Columbus

Leave It To The Pros // Why We Chose A Professionally Installed Home Security System

July 24, 2019 by Rachel 37 Comments

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY GUARDIAN ALARM BUT THE CONTENT AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN.

It’s hard to believe we’ve already been in our forever home for 7 months! We’ve done so much to make this house a home, but, funny enough, I have yet to hang up any photos or wall decor! I just can’t commit to the placement of things!

Besides not having anything hanging on our walls, the other major difference between this home and our old house was how we decided to protect our investment.

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Taking A Moment To Find Myself // My 3rd Postpartum Journey

May 13, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

I needed this Mother’s Day in ways that I cannot even convey to you. Just Saturday, I was a broken down mother — exhausted from the grind, full of self-doubt and self-pity. But late Saturday evening, I purchased a pass to Balance + Brews at Royal Docks in Canton.

Balance + Brews is a group of local yoga teachers that do pop up classes in craft breweries throughout Northeast Ohio. I’ve been meaning to show up for a class for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t make it. In fact, this time I almost self-sabotaged — I almost decided not to go because I was afraid of going alone. But I bought the ticket anyway. I committed.

And as I was driving down the highway completely alone, blasting music from my college days, I realized… I needed this. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I went further than Target (which is about a half mile) in the car without a child.

And then to have a meal completely alone? It just sealed the deal for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children. But the weight of always being “on” has really taken a toll lately. It took me until Sunday to realize just how much I missed being with my most authentic self. And in those moments of ~~screaming~~ singing Thursday songs at the top of my lungs, I made a vow to make myself a priority. Starting now.

So to all of the mama’s out there who are struggling to find their new identity, I see you. If you can, go ahead and take a drive, blast that music, and remember who you are.

And Happy (Belated) Mother’s Day.

7 Ohio Breweries to Visit on National Beer Day

April 5, 2019 by Rachel 30 Comments

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.

2018 // That’s a wrap!

January 2, 2019 by Rachel 10 Comments

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Jan 8, 2018 at 5:01pm PST

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Feb 12, 2018 at 5:05pm PST

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Feb 23, 2018 at 4:56pm PST

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Apr 13, 2018 at 5:35pm PDT

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Apr 22, 2018 at 2:27pm PDT

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on May 24, 2018 at 2:11pm PDT

Oh, and I had some maternity photos done.

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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on May 10, 2018 at 4:15pm PDT

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Aug 7, 2018 at 4:15pm PDT

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Sep 30, 2018 at 4:24pm PDT

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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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Oct 31, 2018 at 4:25pm PDT

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

November

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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Nov 16, 2018 at 5:27pm PST

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

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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Nov 17, 2018 at 5:43pm PST

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

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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Nov 26, 2018 at 5:05pm PST

And we decided to purchase our forever home!

December

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We closed on our new house!

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A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Dec 24, 2018 at 5:04pm PST

…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!

Explore Ohio // Historic Downtown Delaware

September 10, 2018 by Rachel 25 Comments

Things have been quite busy around here. I haven’t intentionally been not posting — it’s just that I’ve had so many exciting things happening on my social calendar that I’ve barely had a second to breathe!

One of those exciting things was an adventure to Delaware, Ohio for a blogger meetup! I was excited, considering the last time I’d intentionally visited Delaware I was eleven, but I’d heard great things about downtown and I was really looking forward to checking it out for myself.

Our first stop was at the Fresh Start Café, where the owner and his wife, whom also just happens to be the incredible baker, greeted us with open arms and fresh pastries!

We mixed and mingled and tasted all of the delicious croissants, tarts, bars, and cookies before heading out to explore downtown.

The downtown area is home to a weekly Saturday morning farmers market, which is incredible for both the students of the nearby university and the residents of the town. I was able to find fresh vegetables, antibiotic-free meats, and even kombucha!

My favorite finds were probably these cookies (I bought the paint-your-own-dino cookies for my kids).

I stopped into all of these tiny little shops throughout the downtown area. One of my favorite things is how PUNNY the names of the stores are! The Greater Gouda? What The Tux? Like, C’mon! I LOVE it!

Our next stop was the Strand Theatre. This gorgeous little theatre has been around since 1916 and is one of the 10 longest operating theaters in the United States! It’s independently operated and a non-profit but still shows first-run movies.

Admission is cheap, considering the cost of movies these days! It’s only $7 for general admission tickets, and there are deals for students and seniors daily!

Breweries + Brewpubs + Restaurants.

I was amazed at how many brewpubs called Downtown Delaware home! For a ‘small town,’ I counted at least 4 — which is a craft beer lovers dream.

Besides the Flying Pig Ale House, we also stopped at Restoration Brew Worx.

Oak + Brazen Wine Company is a fantastic little urban winery and offers incredible charcuterie and flatbreads!

I truly had no idea that this kind of culture existed in small-town Ohio! I can’t wait to visit again — this time with the whole family.

What’s your favorite

“unheard of” place

to visit and explore??

Many thanks to Mary of the Fervent Foodie for organizing this event and to Periwinkle Photography for capturing us in action.

MEET ME AT THE CLEVELAND AUTO SHOW!

February 20, 2018 by Rachel 22 Comments

It’s here! It’s here! This week marks the beginning of the Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center! For those who’ve missed my tweets, we’ve been busy ‘shopping’ (which really means stalking cars online right now, because, well, 2 kids and pregnant) for a new family vehicle! — and it’s our first time doing so for a long time!

As our family prepares to grow by two feet and two small hands (and one giant car seat) this June, we’re in desperate need of an upgrade. So the Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center is coming at a perfect time for us!

The Cleveland Auto Show has been a Cleveland tradition since 1903, and this years vehicles are sure not to disappoint! I’m especially excited to check out the Toyota Avalon! Holy smokes, that car looks GORGEOUS — I can’t wait to see it for myself!

I’m so excited to be partnering with A Girls Guide to Cars to cover the event LIVE on Friday — both on my FB page, Twitter, and Instagram! So make sure you’re following along!

And hey, do you wanna win one of TEN pairs of tickets to the Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center and/or a $100 Gift Card to Amazon!? Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here are the official details of the 2018 Cleveland Auto Show:

Parking at the I-X Center is FREE for this event, thanks to our local new motor vehicle dealers!
The event runs from Friday, February 23rd to March 4th. 5-10PM on opening night, 11AM-10PM Friday-Saturday, 11AM-9PM Monday-Thursday, and 11AM-8PM Sunday!
Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, $11 for kids aged 7-12, and FREE for kids 6 and under.

So will I see you there?! You better go enter — NOW! It’s honestly the perfect stress-free way to car shop without any pressure from sales people — just people who are really passionate about cars!!

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with A Girl’s Guide to Cars. As usual, all opinions herein are my own.

Contest rules:

Contest rules: Entries must be completed by midnight February 28, 2018. No purchase necessary; contest open only to US residents and subject to the laws of Ohio. Winners will be notified by email by March 1, 2018. Winners MUST pick up tickets in person at the Cleveland Auto Show,One I-X Drive
Cleveland, OH 44135, between March 1, 2018 and March 4, 2018. Winners may be asked to provide identification to receive their prize. Prize value $26 per prize, not exchangeable for cash or other items. Grand prize value is $126. A total of 10 pairs of tickets will be awarded and a total of 1 grand prize will be awarded.