Its a Hero

Akron

7 Ohio Breweries to Visit on National Beer Day

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Did you know that this Sunday, April 7th, is National Beer Day? Well, I for one am here for it, friends! Anyway, to celebrate my love of hops and local breweries is something I can get excited for. And here in Northeast Ohio, we have so many incredible craft brewers and micro-breweries! I’ve rounded up a list of my favorites. Perhaps you should give one (or two) a visit this Sunday!

HiHo Brewing Company  //

This is the local fave of many. Homebrewers turned pro-brewers, Ali and Jon have transformed the local craft beer market. They offer a wide variety of rotating taps as well as local craft soda from local brand Norka.

They run a small kitchen, which currently features meat and cheese boards, salads, and bread options (like a brewery pretzel and pepperoni roll) from the local Brimfield Bread Oven.

Soon enough they will have a full-service wood-fired pizza oven to round out their food offerings.

Bonus? They are offering Yoga On Tap this Sunday, April 7th at 10:45 am. For $15, you’ll receive a 60-minute yoga class led by the instructors from the Yoga Lounge in Hudson plus a post-flow beer (or coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters).

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

R. Shea Brewing  //

In my humble brewery snob opinion, this is by far the best brewery around — and it is severely underrated. Ronald Shea is another home-brewer turned pro-brewer, operating out of a little spot on Merriman Road in the Valley of Akron.

They previously had partnered with local-legends of Diamond Deli to serve kitchen-fare, but have since spun off with their own homemade sandwiches and wraps. Truthfully, they are on par with the Diamond Deli sandwiches (and are well worth a visit to the brewery if beer isn’t your thing).

Ronald is currently documenting his journey at opening a second location in Downtown Akron on Facebook. As a previous employee of this area of Akron, I can tell you that this would be an incredible addition to the area. In the meantime, check out their taproom in the Valley and tell my favorite bartender, David, Rachel says hello.

Bonus? Compared to almost every other craft brewery, they are the most reasonably priced. They also offer a “sandwich of the week” for just $5.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Sibling Revelry  //

This gorgeous and open brewery, located in Westlake, not only is home to some incredible beers (such as Cherry Wit, Siblime, and Quiet Hero), but they frequently partner with food trucks so that they can deliver what they do best — make beer.

If you head to the taproom you’ll be able to get a delicious flight of beers and try a variety of local food options (from Barrio to Burning River Bagels), making each visit different from the last.

Bonus? Their patio is super inclusive for those of us with babies and fur babies!

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

The Brew Kettle  //

Want to try and make your own beer? There’s no better place to do it than the Brew Kettle in Strongsville. Not into brewing your own beer? Well, the good news is that they have their own lineup of awesome beers (I’m looking at you White Rajah).

They have two other locations — one in Amherst and one in Hudson — this brewpub is super accessible and a great way to dabble in craft beers for the first time.

Bonus? Their food menu is pretty good, too (try the smokehouse wings and the smoked turkey spinach salad — you won’t be sorry!).

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Akronym Brewing //

This relatively new brewery is nestled into the bottom of the building that houses the parking deck for the library and the Akron Art Museum. It may seem like a strange location, but it’s honestly perfect and absolutely beautiful.

It’s definitely not huge inside the brewery, but it is a really contemporary space. Also, the name Akronym and the story of the brewery (go read it here) speaks to my nerdy soul in a serious way.

For those non-word nerds, there’s still plenty for you to enjoy — including, but not limited to, a wide array of award-winning craft brews and a patio that makes other breweries envious.

Bonus? The brewery regularly partners with Akron Yoga and Wellness for classes and they offer food via Any Thyme Any Plate (a delicious food truck) for brunch on the weekends.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Fat Heads Brewery and Saloon  //

I feel like this should come with a disclaimer, but Head Hunter from Fat Heads is one of my favorite beers of all time. And the only thing better than a bottle of Head Hunter is getting it on tap at the brewery itself.

Established in 1992, the brewery exploded on the craft beer market. The original location has had to expand several times but is continuing to call Middleburg Heights home.

With the addition of their Canton location last year, you’re now able to enjoy Fat Heads Brewery whether you’re a “northerner” or a “southerner” in Cleveland!

Bonus? Catch the Balance + Brews team at the Middleburg Heights location monthly for a yoga class and post-flow brew!

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Royal Docks Brewing Co.  //

Part craft brewery, part British pub, this cozy spot is perfect for the craft beer foodie! Stop in for a Backyard Crusher or a Dare IPA and get to know the staff of this ‘neighborhood’ pub.

While you’re there, try out some of their signature flatbreads like the Royal Scotch Egg or The Castro. And if you are feeling adventurous, visit their brewery and cannery for a behind-the-scenes look at the process (which just so happens to be housed in an old roller rink).

Bonus? You can book your next event in their roller rink/cannery! Such a cool setting.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

 

Wherever you find yourself on National Beer Day, make sure you bring a friend, relax and unwind, enjoy the flight, and always drink responsibly. 

 

 

 

Remy Bea’s Pink, Blue, + Gold Birthday Party

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Remy Bea celebrated her 3rd birthday in January. Last year, for her second birthday, I planned an elaborate party. But January is a rough month in general. And between flu season and weather, I feel like I can never count on anything to fall into place, let alone everything that needs to for a party. Alas, it had to be cancelled.

So this year I felt like I really needed to make sure she had a great birthday party. And that’s why I planned a delayed birthday party for March!

Her one request from her Mimi was a Barbie cake. I don’t know what happened, but this child turned 3 and she decided she was a million percent girly. Well, a Barbie cake she received!

Her theme? Well, technically she didn’t have a “theme,” but she had a color scheme! And that color scheme was baby blues, pinks, gold, and GLITTER — so much glitter and sparkle!

The day of her party we were lucky to have so many of the people who love her present! Cousins, friends, grandparents, aunts, and uncles — they were all ready to celebrate our special little lady.

I debated the food for forever. I usually keep the food “on theme” but I was coming up blank for a kid who either wants to eat everything or wants to eat absolutely nothing but yogurt. Well, we went with a simple route — Philly Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls (thank you, Instant Pot!), Remy’s favorite veggies (carrots + cucumbers) with dip, chips (obviously a toddler staple), and salad (oddly enough, also a Remy fave)

Her Mimi (my mom) made her two cakes — her requested Barbie cake and a blue ombré round cake with pink candies in the center. The ombré was a surprise from Mimi to Remy and she loved it!

After everyone snacked and chatted, we headed down to the gymnastics center for some tumbling. All of the kids — young and old — had so much fun.

By the end of the day, we were all completely worn out. But it was entirely worth it to see the joy in Remy’s eyes as we all celebrated her big day!

 

Cake: Made by Mimi
Decorations: Party City
Plates/Flatware: Target
Location: Riverfront YMCA

Five Friday Favorites

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Things have been so busy around here, but I wanted to share a glimpse of 5 things I’m absolutely loving as of late.

1. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite fiction writers. When she first released Big Little Lies (which, it should be noted, is much better than the HBO adaptation) I was hooked on her suspenseful style of writing. This more recent novel is filled with the usual suspense and drama with a parental twist. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you’re already a fan of her work.

 

2. If I’m Being Honest with Katie Crenshaw

This podcast has been a refreshing take on taboo subjects. Each episode is an interview-style talk with someone with a story to tell, whether it be about a dad in prison for crimes against a minor, or being a psychic medium. Basically, super interesting subjects that are rarely discussed. Basically, I’m addicted.

 

3. Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System

Y’all, despite my best efforts, I’ve never been one to brew coffee at home. I’ve had a Keurig, I’ve had a Starbucks Verismo and a traditional coffee maker with a pot. But none of those really did it for me. I was drinking too much coffee to justify the pods of the Keurig and Verismo, but not enough back-to-back coffee to justify the pot (and I despise reheated coffee!).

Last Fall I snagged one of these Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve Makers and I fell in love with brewing my coffee at home! It uses just regular ground coffee with a reusable filter. It has an option for different sizes, bold brewing, and iced coffee brewing! Complete with a milk frother. Best invention ever!

 

4. Russian Doll on Netflix

I binge-watched the first season in 24-hours. And I want more! Natasha Lyonne is incredible in everything, but she really knocks this role out of the park.

Stuck in a ‘groundhog-day’ type scenario, she continues to relive (and die) repeatedly on her 35th birthday. She goes on a mission to figure out why and how to stop it while encountering another person going through the same thing.

It’s not as twisted as it sounds, but it’s certainly super interesting. I am already very excited about season 2.

 

5. Weight Watchers

For those of you who have been here a while, you might remember I did WW after Remy was born and had a decent amount of success. Truthfully, the only thing that thwarted my success was getting pregnant again, this time with Mila. So now that I’m 8 months postpartum, I’m finally ready to really step up my game. My body is regulating itself hormonally, Meebs is sleeping a decent amount, and our lives are adjusting as well as is possible.

Last week was my first week of sticking to Weight Watchers and I lost 5.8 pounds! That’s the biggest loss I’ve ever had on the program! Many credits are due to the program, but I also worked my butt off at the gym earning ‘fitness points’ and tracked my ‘food points’ religiously.

I love this program so much because — 1. It doesn’t require weighing in every day, just once a week! and 2. I’m able to still enjoy life and be social! During the last week, I had a glass of wine at night a couple of times, which made it feel like ‘normal’ versus a ‘diet.’

 

Okay, technically this is number 6 and she’s all mine, but I’m definitely loving this kid a lot lately.

Mila has been so fun lately and I just can’t stop staring at her in amazement. She’s nearly crawling, always smiling, and loves to laugh at her brother. She’s such a wonderful addition to our family and I couldn’t be happier to be her Mama. ♥ ♥

What

are you

loving lately!?

Somewhere In Time // Visit 1969 in Cleveland

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Have you ever been swept away to another time, whether it be from a vivid memory or a scent or a photograph? Or have you ever wanted to be taken back to a time and place that you’ve never been before?? I know I have!

The Cleveland History Center and the Western Reserve Historical Society are bringing the year 1969 back to us for their annual signature event, Somewhere In Time on Saturday, February 2nd from 7PM – 11PM.

This incredibly fun event raises money to support nearly 35,000 local community members through education and public programs.

This year’s event features the year 1969, “The Year of Change.” Protest and change (which feel mildly relevant today, am I right!?) are the fundamentals of this year and we’re going to celebrate with sounds and cocktails of the time!

Here’s what you can expect for the event:

EVENING HIGHLIGHTS

Groovin’ Music

Funkadelic Open Bar

Cool Threads Costume Contest and Prizes

Super Square Silent Auction

Delicious Food

Complimentary valet service off of Magnolia Drive near the entrance to Cleveland Starts Here®.

Want tickets?! Well, what are you waiting for! Come dance the night away with me! Tickets are available for purchase here. WRHS member tickets are $100, non-member pricing is $150. And don’t forget to RSVP to the Facebook event to let everyone know you’re going!

Disclosure: I was given two tickets in exchange for coverage of this event. As always, all opinions herein are solely my own. 

Disney On Ice // Mickey’s Search Party

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This year I was invited to attend Disney On Ice as one of it’s Cleveland influencers. We attended the event last year, strictly as patrons, and absolutely LOVED it. But this year? Blew last year out of the water by leaps and bounds!

We had a meet and greet with the big mouse himself during our pre-show dinner (thanks to FELD Entertainment). Remy, whilst at first skeptical of anyone in costume, was enamored by Mickey. She just kept looking at him and holding his hand. It was adorable.

After our incredible fajita feast, we headed to our seats. They were basically right on the ice — literally — we were sitting on folding chairs right at the ice.

The show was totally spectacular. From Tinkerbell, to an amazing Belle number, complete with Toy Soldiers from Toy Story giving us high-fives, it was inredible. Both Ari and Remy loved the songs and skating. I, for one, was not disappointed by any of it.

The acrobatics were stunning, especially during the Coco number. Miguel came to the stage by walking right beside us. And then? Then these crazy women on stilts began flying all over the place It. was. INSANE! — in the best way!

It was such an incredible experience. I was once a skeptic of these types of events, but that’s no longer the case. I’m 1000% on board with the magic that is Disney. ♥

If you have a chance to catch them while they’re in Cleveland, do it! The show runs through January 20th. Tickets are on sale at the Q Arena Box Office.

Disclosure: I was gifted tickets to this event, but this is not a sponsored post. I simply loved this event so much!

2018 // That’s a wrap!

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This blog post is coming to ya 3 days late, thanks to a healthy dose of laziness at the holidays! Ha! At least I’m being honest.

But also? I’ve been doing a lot of extra reflecting over the last couple of days. And my emotions are straight up all over the place.

I truly expected 2018 to be SUPER hard. I started the year pregnant with baby number three and fully anticipating that this child would send me down a deep dark hole of PPD and PPA. It turns out she didn’t. In fact, I’ve kinda been flourishing and finding myself kicking butt at this mother of three thing.

We ended our night in perfect ‘parent-of-3-kids’ fashion —  with an 8:30pm Netflix countdown with party hats and sweet tarts. And followed it up with a parents-only movie night in our NEW home, with a bottle of champagne, and homemade lobster rolls.

So while our 2018 came to a slow and quiet end, I looked back through my camera roll to see all of the amazing things that transpired since last January.

January 

 

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I met up with some great local bloggers for a little networking and brainstorming. It really kicked off my year in a big way by getting the creative juices flowing and reigniting my spark!

February 

 

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Visited NASA Glenn Research Center with a special group of influencers for the State of NASA address. We got a behind the scenes look at some really cool aerospace technology.

 

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Later in the month I covered the Cleveland Auto Show on behalf of Toyota!

March 

 

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We spent most of the month having fun at Cafe O’Play with the kids (thanks to a Winter family pass!). It wore the kids out and allowed me to get some work done at the same time!

 

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Oh – and Chad and I had a much-needed date night at Hilarities at Pickwick and Frolic, complete with a Barrio dinner-date beforehand!

 

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April 

 

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This was a pretty big month for us. We had (secretly) known about the gender of baby number three for a while, but we finally revealed the news to our friends & family! Baby number three was officially a GIRL!

 

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We also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary with little fanfare. And, by little, I mean none! Ha! But that’s what happens when you’re pregnant with your third baby, right?

May 

 

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This, the month before my due date, I spent as much time as possible loving on my existing two babies. Lots of small adventures were had.

 

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Oh, and I had some maternity photos done.

 

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And met up with some fabulous bloggers for glass blowing at the Glass Asylum.

 

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And then again for a photoshoot meetup at Borrow Rentals.

June 

 

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I swear to you I spent this entire month just ready for Mila to arrive. In any spare moment I had, I was walking. Usually with the other two kids in tow.

 

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The kids also enjoyed a LOT of swimming!

 

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And then, of course, the arrival of Mila Rose.

July 

 

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We adjusted to life with another little.

 

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But I still managed to make it out of the house with all of the kids! Like Mila’s first trip to the Cleveland Flea with me and Remy Bea!

 

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And her first trip to the LEGO Store with Ari!

 

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Oh, and we had amazing newborn photos done.

 

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Then visited Edgewater Park Beach.

 

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And I took a yoga class with some fellow bloggers at Sibling Revelry Brewery. Mila came, too, although she spent most of her time in her car seat. Ha!

August 

 

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My first baby went off to his first day of Kindergarten!

September 

 

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I spent my first week completely solo with all three kids. I survived while Chad went away on his business trip AND I even managed to sneak out with just Mila to see the Infinity Mirrors by Yayoi Kusama exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

 

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Remy and I went out exploring our local Akron neighborhoods.

 

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And we visited the apple orchard when Mimi came to town!

October 

 

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Ari turned SIX!

 

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Chad and I went on our first truly solo (no Mila!) date night to the Best of Cleveland party at the Rock Hall.

 

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And we had a fun Halloween photo shoot with the girls!

November 

 

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I got to check out the new indoor putt-putt course at Punch Bowl Social in the Flats!

 

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The Big Kids went to Kringle’s Inventionasium to see Santa’s workshop!

 

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And we decided to purchase our forever home!

December 

 

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We closed on our new house!

 

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…and between moving and getting settled, we celebrated Christmas.

 

Seriously I could not be more grateful to all of the people who made 2018 the best year yet. I may not have taken a fancy vacation or gotten a big new promotion, but I had the most fulfilling year to date! It was full of everything that is most important — family, friends, lots of love, memories, and delicious food.

Cheers to 2019!