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Back-to-School Shopping at Beachwood Place

August 17, 2018 by Rachel 24 Comments

This being my first year sending a child to Kindergarten, I felt vastly unprepared for the amount of Back-to-School shopping that I would need to do. I mean, I had heard from plenty of mom friends that BTS shopping was intense; but it wasn’t until I got Ari’s school supply list that I finally understood what this whole BTS thing was all about.

Honestly, the actual school supplies were easy. But when it comes to buying clothes for a growing boy, I wanted to make sure my money would go as far as possible.

Since I would be dragging three children with me, I decided to plan one centralized shopping trip. Beachwood Place has helped so many generations of students go back to school in style so I knew I could find timeless but trendy staples to meet all of our BTS requirements.

We were lucky enough to be present for a fun afternoon for the whole family! Cat Coquillette was in center court for a hand-lettering workshop for both adults and kids! While I wasn’t able to participate myself (hello, cranky newborn!) it was really fun watching everyone create amazing hand-lettered art of their very own!

While my kids participated in the hand-lettering workshop, I snacked on some guac and chips from Bomba Tacos + Rum (which just opened their new Eastside location).

Then we got back to shopping. And guys? I got so. many. good. deals! Like, so many. I shopped at Hannah Anderson, Gap, Zara, Children’s Place, Dillards, and H&M and only spent — wait for it — $206!

The only thing I got full price was a pair of Native Shoes for each of the kids. Everything else was a steal! And the bonus? There’s currently a free Good Vibes gift with your purchases at Beachwood Place! The more you spend, the more gifts you receive — starting at just $50!

I’m honestly impressed with how well I did on my first back-to-school shopping trip, but I’m also grateful to have such a great shopping destination so close to home.

What’s your favorite aspect of

shopping at Beachwood Place?

 

 

Filed Under: #MomLife, cleveland, explore locally, Explore Ohio, goodies, money saving tips, Ohio, parenthood, review, tips + tricks Tagged With: #MomLife, being a mom, busy mom, children, cleveland, explore locally, explore Ohio, money saving tips, ohio, parenthood, tips + tricks

Northeast Ohio Holiday Gift Guide //

December 11, 2017 by Rachel 20 Comments

Hi. My name is Rachel and I LOVE Ohio. Like, I really, truly, have a passion for my home state. We produce amazing people, products, and industry. I always try to buy as local as possible, but it’s especially important for me at this time of year. There are just so many local options from amazing creators right here in Northeast Ohio.

Not sure where to start knocking off your holiday gifts? I’ve rounded up my favorite local ideas below!

 

Pope’s Kitchen Bloody Mary Mix. 

I am a recent convert to the Bloody Mary. The spicy aroma has always been something that has reminded me of my grandmother. But Pope’s Kitchen puts a fresh, local, and extra spicy spin on the traditional bloody mary. When I was pregnant with Remy I used to just drink the mix straight up (I had a craving for spicy!).

Find it in any local Market District or order online here ($12/32 oz.).

Coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters.

Want fresh, locally-roasted coffee? Look no further than S. High Street in Akron! Their love for their coffee and the roasting process is evident in each pour over they serve.

Their coffees are available online for purchase to ship directly to your loved ones, or you can go right into their store on South High Street (and then head over to The Nightlight to catch a flick!). (from $12/10 oz.)

Middlebury Butter from Akron Honey Company. 

Akron Honey is a family operated, artisan honey company, and they have recently opened up a brick and mortar store at the Northside Marketplace in Downtown Akron. I’ve personally tasted all of their honey, but the Middlebury Butter remains my favorite. I put it on everything — bread, apples, you name it!

It can currently be found at a variety of pop up markets (like the Cleveland Flea, Crafty Mart, etc) and their store in Northside Marketplace.

The Vitamix Ascent Series A3500. 

Vitamix is the leader in culinary blenders and food processors — and they are also a local Ohio company, with their headquarters located in Olmsted Falls!

Their products are produced, manufactured, and distributed here locally — and for those of us in Northeast Ohio, that means we’re lucky enough to get the first peak at new products! This past year I received the A3500 and was able to get rid of my old Vitamix. Let me tell you, this new version is incredible and so easy to use!

You can pick one up in their local store in Solon or online here (A3500 $549.99).

A Family Membership to the Akron Zoo.

With the slogan “You’ve never been this close,” the folks at the Akron Zoo truly mean it! The zoo itself is the perfect size to take children of all ages for a few hours or an all day excursion. The recently renovated exhibits are absolutely stunning! And members are able to get discount admission on events ranging from Brew at the Zoo to Wild Lights!

Order a family membership online here or pick one up on-location in Akron (Family Membership, $80/year).

Tickets for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

The CVSR, operated wholly by volunteers, leaves either the Rockside Station in Independence or the Northside Station in Akron. You can hop on with a round-trip ticket or bike one way and take it one way back! Besides just regular train rides, the CVSR offers a variety of special events, such as The Polar Express and Ales On Rails!

Not sure when your recipient would like to go? The CVSR offers gift certificates in denominations ranging from $15 – $150 and can be purchased by calling 800-468-4070 x 1.

Shirts from The Social Dept.

We have a lot of options when it comes to local t-shirts here in Northeast Ohio. My favorites, by far, come from the Social Department. Located in my town of Cuyahoga Falls, they offer an eclectic variety of Midwest apparel.

Their sizes range from kids to adults, so no one will be left out! My personal faves are this Cleveland Indians shirt (which I bought for my husband last year) and this Go Local Sports Team shirt (which I should totally have because, sports!).

You can visit them in store at their Front Street location in Cuyahoga Falls, Tuesday through Sunday, or you can order online here  with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve if you order by December 18th (Prices range from $22+ but gift certificates available in $10+).

Growler of the Month Club at HiHo Brewing Co. 

Located right next door to The Social Department, HiHo Brewing Company is a welcomed addition to Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls this last year. And their beers are incredible, too! Former teachers turned craft brewers, Ali and Jon, have turned this spot into one of Northeast Ohio’s most popular breweries!

They offer a range of beer, from blond ales to stouts, and tapas style food options. Don’t know what you want? Try a flight!

Open Wednesday through Sunday, you can purchase the gift of their Growler A Month Club or just a plain old gift card! (Growler of the month: $180 – includes growler and punch card for 12 fills; gift cards available in all denominations).

The Gift of Play from Café O’Play in Stow.

Café O’Play, located in Stow right off of Route 8, is a safe and fun indoor play place for kids ages crawlers through tweens! They offer climbing activities for young and old, as well as a special toddler-only zone for a safe-space for those who are just past the crawling stage, 7-days a week.

In addition to being a safe place to play, owners John and Carolyn make sure that parents feel like they have a partner in this parenting journey. Sure, it’s not all fun and games, but they make it easy for the kids to have fun while the adults can (kind of) sit back and relax a bit on the café side!

You can purchase gift cards in person or online here (gift cards available in denominations of $25, $50, and $100).

There are so many more options that I could go into — soap from Saint Augustine and Suds; tickets to Playhouse Square; hot sauce from Not Yo’ Daddy’s; just to name a few!

Not from Northeast Ohio and still not sure what all of the fuss is about?!? Well how about this for a reason — Cleveland was recently ranked #14 in the 21 places you need to visit by none other than National Geographic! So get your butt to Northeast Ohio and see exactly why I’m freaking out about where I live all of the time!

 

Filed Under: Akron, beer, brews + food, children, cleveland, coffee, deals, explore locally, Explore Ohio, gift, gifts for her, gifts for kids, goodies, holiday gift guide, holidays, lists, love list, NEO, Ohio, restaurants + bars, shop local Tagged With: akron, brews + food, children, Christmas shopping, cleveland, coffee, craft beer, deals, explore locally, explore Ohio, gifts, gifts for her, gifts for kids, holiday gift guide, love list, NEO, ohio, restaurants + bars, shop local

Life Lately + A Last Minute Gift Guide //

December 22, 2016 by Rachel Leave a Comment

I’ve had grand plans of all of these amazing things I want to share with you before the holidays. But, realistically, my time management has not been great lately. Combine that with a sleep regression (thanks, Remy Bea) and the stomach bug? Well, that’s a recipe for dirty dishes and takeout every night.

So many-a posts have gone neglected.

That being said, there are a few things I want to share with you before we all get completely overwhelmed with the holidays.

  • Ari had his first Christmas program at school and it was every bit as adorable as you might imagine. He knew we were taking video and photos, so instead of singing, he was saying “cheese!”
    Melt my cold as stone heart!

fullsizerender-23
 

  • If you’re frantically looking for last-minute gift ideas, I leave you with these:
    • Book of the Month. A subscription book service that ships amazing hardcover books straight to your door.
      screen-shot-2016-12-19-at-8-46-57-pm
    • Wine of the Month club subscription — or, a few bottles for the wine-lover in your life.
    • ABC Mouse. Ari used this over the Summer and it was the perfect learning tool!
  • We were given a #JustBecauseCard at Chick-fil-A the other day. It was an awesome experience. And I still have butterflies from the whole experience! It turns out the movement was started by a local church. Even though we are not church people (at all), I’ve already had mega respect for this church. And this just elevated them even more.

 

After Ari’s Christmas program at preschool, Chad + I took the kiddos to lunch at Chick-fil-A. When we sat down and got the kids all settled, an employee hesitantly walked over to us and said “Someone asked me to come give this to you.” #justbecausecard • • It says “I hope this random act of kindness reminds you that someone notices and cares about you. It’s not because of anything you did or didn’t do, it’s just because you were created with incredible value and worth.” • • What an amazing message. ❤️

A photo posted by Rachel (@itsahero) on Dec 20, 2016 at 11:01am PST

  • For those of you trying to find the perfect wine to bring to your upcoming holiday party, run — fast — to Aldi. You heard me right. Aldi. Grab a bottle of their Flirty Bird Red Blend. It is incredible. No joke. And it’s less than $6 a bottle. Yep. You read that right. Less than $6 a bottle and an amazing wine!
    flirtybird

 

  • I’m still totally okay with cancelling Christmas obligations. Right now the only thing on my radar is getting through the next two work days, shopping for last minute gifts, and taking Ari to the movies Saturday morning. From there? We’re staying in. That’s it. Nothing else. Nada.

Filed Under: #MomLife, busy mom, children, Christmas, deals, gift, gifts for kids, goodies, mommyhood, money, money saving tips, parenthood, wine Tagged With: #MomLife, being a mom, busy mom, celebration, children, Christmas, gifts, gifts for kids, goodies, holidays, life, mommyhood, money saving tips, parenthood, pictures, wine

because it’s been a week now…

September 10, 2015 by Rachel Leave a Comment

One of the main reasons I was so anxious to find out if we were expecting another little boy or our first baby girl, was because I want to either: a. pack all of our boy stuff up (I’m not ready to part with it yet), or b. look for all new awesome girl stuff.

Sooo obviously you know what I’ve been up to over the last week. The search is on! And as much as I truly adore boy clothes (seriously they are SO cute), there are some equally adorable girl clothes. Bonus? I tore through my bins of clothes to find the baby girl clothes I hid away about 13 years ago! 🙂

But here are some things on my “Baby Girl Wish List” right now (because let’s be real… it’s going to grow).

Hello World
This Hello World newborn gown.
From Etsy shop ShopVivaLaGlitter. 

feed me
This Feed Me + Tell Me I’m Pretty outfit.
From Etsy Shop Three Sweet Limes.

blanket
This Personalized Name Blanket.
From Jennifer Ann. carters

This completely unrealistic Faux Fur Vest.
From Carters.

goldleaf

This Gold Leaf Headband.
From Etsy shop WildJuniper.
And pretty much everything else in this shop.

Aaaand this is just the start of my wish list. I can see it just growing and growing over the next several months.

Filed Under: babies, baby girl, children, etsy, family, fashion, goodies, lists, love list, mommyhood, Oh baby!, parenthood, pregnancy Tagged With: babies, baby girl, being a mom, children, etsy, family, goodies, hair and fashion, links, list, love list, mommyhood, motherhood, oh baby, parenthood, pregnancy

FLASH GIVEAWAY // 2 LUAU ON THE LAKE tickets

July 20, 2015 by Rachel 14 Comments

So call it pregnancy brain, but this mama has completely overextended herself. It turns out, I can’t be two places at once! Hmm. We should look into fixing that!

luau - banner
Well, my loss is your gain! Out of town plans = my two Big Kahuna tickets for this weekends Luau on the Lake Shoes + Clothes For Kids event are up for grabs! If you missed my post about Luau on the Lake, check it out here!

Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will pickup the tickets at the event. Tickets retail at $75 each and includes island buffet, beer, wine, soft drinks, and souvenir cup. plus 3 Island Cocktail drink tickets, Hawaiian lei, VIP cup and tote, and half-hour early admission!

Umm yeah. I’d say my loss is totally going to mean someone else has a fabulous time this weekend!

luau-2
And don’t forget, today — JULY 20th! —  is THE LAST DAY to purchase pre-register online. If you miss out, you’ll be able to pick up tickets at the gate on Saturday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was offered two tickets to the event, courtesy of SC4K, for running the original giveaway. I chose to run this secondary giveaway in return for nothing when I realized I could not attend. As always, all opinions herein are my own.

Filed Under: beer, cleveland, date night, events, explore locally, food, fun, giveaway, goodies, Ohio Tagged With: celebration, cleveland, events, explore locally, food, giveaway, ohio

a few of our favorite things // toddler books

May 28, 2015 by Rachel Leave a Comment

I was honestly beginning to wonder if it would ever happen, his love for books and reading. He spent so much time loving ‘boy’ things like Thomas the Tank and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and I wasn’t sure he would ever slow down enough to sit down with a book.

But something happened just after Christmas last year. All of a sudden he was hooked. However, just like his favorite shows and movies, he gravitates towards the same three books. Always. I have to say the kid has awesome taste. I happened to spend a bit of time in Barnes and Noble one day, just reading through the children’s books. I was incredibly impressed with the creativity!

Especially of these three books:

itsahero_mooshfavoritebooks
1.  Dragons Love Tacos  // Moosh thinks this book is hilarious. It’s a story about how Dragons love eating tacos, but they hate hot salsa. It’s adorable. And it combines three of Ari’s favorite things: food, dragons, and complete silliness. Now if he sees a taco he proclaims, “MMM! Dragons like tacos! I like tacos!” It’s the cutest thing ever.

2. Peanut Butter & Cupcake  //  This is my personal favorite, so I’m glad Moosh loves it too. While the author is not a children’s book author by trade, he is a photographer that has a series called “Bent Objects,” where he takes food items and turns them into people. So naturally, this makes a great children’s book.

The main ‘character’ is a piece of peanut butter toast. He just moved to town and he’s trying to find someone to play soccer with him. Everytime he meets someone he says “Hi. I’m new here and I’d like to play. Maybe now, maybe later, or even all day! I’ll make you chuckle deep down in your belly, and we’ll go together like Peanut Butter and… (insert name of whatever he’s introducing himself to). It’s freaking adorable. And yes, I recited that little poem from memory. I just love it so much. Moosh likes to go to the last page of the book and name all of the ‘people’ playing together. 🙂

3. Please, Mr. Panda  //  This book is short and sweet. Mr. Panda goes around asking all the animals if they want a donut. Most say yes… quite aggressively. So he in some way or another tells them that he has changed his mind and they are not allowed to have a donut. Finally he asks the question and one of them and the animal says “Oh please may I have one Mr. Panda?” and Mr. Panda says, “Yes, you can have them all. I do not like donuts anyways.” Ha. So cute. And Moosh doesn’t even know he’s getting a message in manners!

So yeah. Or go-to-books are adorable. However, we’re always looking to add to our collection. Any suggestions? What are your kids’ favorites?

 

Filed Under: Ari Davis, books, children, domesticity, family, fun, goodies, life, life with a toddler, lists, love, mommyhood, Moosh, parenthood, review Tagged With: ari davis, being a mom, books, children, domesticity, family, fun, goodies, life, life with a toddler, love list, mommyhood, Moosh, motherhood, oh baby, parenthood, review

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