Friday, August 30, 2013

Happy Labor Day Weekend

HAPPY FRIDAY!! And HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND!! I am SO looking forward to this 3-day weekend, and although it marks the end of summer fun, I'm not too sad because there's tons of pre-fall and fall fun to be had in the weeks up ahead!!

That said, I am starting off my weekend with a dose of "Om".


Starting at 7 pm, The Rock Hall plays host to a Cleveland celebration in the form of a yoga party. The party is the brain-child of my favorite west side yoga studio Inner Bliss and Eton-Chagrin lululemon store. Best of all, the event is FREE! Additional details on the event are available here

Tonight the Rock Hall is going to be a sea of spandex and luon, and I for one, can't wait!!! 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

A Little Tease

A few months ago, I happened to meet a very cool woman at R/S: like me, she was born in and grew up in a foreign country, like me she was in a relationship with a ginger, and like me she is mom to two boxers. I'm a great believer in destiny, and 3 coincidences just seems liked the universe was trying to tell me something. Turns out, she is a hair stylist: clearly, the universe was telling me it was time to do something different with my hair!!!

Carolina works at Tease in Lakewood, and I decided to go in for a blowout to give her a try! The salon is  super charming with its exposed brick and vintage dressers.






Carolina ended up doing my hair in a side-do that I absolutely LUUURRVVEEED! 


Needless to say, I was back the next week for haircut.


The results from the first haircut: She talked me out of bangs since it was still the beginning of summer, but I absolutely adored the curls and volume!

Over the past month, she put in the bangs (its almost fall after all) and touched up my ombre to make it look more natural (well, as natural as ombre is going to look on someone with SUPER dark hair)


Overall, I am more than pleased with all of my experiences with Carolina. She is extremely knowledgable and can turn a vague description into a real vision. That said, I ALWAYS recommend taking in pictures. Best of all, she will spend the time to show you HOW to style your hair and give you plenty of options to change up your look. So, if you're toying with the idea of a new stylist, I absolutely recommend Carolina at Tease!!!



Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Listening Now: New Fenech-Soler and music freebie

I LUUURVE Fenech-Soler. So much so that this is the second time I've featured them on  Tuesday Tunes post!!

This is their newest release, All I Know

Their newest album is set to be released in the UK in September, and although there is no US date yet, I hold out hope that it will happen.





In other music news, in September, London once again plays host to the month-long iTunes festival that features some of the best artists in the U.K. and around the world. This year's line up includes Lady Gaga, Vampire Weekend, Bastille, Avicii, Arctic Monkeys, HAIM, Iggy Azalea just to name a few. Can't make in to London? No problem!!

iTunes is offering a free app to allow you to listen to all the awesome music LIVE!   Learn More at www.itunes.com/festival. You can even set up calendar reminders for your favorite acts. I used this app to some of the acts last year, and it was incredible! If you're looking for some new music, I highly highly recommend you check out this app next month!!

XO

Monday, August 26, 2013

This Weekend in CLE- entertaining, yoga, and general relaxation!

This was actually a fairly low-key weekend as far as most of our weekends go...

Saturday, I visited the West Side Market for the first time in a very long while. That parking lot is a complete mess! Back in the day when I was a WSM regular, I used to go first thing in the morning. That was, however, before my days of Fresh Fork and Saturday morning workouts. Anyway, my noon trip this past weekend involved me circling the parking lot for 20 minutes trying to find a spot! Lesson to be learned here: go early!! The whole reason for the Market trip was that N and I hosted a cookout Saturday evening; the menu was a bunch of different kebabs + signature champagne and burbon cocktails.

I really like my signature cocktail, which was an adaptation of a recipe I saw on pinterest- half a quart of orange sherbet + 3 bottles of bubbles!



Jo, Charity, Carla, Danielle, Jess. The boys were inside watching the Browns kickoff. 

Sunday, Allison and I went to a 2 hour yoga workshop, where I almost got into a handstand, which was pretty much the extent of me leaving my house (don't worry, I did get outside and enjoy the weather, it just happened to be at home).


The puppies were super cute this weekend-- I posted this on Instagram over the weekend- they make me laugh so much. Clair is wearing my snood (scarf/hood) that I got at Made in the 216 last month, and Otto is falling asleep sitting up!  



Given that I spent most of the weekend in super casual shorts + blouse/ workout clothes, my style highlight was this outfit channeling Audrey Hepburn.  
Dress from Target, Ray Ban aviators, necklace from Banyan Tree

Well, I am off to Denver for the day, so hope you have a happy Monday!! 
XO!


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Listening Now: Half Moon Run

This week, I bring you a band from one of my favorite cities: Montreal. Half Moon Run are an indie rock band who released their debut album Dark Eyes on July 23, 2013; It is SO worth the purchase. The band is currently on tour in North America and Europe, so if you can, you should definitely check them out!










Enjoy!!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Cleshopaholic Travels to Put In Bay


This past weekend, N and I went to Put-In-Bay for a volleyball tourney-- well, he played. I sunbathed. And I got some SERIOUS tan lines.  There were 10 of us at the Island Club, and as is the custom in Put-In-Bay, we partied like we were 21. I'm paying for it today.


The ride over


Early in the night....


Some (well, one) of us, didn't fare so well...


The 9 am start was ROUGH!


A little slice of tranquility... 


Look who I found!! 



Saturday night bar hopping! 


Dueling pianos! 

And just like that, the weekend was over, and it was time to go home! 


I hadn't been to Put-In-Bay since 2004, and I was pleasantly surprised this time around! Its more than a little frat-party-like, but fun nonetheless!!


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Listening Now: August 2013 playlist

I'm a day late on this, but here is my August playlist!

1. Lying to the Mirror- Gabrielle Aplin
2. Diamonds and Waste- Kate McGill
3. Lost & Not Found- Chase & Status
4. Let Her Go- Passenger
5. I am Yours- Churchill
6. Eat Dirt- Susan Justics
7. Feel the Love- Rudimental
8. Burn- Ellie Goulding
9. Cool Like Me- Fryars
10. D-D-Dance- The Royal Concept
11. She Keeps Me Warm- Mary Lambert
12. Durban Skies- Bastille
13. Do I Wanna Know?- Arctic Monkeys
14. Sweet Talk (remix)- Jessie Ware
15. Elevate- St. Lucia

This weekend I'm going to Put in Bay for the first time since 2004! I'm excited and scared.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Seeing The World Through Polarized Lenses

This year, N got me a pair polarized wayfarers for my birthday. I used to be the kind of person who always misplaced my cheapie sunglasses, until I realized it might have been a chicken-and-the-egg situation. Maybe I was losing them because they were under $20!

In any case, I've had these new sunnies about a month, and I absolutely LLUUURRVVEEE them! Not only are they an absolutely classic style that will NEVER go out of fashion, they really cut down on glare. Its odd, but instead of just making everything darker, they almost seem to pick up the ambient light and then gently tint everything. SO worth the premium for polarized!!!


Natural daylight vs. polarized

Now if only we had more days of abundant sunshine so I could REALLY get some good use out of them!! 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Listening Now: Rudimental

In the early hours of this morning, I downloaded a brand spanking new album, Home by Rudimental. If you're not familiar with Rudimental, they're an electronic quartet. Their sound is somewhat similar to David Guetta in that they collaborate with a number of well-known and not-so-well-know artists, and their music is very dance-worthy. For the record, they're excellent additions to your workout playlist.

I listened to the album all day, and I absolutely LUUUURVVEE it! Here are a few samples:







Take a listen and let me know what you think!!!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

A Sneak Peek at Made in the 216 Summer 2013

Since I'm a lover of shopping and Cleveland, it should go without saying that I absolutely LLUUUUUUURRVVEE Made in the 216.



I love seeing all the amazing, unique artistic talent that our city has to offer, that frankly sometimes remains well hidden under the radar. This year is no exception.

The lovely Jennie Doran has done an absolutely wonderful job curating this year's selection, and I am SO incredibly honored and excited to bring you a sneak peek!!


Just a small part of a wall of LOVE



Artisan sauces and jams and general yummy goodness



A little something for cat lovers too... 


The curves of a vintage camera clad in cool concrete



Fun prints from grey cardigan make perfect engagement presents...



A little something for the hostess with the mostest....



Perhaps a little something for yourself....


With loads of bands + shopping, this year's Made in the 216 promises to be an absolute blast! I hope to see you there!!!