pampering

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel Cleveland + Jeni’s Ice Cream // A Match Made In Staycation Heaven

July 22, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

I’ve been dreaming of one thing for the last 7 years. And last night that dream became a reality. I had my first every staycation, completely alone!

Sunday afternoon I headed up to Downtown Cleveland to stay at the Kimpton Schofield Hotel to celebrate two things — freedom and National Ice Cream Day!

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel, located directly in the heart of the action on Euclide Avenue, just launched a partnership with local (and now national!) ice cream icon, Jeni’s Ice Cream! And personally, I am HERE FOR IT.

My Mom-Staycation began the moment valet took my keys. At that moment “mom” was off the clock! Moments after unpacking in my room, room service arrived with two pints of Jeni’s Ice Cream and an ice-cold bottle of Prosecco.

A few sips of prosecco and a few spoonfuls of Jeni’s Honey Vanilla Bean were just the welcome I needed. I breathed a collective sigh of relief from all of the motherhood stressors of the last 7 years. It’s amazing how taking time for self-care can change your entire mood, am I right?!

After enjoying my welcome amenities, I stood in awe of the city views from my room windows. Across the street was the iconic Downtown Heinen’s, located in the historic Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building. It was breathtaking to see my favorite city from this angle.

Later, I dined at the incredible on-site restaurant, Parkers Downtown. Yes, I had a solo reservation; and, no, I had no qualms about it.

To start, I ordered a glass of their dryest red. To some, dining alone (or, heck!, even having a glass of wine alone) in a restaurant would be intimidating. But for the first time in a while, I was able to enjoy my dining experience. No kids, no extra chatter, just quiet.

Everything on the menu sounded incredible and I definitely ordered more than I could possibly eat by myself! I ordered the artisan cheese board, loaded fries (with goat cheese and bacon), and the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwith (with kimchi and aioli on a brioche bun). Y’all! It was INCREDIBLE. All of it! I tried my best to dine as slowly as possible (a small luxury for those of us with kids), but I am guessing I only lasted about 20 minutes before throwing in the towel and bringing the rest back to my room as leftovers.

Nonetheless, my experience was perfection. The service was so thoughtful, the meal was beyond delicious, and everything was overall exceptional. I look forward to trying out their brunch and happy hour in the future.

My post-dinner excursion included a walk down Euclid Avenue and a loop down East 4th before heading back to my room to revisit those Jeni’s Ice Cream pints! Honestly, as nice as it was to be ‘away’ from everyone and everything, my room at the Kimpton Schofield was so relaxing and inviting with its cozy bed and original artwork, I didn’t want to leave!

SO many thanks to the Kimpton Schofield team for hosting me for an amazing staycation!

What’s your favorite

staycation activity?

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.

3 Winter Hacks for Staying Healthy //

January 6, 2018 by Rachel 13 Comments

Winter is always tough on my family — and I know we’re not alone. Between the crazy cold, negative temperatures here in the Northeast, and the piling inches of snow, it can be hard to remember the importance of taking care of myself and my family.

So I’m sharing my list of Simple Winter Self-Care Hacks that will keep you healthy and feeling your best all season long!

1. Stay hydrated!

I know it sounds silly, because it’s cold outside, right?! Why would you worry about staying hydrated? Well, maintaining hydration is a key in prevention of the flu and seasonal colds*. Plus, it helps regulate your body temperature — yes, even in the cold.

2. Wash, wash, wash your hands!

We sing this little song in our house. Technically, it was a teeth-brushing song Ari learned in preschool last year; but he messed it up and started singing “Wash, wash, wash your hands, morning, clean, and white!” And so we sing that all day, everyday. Because I’ve learned the hard way that no amount of hand sanitizer can truly keep away the germs. We are team HOT WATER AND SOAP.

3. Tackle dry skin with Lubriderm.

The harsh weather and the hand washing can do some serious damage to our skin. My kids have both really struggled with dry spots this winter and after trying remedy after remedy after remedy, we finally found a solution to our dry skin woes — Lubriderm.

For my five year old, Ari, I’ve been using Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Extra Dry Skin lotion. He definitely has the worst issues with dry skin, but this lotion has been a lifesaver for my little man! Remy and I have both been using the Lubriderm Daily Moisture, for Normal to Dry skin, and it has been perfect for the two of us.

In the meantime, my husband, who frequently works outdoors — yes, even in the Winter — has been using the Lubriderm Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen, that way he is moisturized and also protected from the elements (because, did you know you can still get a pretty severe sunburn in the Winter!? We’ve learned the hard way!). But besides the obvious health benefits, the fact that it’s available at a budget-friendly price at our local Walmart is a huge bonus!

Need more ideas on how to incorporate some #LubridermHacks into your existing daily routine? Try mixing their unscented lotion in with your liquid concealer; give yourself an at-home pedicure with Lubriderm; or find a few minutes to just lather up with some Lubriderm post-shower for an all-day skin moisturizer!

What are some of the ways your family is staying healthy this Winter??

* see Harvard research here

Get Your Smile Camera-Ready with Crest Whitestrips

January 20, 2016 by Rachel 1 Comment

I have a wedding to attend here in the next two weeks and there are so few things that I can control, looks-wise. Of course, I’ll be rocking the mega postpartum look. But the one thing that I have on point is my hair, makeup, and smile game! Sure, it’s nice to attend a wedding as just a guest (without the pressure of being in the bridal party!), but there will still be pictures. And I want to look flawless in them!

Since I’m a mom on a budget, I’ve been using Crest 3D White Supreme Flexfit Whitestrips, and opting out of those $500+ laser whitening treatments! The ideal time to whiten for a wedding is two weeks in advance of the big day. Crest 3D White Supreme Flexfit Whitestrips whitens in just one hour a day for 2 weeks!

To document my whitening journey, here’s a little before picture:

One thing I can say about motherhood is that we don’t always take care of ourselves and put ourselves first. In fact, I know I’ve pretty much put myself on the backburner. But these last two weeks I’ve been following the whitening routine! And it has worked!!

Here’s my after picture [ignore the silly face… it’s hard to take a serious selfie. I’m just not good at it.]:

A little whitening is a magical thing! And so is a little pre-wedding dress up/makeup time!

Whitestrips use the same enamel-safe, teeth-whitening ingredients dentists use and provide a comfortable at home teeth whitening experience. Bonus? They can be found everywhere! Drug stores, big box retailers, and online for just $64.99 per kit! Way more cost effective than visiting the dentist for treatments!

And now I’m ready for my big postpartum, wedding debut! Watch out, world! And by all means, go out and grab some of these for yourself! ♥ ♥

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Key to the Cure // Wrap Up

November 6, 2015 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Before I get into this wrap up I wanted to very quickly give a shout out to one of my favorite local charities, Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4k). The mission of SC4K is to provide disadvantaged kids in Greater Cleveland with brand new shoes and clothing. What might surprise you is that two of their most requested items are socks and underwear. It’s so easy to take simple things like these for granted, but many kids in our community are wearing hand-me-downs, giveaways, throwaways – and some just go without.

To get people to think about this topic, they created a catchy video. Take a quick minute and check it out:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdgGqUKW9nA#t]

Right now they are running a crowdfunding campaign to help increase sock and underwear donations! Even better? They’ve received a challenge grant of up to $15k! That means your donation will be MATCHED!

If you are able, please consider donating to the campaign here.

Alright, so, a few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending another charity event, the Key To The Cure event at Saks Fifth Avenue at Beachwood Place! My girlfriend, Carli, and I decided to say buh-bye to our boys for the evening and head out for a night of fun.

Saks Fifth Avenue of Beachwood Place teams up with the Cleveland Clinic each year to host a shopping extravaganza! It’s a chance to give shoppers the opportunity to support women’s reproductive and breast research by offering a percentage of their sales go to the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center from October 15th to October 18th.

Guests were encouraged to purchase presale tickets to the event kickoff, which was the event we attended on October 15th, for $75 per person. Included in the event ticket was a $50 tax deductible write-off, a $25 Saks gift card, live entertainment, and food and drinks supplied by the amazing local talents from the Taste of Cleveland restaurants!

Carli and I arrived and were a tad bit overwhelmed at first. There was a LOT of food. Like, a lot. And, even though I knew I would be sick later, I wanted to eat all of it. We did a quick circle through Saks to check out all of the food offerings (duh. I’m pregnant), before diving in.

The food was amazing. Many of the offerings were from restaurants I have already been to; others I was experiencing for the first time (though we had meant to try them… that whole toddler thing keeps us home a lot as of late). Society Lounge provided cocktails for the evening (and I may have sipped on the most delicious Moscow Mule I’ve ever had), and wine was also provided for guests. I honestly can’t even remember who had the best food (but it was probably Lago).

Oh and I made sure to eat as many delicious donuts as my belly would hold, thanks to Peace, Love and Little Donuts. 🙂

At the end of the night, we waddled our way upstairs to the childrens department (because let’s be real — when a mom is given $25 bucks to spend, she chooses to spend it on her kids, not herself). I bought baby girl an adorable sleeper (that I would have normally never spent $25 on… let’s be real). So thank you, Key to the Cure, for the “free” $25!

Overall, it was an awesome night. I would love to experience the evening again, but this time not pregnant (Umm, HELLO Moscow Mules and see ya next year!)! If you missed it this year, keep an eye out for it October 2016! And see ya there!

Blogger Date at Charles Scott Salon //

December 6, 2013 by Rachel 2 Comments

Last week I met up with Charlene (aka @cacoughlin) from Life In The CLE and Jess (aka @Mojamala2) of the Tambura Runner last week for a blogger friends mani-pedi date at Charles Scott Salon in Rocky River!

We each had manis and then met up in the massage chairs for our pedis! The girls at Charles Scott Salon treated us so well. The environment there is so welcoming, so inviting, and SO serene! I love that it’s such a chill place. And I love that my manicurist, Rae, had a full-sleeve tattoo down her left arm. It made me feel right at home. 🙂

And yeah I know that they’re supposed to treat clients well and supposed to make us feel comfortable, but the girls who work there are awesome. They aren’t stuffy and they aren’t pushy or too talky. Just AWESOME.

Jess opted for red nails, Charlene for grey, and I decided on hunter green — toes AND fingers!

I’ve yet to check out their location in Crocker Park because I’m already so attached to the Rocky River location — plus it’s where my stylist, Allie, works!

After our manis and pedis we grabbed a bite to eat at The Wine Bar, Rocky River. I know I should venture out and go to other places in Rocky River, but their food is SO good!

We ate, we had a glass of wine, we chatted and it was totally worth it. From the start of the night it was clear that we all needed a night out — a night away from reality! 🙂

Thankfully I am ‘forced’ to go back in just a couple weeks because I’ll ‘require’ a haircut! Ha! The joys of having a pixie cut!

Disclaimer: All 3 of us are brand ambassadors for Charles Scott Salon and as such, receive a discount for services provided. All opinions are my own.