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Post-Holiday Update //

January 4, 2015 by Rachel Leave a Comment

I’m finally over the flu! It’s been a rough seven to 10 days of it, but I’m officially over it! And since our house was riddled with illness over the holidays, I decided to keep life as low-key as possible. And it has been marvelous!

Our post-Christmas life has been a buzz with the excitement of new toys (for Moosh) and pajamas (for Mama)! And we have spent approximately 99% of our time at home enjoying these new gifts.

For serious.

And I’m not ashamed or mad about one second of it!

For New Years Eve my mom (Ari’s Mimi) came up from Kentucky to hang out with him for the whole day while Chad & I worked. And for the actual EVE itself, we ordered pizza and watched a movie. Me, Chad + Mimi just hung out. Surprisingly, we made it to midnight. And our lackluster celebration of the hour was just what we all needed.

And so was the sleeping in til 10 am (thanks Moosh!) the next day! In fact, we slept in so late that we were nearly late for our lunch date with Ari’s GrandparAunts (Mimi’s sisters)!

Other than our lunch date, we did nothing New Years Day. We napped, we lounged, we ate leftovers… and we soaked in the first few hours of 2015.

Friday we woke up super late. Again. And before we could eat our leftovers from the previous meals, we headed out for yet another lunch date! We met my moms other sister, Mooshie’s Grandma Dee, for lunch. It was craziness. Two of the loudest Italian women I know + a restaurant full of people + a cranky toddler + FaceTiming family in Portland = a hilarious trainwreck. Ha.

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However, we’ll call the day a success. Moosh hasn’t been eating much lately. Our seemingly easy-eater has turned picky over the last month or so. But at lunch with Grandma Dee, he ate TONS of fruit and chicken. Hooray!

Bonus? I scored some new cups from Crate + Barrel to match our new plates for less than TEN DOLLARS. Holler.

Friday night we did more of the usual — relaxed in PJs and watched movies on the couch.

On Saturday we had a big date day planned! Part of my Christmas present to Chad was a couples massage at a local spa, Solaire, in Hudson. Grandma Dee was willing to hang with Moosh for the day while we went on our date. The couples massage was … not relaxing. Ha! I realize that I had some knots to work out, but I was hoping for a more relaxing setting; not a deep tissue massage. Oh well. It was still nice.

Post-massage we went to an early lunch at Peachtree Southern Kitchen and Cocktails. We were pretty much the only people there, which was fine with us!

My dad is from Memphis originally and, according to my tastes, I’m pretty much a southern girl. I was anxious to try the Chicken Liver Pate, but Chad said he preferred the Spicy Chicken Cracklins.

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They were a bit too spicy for my tastes, but still good. I would have preferred a bit more honey to offset the spice. For our entrée, Chad ordered the Southern Boy Burger (Ground sirloin, BBQ pulled pork, pimento cheese, + special sauce). I ordered the Chicken + Waffles. Because, chicken and waffles. Obvy.

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After lunch we planned on seeing Unbroken, but we had some time before it started. So we stopped home for a nap (I didn’t sleep well the night before). Aaaaand I accidentally slept through the movie. Oops! So yeah, we spent date day napping while our kid was painting pottery with his Grandma Dee. Oops. Hey, it’s what we needed!

By today, Sunday, we knew we had to get Moosh back on some sort of schedule. I decided yesterday that I would skip my run with my running partner and just run whenever I could. No schedule. No pressure. Just do it on my own time. So we slept in. Moosh seemed normal, for the first time in days. And while I was on my way to the gym to get in a run, I decided to hit the trails instead. The weather was perfect for running. The downpour of rain we’ve had the last 48-hours stopped. Sure, the Towpath was a bit muddy, but I managed to fit in nearly 6 miles to get myself on track for my week-late start to marathon training!

So the holidays were rough. But they also turned out exactly the way we needed them to.

Seriously. Don’t underestimate the need to disconnect from technology and just REST. If you think you need it, YOU DO. Turns out the digital world is right where I left it. I missed nothing monumental while I was unplugged. In fact, I caught up on things that ARE important. 🙂 2015, you’re going to be great. I can feel it.

And I’m ready. Bring it. XO.

Filed Under: Ari Davis, cleveland, date night, explore locally, family, fitness, food, fun, health, holidays, life, life with a toddler, marriage, mommyhood, Moosh, parenthood, pictures, running, week in review, weekend Tagged With: akron, ari davis, celebration, cleveland, explore locally, family, fitness, food, foodie, health, holidays, life, local, marriage, motherhood, ohio, pictures, running, weekend, workout

Shauna + Jimmy // Pre-Festivities!

October 21, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Truthfully, I’m a little behind with life right now. We’re a full week out after my sisters wedding, and life is just starting to return to normal. Our house still isn’t organized yet, but I’m working at it little by little. Moosh has been sleeping for 13-hours a night AND napping for 3 hours each day. It’s safe to say that last weekend totally wore us all out.

Truly, however, the wedding festivities started about a month ago — at my sister, Shauna’s, Bachelorette Party. We planned a fairly low-key Bach party in Columbus. We started out the day at The Candle Lab on the Short North, for some candle-making.

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After our candle-making, we made our way over to a restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. There were a LOT of us all packed at the world’s longest table. Ha! It was fun, though. And, as normal, the two sisters ordered the exact same meal (grilled cheese — we are so predictable!)

bachparty1 I love that the restaurant brought her out a giant piece of chocolate cake (like that’s what a soon-to-be bride wants! Ha!!). But we all stepped up and helped her out with it. 😉

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After dinner we snapped a couple of pre-drinks pictures of the whole group (not everyone was going to head out for the bar crawl). Looking at the picture in the upper lefthand corner it’s now incredibly clear — there were a LOT of us! 🙂 Thanks for showing up, ladies!! The rest of the night was full of fairly lame, and equally awesome, mid-to-late twenties nonsense! That’s right — we’re OLD and we’re OK with that! 🙂 That means we were eating Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and street pizza by 11 PM and in bed by 11:30! Don’t worry – we still had fun. Just old lady fun. Which is the best kind of fun — and the only kind of fun I know these days! LOL!

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Fast forward a couple of weeks later… And it’s already time for the wedding! The rehearsal? Easy-peasy! The rehearsal dinner? Not-so-easy-peasy. Because Mister-toddler-in-tow is difficult when he doesn’t nap. However, the rehearsal dinner was nothing short of amazing! Dinner was at Barley’s Brewing Company in Columbus. Hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, and the worlds largest cheese plate!? [It should be noted that our family LOVES soul food/ PLUS house-made IPAs!]

Ya know what’s fun about weddings?? Crazy things happen. Like making your dad drive you to the only 24-hour Kroger in Downtown Columbus for a giant bottle of champagne and orange juice (because you were a horrible matron of honor and forgot to get mimosa fixins’ for your sisters big day!).

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Chad, Moosh & I ended up getting a little bit of sleep the night before the big day, but hotel sleeping with a toddler is the worst thing on the planet. In fact, Moosh slept for about 3 hours in his pack-n-play before crawling into bed with us. Which means we didn’t sleep much at all.

Coffee was a MUST the day of a wedding. Wedding days (whomevers it is) are L-O-N-G! So I marched right into my sissy’s hotel room armed with coffee and a giant (like seriously giant) bottle of champagne and OJ!

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The part of the bride getting ready? Easy. The part of getting myself ready AND making sure Moosh and the mister were ready?? StressFUL. Worst. But let’s not focus on that. Let’s focus on the pretty robes and pretty hair, shall we??

I’m still recovering from this part of the wedding weekend. So much running around and so much fun; I haven’t even had the energy to begin writing about the ceremony! That will be next!

Filed Under: Columbus, family, Ohio, weddings Tagged With: columbus, events, family, food, foodie, life, marriage, ohio, pictures

weekly mantra //

October 13, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Life has been kinda rough on our small little family since Moosh and the mister returned home from Denver a month ago. We’ve had more than our fair share of illness and injury.

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It’s hard being a working parent (working moms and working dads) when your little one is sick. It puts you in an impossible position. So it’s been a struggle lately. But ya know what I know for sure? I’m a great mom. And although I’m not the best wife I can be, I’m working on it every day. Because those two? Those are what really and truly matters in my life. <3

Filed Under: mantra, marriage, mommyhood, parenthood, tales from a working mom Tagged With: mantra, marriage, motherhood

when the cat’s away…

August 26, 2014 by Rachel 1 Comment

this mouse will:

  • organize the house.
  • practice lots of yoga.
  • go for long runs in the middle of the week.
  • eat takeout every night for dinner.
  • drink wine while watching the Real Housewives on the DVR.
  • meet up with blogger friends for a fun night of delicious food.

image (14)

Yep. The mister left with Moosh for Denver yesterday afternoon! And it rocked my world. It’s my first time away from Moosh for more than one night (total… over the last 2 years). But in all honesty, as much as I wish I could have travelled with them this week, I’m totally looking forward to the ‘single’ life for a few days. It’s just me and Oscar Pants — just like the old days!

But wish me luck, ’cause this gal is already missing her boys.

 

Filed Under: Ari Davis, children, Denver, domesticity, family, life, mommyhood, Moosh, parenthood, plans, travel, workout Tagged With: ari davis, family, life, marriage, motherhood, oh baby, travel

summer. sickness. and this KID. #MOOSH

August 6, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

When your son has been sick with a summer cold, when you have been sick with something unmentionable, and when your husband is running a 100+ degree temperature… you just survive. Survive, ya’ll!!

Because what in the world would summer be without one serious illness, am I right?? Sigh. My poor husband. My poor Moosh!

Sidenote: This kid managed to be adorable even when he was feeling sick. He can sing Katy Perry Roar like a champ. Well, an under 2-year old, singing Katy Perry is the bomb dot com regardless of how it actually sounds. But this kid?? Adorable.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFz43ythKjo]

 

Love, love, love this kid.

 

Filed Under: Ari Davis, family, life, marriage, mommyhood, Moosh, parenthood, video, weekend Tagged With: ari davis, family, life, marriage, motherhood, oh baby, parenthood, video, weekend

weekend wrap up // July 10th thru 13th

July 17, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

GUYS!! This weekend was amazeballs. Seriously.

Thursday —

After work I met up with some friends at the Nauti Vine Winery for my friend Cristin’s birthday celebration. Cristin and I nearly accidentally stumbled upon this winery a month or so back during a girls night out. The location is beautiful — it’s located on Portage Lakes in Akron. Super scenic for being in a (near) city setting!

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We laughed SO hard. SO much! My soul needed that. Fo sho.

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Sidenote: When you go to a winery, it’s generally not safe to order their house-made beer. (The exception in this case being Cellar Rats brewery from Debonne). The beer was terrible. The laughs were awesome (and so was the wine — of course).

Chad & Ari were at a family function with our Denver family that night and we ended up getting home pretty much exactly at the same time (which means late night #1 for Moosh!).

Friday —

Friday I would love to say that we slept in. But that totally didn’t happen.Well, at least not for me. I woke up early to get a workout in and get some cleaning done. … and then Moosh slept til like 10:00 am. Aaaand we rushed out of the house to meet my cousin Maryssa to go bridesmaids dress shopping. For those who don’t know, my sister is getting married this October. I put off dress shopping until the last possible moment. But I’m happy to report my dress has been ordered for the last couple of weeks. And now my cousins’ dress is ordered too! Woo hoo! Mission accomplished! And it feels SO good! Gah!

Moosh, Maryssa, and I went out to BW3’s post-dress shopping where the food was bland but the service was hilarious. Our server came running out of the kitchen screaming “We got Lebron! We got Lebron!” Hahaha! He was like “Did you hear?” Yes, dear… my husband sent me a text right away.

Post-B-Dubs, Moosh napped for 2-hours (TGIF!). And then I took him to Babies R Us for a baby-registry extravaganza with my BFF. Moosh & I didn’t get home til super late (again). But he was a complete champ (again). And he slept in until 9:30 Saturday morning.

Saturday —

My mom and I went up to Lincoln Park in Tremont for Yoga Rocks the Park CLE. The morning provided beautiful weather for a beautiful practice.

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Scott Sulper from Cleveland Yoga led our vinyasa practice for 60-minutes. The practice was warm, sweaty and fun!

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The view from my mat….

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… was awesome. Beautiful, bright blue sky and a giant tree above me.

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It was great to connect with my fellow bloggers… Alicia, of Poise in Parma (left) and Jill, of The Year of the Phoenix (middle).

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and my mom! Family + friends = what dreams are made of!! <3

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Props (and thanks) to my husband for some post-yoga fuel of grilled chicken, grilled asparagus, and quinoa! luau7

Saturday afternoon, Chad & I went to Whiskey Island for SC4k Luau on the Lake while my mom hung out with Ari. They spent some quality time together visiting family and we took selfies.

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It was our first visit to Whiskey Island and we totally loved it! Only thing we regret is not bringing a chair! Oops! Lesson learned!

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And again it seemed to be a mini-blogger meetup!

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Kimberly (Smitten in CLE). Alicia (Poise in Parma). And me!

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Kimberly (Smitten in CLE), Alicia (Poise In Parma), Charlene (Life in The CLE), Anna (Anna In The Raw), and me!

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Matthew, Jen (Why CLE?), Me & Chad! It was our parents-day-out without the kiddos! Jen & Matthew have a teeny tiny 8-week old-ish baby at home, and we left Ari with Mimi for the day! It turns out Mimi & Moosh had TONS of fun on their own. They went to see some family and went out to dinner — just the two of them!

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We snacked, we laughed, we cheered Alicia on in the limbo contest! … and we still beat Moosh & Mimi home from their adventure!

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I didn’t tell Moosh that we stopped at his fave ice cream place, Mitchell’s in Ohio City on our way home from the luau! Their strawberry jalapeno is incredible PLUS it’s sourced locally! 🙂 Double win!

Sunday —

Moosh finally slept in! Thank GOODNESS! But this mama didn’t have that luxury. Nope. I went for my long training run and I rocked it!! Post-workout Moosh finally woke up and we all headed to the Indians Family Social Suite versus the White Sox!

indians1 The family social suite was awesome. Moosh was kept super busy with toys and coloring while the rest of us watched the game. PLUS it was another mini-blogger meet up! I finally got to meet Brad from Cleveland Food & Brews!

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And this view! The view from the suite is awesome!

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#Moosh! He thought the whole experience was kinda cool. Plus he got to meet Slider. Soooo there’s that.

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…. and then we all needed a vacation from too much fun. Thankfully, today is our first day of our staycation and we have very little planned (woo hoo!). PS. I say that now, but I KNOW I’m going to make a ton of plans for the next 6 days! Ha!

Filed Under: Akron, Ari Davis, baseball, beer, bloggers, cleveland, Cleveland Indians, cleveland yoga, date night, events, explore locally, family, fitness, food, friends, fun, Indians, life, marriage, mommyhood, Ohio, parenthood, pictures, social media, summer, weekend, yoga, yum Tagged With: akron, ari davis, bloggers, cleveland, cleveland indians, events, explore locally, family, fitness, food, foodie, friends, life, local, marriage, motherhood, ohio, pictures, running, weekend, workout, yoga

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