meal; Dosas which are more savory than our sweet American pancakes and are made from rice and lentils…delicious!

After a leisurely morning, we set out that day to do some exploring with our first stop for lunch…of course. Did you know that if someone asks you if you want “kabobs” it doesn’t mean the veggies, meat or seafood actually arrives on a skewer? Rather this term is almost used like how we would say “do you want barbeque?” it’s more about how the meat is prepared rather than how the meat arrives at your table…just a side note. Lunch was filled with “kabob’s meaning plates of tender chicken and lamb with piles of exotic rice dishes and buttery fresh naan bread, so delicious.

After lunch, we went to visit ISKON Bangalore Temple. ISKCON Bangalore is a charitable society with the objective of propagating Krishna Consciousness all over the world. The members of this faith are trying to give human society an opportunity for a life of happiness, good health, peace of mind and all good qualities through God consciousness. As someone who has practiced yoga for a good part of my life, arriving at this temple was so spiritual and allowed me to open my heart and mind to all of the experiences that lay ahead.

That first evening we went to bed; jet-lagged, but still on cloud nine from our first day in India. There was excitement in the air for some of the other guests who were arriving the following day and we couldn’t wait to see everyone.

The next day was mostly spent shopping (my fave!) for official wedding attire. A good part of the wedding group had arrived and it was time to find our Indian outfits for the wedding festivities. Upon arriving at each formalwear store we immediately let the sales staff know our budgets. This is super important when you are shopping for fancy wedding apparel as there is typically a range of dresses that start around one hundred dollars (6,500 rupees) and can go upwards of a few thousand (130,000 rupees +.)  I started out trying on every bold colored lehenga (skirt & coordinating blouse combination) but then eventually ended up falling for a royal blue and gold sari set. Mr. C bought a cool pair of cotton pants with coordinating longer kaftan-type shirt and slip on shoes; he looked great!

After a long day of shopping, we had an authentic Indian dinner at our friend’s parents home. Everything was so delicious, the richness of layered spices, the various curry dishes, the naan…and did I mention the scotch? From what I could tell, Indians tend to drink scotch as their main drink of choice and while I typically love me some spicy red wine; I too began to appreciate a warm glass of scotch after dinner.

The next morning we took in a bit of sunshine near the hotel pool and then we all met in the lobby to go to the open-air markets for a lesson in Indian negotiating. When we pulled down Commercial Street; Bangalores version of Manhattans Canal Street, I saw hundreds of bangle bracelet vendors and I knew it was going to be a great day! I ended up buying bracelets, rings, a shirt, a skirt and so many other little nic nacs, I was a happy shopper. If you get to Bangalore make sure you stop there for lots of souvenirs at great prices. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, I got almost everything I bought for just about half of the starting prices. They expect a bit of back and forth.

That night we had our last dinner in Bangalore at a gorgeous restaurant called Oota. Everything about this dining experience was stunning. From the space design to the servers uniforms, to the smoking cocktails and dishware, it was all uniquely gorgeous. If you’re a foodie and it’s authentic Karnataka cuisine you want Oota is not to be missed!

The next day it was time to start our road trip from Bangalore to Bekal in Kerala. There were about twenty of us who boarded the bus in anticipation of the journey that lie ahead. It was almost like we were “off to see the wizard” everyone giddy with excitement, relaxed and full of awe.

Our first stop on the way to Mysore was at Daria Daulat Bagh; a palace that was built in 1784. This palace is predominantly made from teakwood and the outer part of the structure is covered in fresco paintings depicting the various battles between the Indian, French, and British while the inside of the palace is covered in more organic drawings of flowers, plants and many geometric patterns. To think that the walls and ceiling are actually hand painted rather than digitally output blew my mind!

Next stop; Mysore Palace also known as Amba Vilas Palace. Located at the heart of Mysore city it is the most prominent tourist destination of Mysore that attracts millions of visitors all year round. Seeing this palace in person was truly breathtaking, part opulence of Marie Antoinette, part mystical castle all doused with a touch of color and pattern a la Indian style! If you get to this part of the world, make sure you get yourself a tour guide for the whole story behind this architectural work of art.

We stayed in the city of Mysore that evening at a very fancy Radisson Blu hotel. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff who greeted us with fresh hand towels, a thumbprint bindi offering and a very pretty glass of freshly squeezed juice; I loved the check-in process every place we went. While Mr. C and I both very much enjoy Indian food, by day four we were ready for a change, so needless to say we were pretty psyched when we saw the Margherita pizzas on the hotel menu for dinner that night. It wasn’t exactly Bar Cento or Vero but it was close enough to almost taste like “pizza from home” minus the pita-like crust. I also tried a Kingfisher Beer that night with our pizza, pretty great.

The next day we boarded our bus early to make our way through the mountains to the region of Coorg. Coorg is known for their farming of teas, coffees spices AND the Golden Temple; home to the second largest Tibetian Monastery outside of Tibet. I think this was probably one of my favorite sights that we experienced along the trip. The vibrancy of the interiors and artwork paired with the simple lifestyle of the Buddhists Monks that lived “on-campus” it was truly a place of spiritual enlightenment. PLUS, can we even talk about the three Budha statues inside the temples and all the GOLD? Breathtaking! I wasn’t able to take video inside of the temple but I found a great clip on youtube in case you want to see some of the monks during prayer at the temple; check it out here!

After our trip to the temple, we swung by Amanvana Resort & Spa for a relaxing outdoor luncheon. We sat in the most comfortable wicker chairs that overlooked their pristine, spa pool as we ate various plates of paneer and spicy curry. This resort had some very cool graphics around the property and I was immediately drawn to their tagline; a rabbit hole for the soul. This resort would be a great place to visit with your yoga friends for a long weekend of spa treatments and vinyasa. I am dreaming of going back.

That afternoon we all jumped in Jeep Wranglers and headed out to the Dubare Elephant Camp. We had to cross the river to “elephant island” on foot because the river was too low for us to take the boats across. We could hear the elephants trumpeting and snorting as we crossed the river it’s like they were shouting for us to get there to play with them. Once inside the camp, we were let loose to roam around the property to experience daily living with the magnificent creatures. We watched as the elephants took baths in the river, we got to feed them and we even watched them as they played blocks…aka stacking logs. While their size was intimidating at first, these giant creatures were the most gentle creatures I had ever witnessed up close and personal.

That evening, just as the sun was setting our bus pulled up to the entrance of our next hotel experience at the Taj Madikeri Resort. We immediately all shuffled out of the bus and into the hotels’ outdoor lobby to watch the sun setting over the Brahmagiri mountain range of the Western Ghats; mother nature truly is a magical lady. After the sunset, we jumped in our golf cart and were whisked away to our own cottages to prep for dinner. That evening we met up with our group at what I can only describe as a “Bachelor dinner.” I’m assuming you know the show the Bachelor? Well this restaurant had rose petals sprinkled along the ground, candles everywhere, a view of the mountain range and the candlelit swimming pool…it was the perfect destination for the one-on-one fantasy suite date for sure! After dinner, we went back to our suite and literally crashed from the days’ excitement.

On Thursday we tried our best to get up for sunrise over the mountains but literally slept through until breakfast…I think all of the travel was starting to catch up with us. After breakfast, we loaded back to the bus for our final day of travel as we headed off to the wedding destination the Taj Bekalin Kerala. This resort would be our final destination where the three days of wedding festivities would take place…we knew it would be extra special.

When we arrived at the wedding resort, the scent of lilies literally rolled out of the lobby and into the front drive. The staff welcomed our group with beaded necklaces and a cup of tea. We were whisked away to get unpacked and dressed for the first nights welcome cocktail party. Our room was literally out of a movie; it came complete with a sparkly pool, queen hanging bed on the patio and an outdoor tub & shower. To say we were like two kids in a candy shop would have been an understatement. I think we literally threw on our bathing suits and jumped in the pool within ten minutes of being in our room, SO FUN!

That night the bride and groom and their families put on one heck of a welcome party complete with dancing to some of their favorite American tunes. We were all dressed up and ready to kick off the wedding festivities in style. That evening we had an authentic Southern Indian dinner and we met a handful of other Americans who had just arrived for the wedding celebration. We drank scotch and danced to Pitbull as the night went on..it was super fun seeing everyone letting loose.

On Friday morning we woke up early and took a yoga class in the spa. I really enjoyed practicing while I was in India, so calming and peaceful. When I am taking a class in the states I love a challenging powerful flow class but while in India I relished in the calm and peacefulness of Yin Yoga that was always part of the practice; next time you have the opportunity to slow down, give it a try.

After yoga, I went to the bride’s room to watch her get her intricate Mendhi (henna) applied to her arms, hands, legs, and feet. Did you know that it is a common belief that the darker the color the mehndi leaves on the hands of a bride, the more will she be loved by her husband and mother-in-law? At the Mehndi celebration, the brides closest friends also used this girls-only-time to celebrate in a more traditional American Bachelorette-like party complete with bubbly and karaoke…these ladies for sure knew how to have a good time! All of the guests of the brides we were also invited to get some henna drawn onto our hands…I jumped at the opportunity and gave them free creativity to whatever design they wanted to stain my skin with for the celebration…it turned out exquisite.

After the party, I tracked down Mr. C and some of the other guests at the main pool. We ordered Pina Coladas and when they were delivered I was SURE they brought us the wrong drink…we didn’t order bright yellow margaritas? What were these drinks? OMG…they were FRESH pina coladas! I don’t think I have ever had something so sweet and refreshing in fact, you’ve got to try making these from home this summer. (Recipe below!)

Post pool it was time to get our white clothes on for the big HOLI party! In India, Holi also known as the “festival of colours”, is an Indian spring festival celebrated all across the country. With water guns filled with natural dyes and handfuls of powdered pigments it was time to get crazy and play “holi!” The music got louder and on the count of “one, two, three!” we were off to cover every party-goer with bright colors. It literally felt like we were kids again running around the beach with our water spray guns. If you ever get a chance to experience this Indian holiday my only words of wisdom would be to cover your hair with coconut oil (or something similar) so the inks can’t stain your ‘do…live and learn!

That evening it was time for the official wedding kick off. During dinner, the bride and the groom treated all of the guests to a capoeira-like Indian dance performance while guests enjoyed a pool-side Indian feast. It was honestly like no other party I have ever attended and it had only just begun.

The next morning we got up early to go and give our blessings to the soon-to-be married couple. We got in line to approach the altar, then sprinkled rice and floral petals on their heads, blessed them and wished them well. After the morning ceremony there was a Kathakali performance; a traditional wedding dance ceremony, a mehndi bar (for those who wanted to get Henna before the nights ceremony,) a free Indian sandal station (I’m so serious, I was in heaven,) a shaved ice bar and even a cotton candy station…the party had begun! After the morning ceremony, there was a very traditional Southern Indian luncheon where the meal was actually served on a plantain leaf and we used our hands to eat, very authentic.

After lunch, we headed back to our hotel for a “splash” of pool time, an afternoon Pina colada and our last official wedding ceremony outfit change. It was time to wear my new sari! Next time you are in India and are fretting about getting your sari on just so, don’t fret, just call down to the front desk and they will send someone up. No joke, to the hotel staff it is the same thing as housekeeping just a normal guest request! A lovely young woman showed up with a handful of safety pins and got to work folding and raping the sari into perfect wedding position….then it was time to go.

The final wedding ceremony was actually just a few miles away from our hotel; where the groom/my friend was staying. When we were dropped off at the front of the hotel we wandered through the various paths following the tunes of a saxophone. The final tunnel to the wedding ceremony was lined with white flowers and twinkly white lights; it was what fairytales are made of. As we entered the wedding celebration there were hundreds of guests dressed in their best with jewelry for miles. The music was intoxicating and the Sanskrit chanting sounded like a magical recipe for romance. At the front of the festivities there were three stages; one for the band, one for the bride and one for the groom. On each stage, there were various happenings, rituals, ceremonies taking place as the crowd watched in amazement. Then at 7:40, when the bride and grooms stars aligned they came together on one stage and became officially wed; hooray. There were more flower petals, more saxophone tunes, some traditional Indian wedding games, bubbly…and FIREWORKS! Yes, not just one or two but a legit fireworks display in celebration of the bride and groom.

As we fell asleep that night I could not stop smiling that we had experienced this life-changing event together with our friends in a far-off country. Back to Cleveland the next day and while I was ready to go home, I could have stayed at that party all night. Thank you to our friends Courtney and Swarup for this once in a lifetime opportunity to travel the globe together and watch you get married, we are honored to be part of your celebration. Thank you to Swaira; Swarup’s sister for all of the love and detailed planning that went into this memorable event. Thank you to my parents for watching our little guy and holding down the home front while we jetted across the world. Thank you to Caroline, Ali, and Amber for keeping our design studio running smoothly while I traveled the globe and came back inspired and refreshed. When I think back on the adventure most of all I am thankful for my partner in crime Mr. C for always agreeing to go along with whatever invitation we should receive; I can’t wait to see where the universe takes us next!

If anyone is traveling to southern India and needs any insight, while I am not expert, you can obviously see that I am a big fan. I would be happy to talk about our trip for days! Just shout!

The Remodeled Ritz Carlton Cleveland

It isn’t every day when us Moms & Dads have the opportunity to slip away for even one night and experience luxury accommodations, fine dining and all of the fun amenities so close to home. So when The Ritz Carlton dropped me a note to come and experience their newly renovated hotel we could not pass up the night away.

Mr. C and I met downtown after work to a very warm welcome from the valet, the hostess, and the front desk staff. Their warm and genuine hospitality seemed like we were their old friends who we hadn’t seen one another in years. The newly remodeled lobby has more of an open concept design than the previous, more compartmentalized floorplan, giving it a more cool and fresh vibe. When you exit the elevators to the lobby you are immediately immersed into a very special atmosphere including a hopping lobby bar, their new fine dining restaurant called TURN, the concierge/check-in area and last but not least many little chic conversation seating areas. I especially love how the new bar is surrounded on three sides with plenty of space to meet friends and enjoy their creative craft cocktail menu selections; we will come back to that later!

Our room was on the club floor which included access to the club lounge. The longe is seriously the perfect place to hang out without actually have to go out. I can envision staying on this floor in the future for the perfect girls night away or perhaps for an overnight during the upcoming film festival. Their lounge was stocked with really great snacks and drinks and in the morning we even were able to have breakfast before we headed home. The staff was so pleasant and took the time to tell us all about their local offerings including beef jerky from the West Side Market, fresh local cheeses, chocolates and other local maker treats. They taught me how to use the help-yourself wine dispenser (dangerous, HA!) and how I could sample a few varietals or enjoy a full glass depending on the button I selected; it was super cool. The new club lounge is filled with some vibrant pieces of contemporary artwork and overstuffed; but with great lines, new upholstered pieces made specifically for relaxing.

After a glass of wine and some snacks, we went back to our room to get ready for dinner at Turn. The newly remodeled rooms feature marble-laden bathrooms including a no-fog mirror in the shower (perfect for shaving!) and some killer travel bath supplies by Asprey. I love the new bedding and furniture and applaud whatever designer chose the nightstands complete with charging stations built into the sides, next to the beds. I also loved their small directional reading lights tucked into the headboards for when you feel like doing a bit of night reading… when you can’t sleep. Speaking of sleeping..we haven’t slept so well in almost 3 years and I attest it to the fluffy Beautyrest For the Ritz Carlton Mattress which Mr. C stripped away the sheets to find the brand of the mattress for when it’s time for us to get a new one …it was that good.

We got dressed and headed downstairs where Monic and Jim walked us through the actual new TURN menu. We started dinner with fresh, micro green salads…I swear I’ve been craving more and am considering stopping down for lunch next time I am downtown to enjoy this salad. For dinner, I had the scallops paired with fresh Ohio City Pasta ravioli and Mr. C had the glazed short ribs, both really great dishes. We also had the brussels sprouts to share and I would highly recommend them if you love them as much as we do. Instead of dessert, we enjoyed their signature “Smoking Man Manhattan” which is infused with cedar-chips smoked tableside. and topped with some Luxardo cherries…a bit of sweet and a touch of smoky…SO GOOD!

As we were wrapping up our dinner experience the lobby was transforming before our eyes featuring a younger, more stylish crowd to groove the night away with the live DJ who was in the house. We hung out with some friends for a final nightcap and then headed up to our room to sneak in a bit of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” from the comfort of our bed.

All in all, I would highly recommend the newly remodeled Ritz Carlton as the perfect Cleveland staycation away from your daily routine. I think they did a wonderful job at the renovations and while I am a bit of an old lady at heart, I appreciate all of the updates and improvements…especially all of the new contemporary art hung throughout the hotel. Thank you to the Ritz for inviting us to experience all of the awesome changes you have undergone. You really did a wonderful job and didn’t miss a detail. We can’t wait to return and enjoy that club lounge a bit longer next time!

SPONSORED POST : Thank you to The Ritz Carlton Cleveland for inviting me to explore their remodeled hotel and share my experience as part of their social outreach. Thanks for supporting this business, while allowing me to create special content like this for iheartcleveland!

Our Peek n’Peak Weekend

Hello Cleveland friends. How did you enjoy last week’s tropical heatwave of 30+ degrees? I mean really; last week’s sub-zero temps were kinda out of control. How many layers could I put on and still not get warm? (4…plus mittens & slippers.) I’m glad to see it is warming up a bit…perfect for playing outdoors!

Speaking of playing outdoors; I am still coming down from last weekend’s family trip to Peek n’Peak Resort. If you’ve never visited, the resort was built in 1964 and is located in Clymer, NY…a quick a two hour drive from Cleveland. It has everything from skiing, snow tubing, swimming, “spa-ing” and many options for dining and family fun.

We woke up on Saturday morning and took our time packing up snacks, ski gear and swimsuits. We left Cleveland around noon and arrived to check into the hotel around 2-ish. Our room was ready so were were able to check in early and unload the car. It was literally so cold outdoors so we made the decision that Saturday would be a family fun day spent in the pool, having a nice dinner and in-room movies; who doesn’t love that? Our room was located slope-side which was entertaining in and of itself.  We all enjoyed watching the skiers and snowboarders as they braved the cold to shred and swoosh. Our Ninja Toddler was amazed by the ski lifts as they swooped in and captured snow enthusiasts to ship them to the top of the mountain!

We spent most of the afternoon in their pristine, mid-century pool mecca. The water was warm and between games of “shark” and chase we all had good afternoon swim. As parents, we took turns dipping into the indoor/outdoor hot tub while the other half swam and raced from one side of the pool to the other with the little. After pool time we quickly changed our clothes and enjoyed some time at their indoor playground to further run out any existing energy. The playground was filled with lots of other mini hotel guests just running around and being wild while all us parents just kinda enjoyed catching a bit of chill adult time.

After we played our hearts out we went back to our room, changed our clothes and went to have dinner in the resort restauraunt. The service was amazing and the food was just as good. Post dinner it was time for some family movie time (Lion King!) and then early to bed to prep for our ski day ahead.

Sunday we woke up and had a good breakfast buffet followed by a tad more pool-time prior to heading to the slopes. Once we got to the ski school our little guy was whisked away by his instructor Ms Karen to get fitted for his ski & gear rentals. Myself and Mr C. had a free hour to ourselves to take a few runs on the slopes before we had to meet up with our little snow bum. The snow was great, plenty of it. The sun was out so we weren’t complaining and instead spent that hour enjoying being outside with mother nature, being active and knowing all along that our little guy was being well-taken care of. It was a glorious afternoon on the slopes.

After his ski lesson we met up with him and “Ms. Karen” to get the full lesson report including the stories about his “noodle legs.” He had a lot of fun on the magic carpet and even took his first ride on the chair lift; impressive. After lessons it was time to go inside for a warm up and a snack. We took a break in the lodge to enjoy a soft pretzel and a warm cup of cocoa and then it was time to head home.

Our overnight at Peek n’ Peak was everything I imagined and more. It felt like we were gone for way longer than just one night, yet it was nice to go up and back in one weekend with plenty of time to get home and prep for the week ahead. Thank you to the team at the resort for hosting my family for a post-holiday vacation, it truly an amazing escape!

SPONSORED POST : Thank you to Peek n’ Peak for who invited me to share my experience as a guest to their resort as part of their social outreach. Thanks for supporting this snow businesses, while allowing me to create special content like this for iheartcleveland!

Fall Flavors & Tour at Mitchell’s

Hello friends! Well, it’s officially fall. Halloween is long behind us, daylight savings is still lurking around our house and Thanksgiving planning is alive and well. I read the other day we had six Monday’s until Christmas…now THAT seems CRAZY!

In anticipation of the excitement of the upcoming holidays I recently had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at my favorite ice cream, go-to store…Mitchell’s Ice Cream. You might be thinking…why ice cream in the fall and winter? Well, did you know this is time of year is thought of as “quarts & pints season?” Yep, we all love to pick up a pint (or two) to bring to a friends house for a holiday peace offering or to make our favorite pies officially “a la mode.” We might buy a pint to take home and enjoy as we snuggle on the couch binge watching a winter Netflix series. We might not feel like bundling the family up after dinner in the cold temps to head out for ice cream..but everyone loves an at-home ice cream party…or at least my crew does. So yes, friends it is officially pints & quarts season and I plan on am fully embracing the fun.

Have you been to Mitchell’s Ohio City flagship location? Not only is it so beautiful, it is also where all of their ice creams are made and sent out to regional restaurants, grocery stores, not to mention their other seven ice cream shops. Currently the ice cream-elves have been busy mixing and creating the fall/holiday flavor collection including Autumn Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice, Porter Chocolate Chunk (Ohio City only) and my absolute new favorite Amaretto Cookie…soooo good! 

Ever wondered how they make their ice creams? Choose the ingredients? Or the logistics on what goes into each hand-scooped pint? Mitchell’s now offers some incredible behind-the-scenes tasting tours for you and your fellow ice cream enthusiasts. The tour includes a behind the scenes experience and tour throughout the manufacturing process from start to finish…plus at the end you will get a scoop of your choice…perfect for trying out some of those new flavors. I believe they just posted a handful of December tour dates, so go check them out and grab your holiday tour tickets today.

During my visit I also learned of their ice cream pies and cakes. How have I not known about these before? They offer them in some of their best selling flavors in both including Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Cream and Black Raspberry Chocolate Chunk. Also, as part of their seasonal holiday specials they are offering a Pumpkin Pie Spice ice cream pie for your turkey day celebrations but you must call and order yours today! Give them a ring.

During my scooping lesson I did a pretty good job scooping out cups and cones. I would say that it is harder than the scoopers make it look. It took me a few times to get the feel of the perfect scoop which has a round dome and then a cloud-like bottom, super pretty and iconic. I bet you can really get some good biceps if you did that job every day. 

Thanks to Mitchells for having me and allowing me to be part of your fun ice cream shop for an afternoon. Thanks for not only one, but TWO cups of ice cream, (amaretto cookie & pumpkin spice!) which ended up being my dinner for the evening. We are super lucky to have such a sweet community partner in Northeast Ohio. We heart you Mitchell’s! Happy Friday everyone…go order those pies & cakes and pick up your pints & quarts for next week!

A Casual Girls Night Out on the Rooftop of Punch Bowl Social

Happy Friday you guys. Looks like it’s gonna be a nice weekend, with a chance of rain on Sunday. I kinda feel that now that Halloween is over, the holiday events and celebrations are coming one after the other. I LOVE planning evening’s out to celebrate friends and connect with those who I maybe don’t get to see a lot. How about you? Love those holiday parties? The months of November and December I also kinda feel like it is totally okay to wear sequins all the time, which I LOVE. As you know I love to thrift shop and can’t pass by the opportunity to pick up sequins whenever I’m presented with those tiny drops of metallic goodness. Sequins pants, skirts, tops and dresses…come on Holidays…I’m coming for ya! I digress…

A couple of days ago I had the total pleasure to kick off holiday fun with the coolest group of friends at the newly designed and installed Punch Bowl Social rooftop bar. We all met up after work, had some great “punchy” cocktails, took in the view of downtown, had some yummy tacos (because it WAS a Tuesday!) and we may or may not have enjoyed a bit of karaoke too.

I kinda felt like the rooftop patio was the perfect place for all of us to get together a bit off the beaten path and celebrate Cleveland and friends both new and old. We talked about work, about kids, about what was exciting our creativity (that might have been the punch talking!) we laughed a lot and even left at a responsible time to make it home for This Is Us!

I loved the way they served their goat cheese spread in small mason jars…I’m totally going to try this at Thanksgiving for sure. I also thought their tacos were pretty good, but I am kinda a fan of ALL tacos, so I am biased.

Thanks Punch Bowl for the incredible Girls Night Out! We loved hanging out with you and your team and your new rooftop is super awesome. I foresee many parties their in the future…bring on next summer. CLE if you are looking for a great place to throw a shower, a special work party, if you are in charge of planning a cool conference in town and need a large space for showing off the city, this rooftop has it all.

Happy Friday you guys. Cheers to rooftops, tacos, punch, awesome CLE friends who always play along when I call for a Tuesday night out AND to almost sequin season!

SPONSORED POST : Thank you to Punch Bowl Social who invited me to experience the rooftop with a group of gal pals and share my experience as part of their social outreach. Thanks for supporting this businesses, while allowing me to create special content like this for iheartcleveland!

Welcome to Harlow’s Pizza!

Hey CLE friends. How has your week been? The weather has been incredible and they say it’s supposed to be a gorgeous weekend. We have big plans to grab hibachi with some friends for a birthday celebration on Friday. On Saturday I’d love to swing by the opening of the new Océanne Boutique in Gordon Square, in the afternoon we plan to head over to the high school football game to watch the marching band..that plus a ton of raking…it’s gonna be a good one.

If there’s time, I also haven’t stopped thinking about the pizza that we recently discovered at the new, Harlow’s in Lakewood. I already really want to go back!

We stopped by Harlow’s on opening night to celebrate this chic, neighborhood restaurant. I actually used to live right down the street from this pizza destination..it’s probably a good thing I moved or I might have been there every night.

From what I remember, the physical building has changed hands a few times over the last twenty years but all I can remember it being; before it was a gorgeous, Cali-infused pizza shop was a small karate studio. Chop Chop! The exteriors once mustard are now a vibrant white with black trimmed, windows that open up to the street. The interiors of the space are beachy in hue but with a twist of hip & cool. I especially LOVE the tiled bar facade and the salmon-pink walls, they did SUCH a great job on the interior design.

Plus, the PIZZA is incredible!!! I’m craving it writing this post right now. Personal-Pan style, extra hot out of the oven. You could easily eat one yourself or order a few to share with friends or take home leftovers! I also enjoyed a glass of Rosé but they also have some unique cocktails including Horchata with tequila…I totally want to try it when I go back. 

If you are looking for a weekend pizza destination, head over to Lakewood’s newest and for sure most beautiful spots, Harlow’s at 14319 Madison Ave, between 140 & 150th!