the teen years: v. 1.3

a while back, i met this little boy.  he had just turned 4 years old, with these round checks, freckled nose, and a head of red hair.

i fell in love with his daddy, and the 3 of us started our new life together.

9 years later that little 4 year old is now officially a teenager.  that's right...it's the big 1.3.  a definite milestone.  good-bye kid's menus, good-bye boy's clothing sizes, good-bye boy's shoe sizes.  it is no more.
















he had a few of his close friends come over to celebrate his birthday and spend the night camped out in the back yard.  aaron took them out to pizza (and no, it wasn't chuck-e-cheese) where they can chill and hang-out (and maybe feel a little bit more grown-up).

there was the usual brownie cake coupled with some shenanigans. 

for his actual birthday, his birthday dinner of choice was to have coconut shrimp.  and since i didn't feel like making them myself (though we have in the past) we hit up red lobster. 

and i think those new, trendy sunglasses complete the teenager package.

happy 13th birthday, our little, red-haired boy tyler!

do something: weekend june 11 - 13

a handful of fun stuff in good ol' cleveland:

06.11.

tremont artwalk runs from 6 - 10 p.m.  local businesses in the area will be featuring a number of very talented local artists.  check out the artwalk map to plan your route and enjoy!

while you're enjoying the artwalk, stop by lilly's handmade chocolates for their wine and beer tasting paired with one of their absolutely divine truffles (and voted the best according to cleveland magazine...i would agree with that).  $3.25 per tasting, and they will be open until the end of the artwalk.  if you haven't tried their truffles, this would be the perfect time!

tonight kicks off another made in the 216 event (woohoo!).  if you adore unique, indie products and like to support local businesses and artists, then you won't want to miss this.  the event runs 4 - 10 p.m. and saturday 11 a.m.  - 10 p.m. come enjoy some music, food, shopping and lots of inspiration from this cool city.

photo source here.



 06.12.

in case you couldn't make it friday, there is more made in the 216 from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. with an after party at the happy dog featuring live music from coffinberry, the buried wires and diamonds & pearls.  we haven't missed this event yet, and it's truly a great opportunity to see a different side of cleveland.  i am always inspired at all the amazingness (ha! is that even a real word?  my apologies to any grammar and linguist snobs) that goes on!

if you're trying to decide which day to hit up made in the 216, i would choose saturday only because you'll be able to check out discover gordon square arts district day at the same time, especially if you have wee kiddos.  this is the first year gordon square arts district will be putting on this event and it sounds like there will be plenty of interesting stuff going on.

additionally, the annual parade the circle in university circle will be going on from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  this free, family-friendly event looks to have a great line-up of creative activities and performances, with the parade starting at noon.  a shuttle will be offered to transport you from the discover gordon square arts district event to parade the circle and vice versa. 

thinkin' about a road trip?  well, if you're heading out to erie, pa stop by the crooked i to hear scoliosis jones play as part of a cd release party for matty b and the dirty pickles.  it's only 2+ hours from cleveland.  why not stay the night and then drive south to grove city, pa for a little outlet shopping before you return home.  or drive a little more south to pittsburgh and stop by the andy warhol museum (i really want to go there) and ikea (i also really want to go there) for their swedish meatballs and maybe some shopping too.

happy weekend!

real tales

i love old, vintage books.  you know, the ones that when you open to read have that musty smell.  the ones where the pages are browned and not so crisp anymore.  not only that, i also love the memories and history that these books hold.  these books were from a different time.  they were held by hands from a different era.  and now i hold them in my hands.

that's why when i go home to my parent's house i dig around through their bookcases to see if i can snag a few.  that's why i have a whole stack of my aunt's hardcover nancy drew books (circa 1960s).  that's why i am the proud owner of an old, musty smelling cookbook, and desperately waiting for my mom to give up her betty crocker's cookbook (circa 1950-60ish).

i also managed to get my hands on a few of my mom's (and maybe my aunt's) old children's books.  one in particular (which was my mom's) had a collection of stories and rhymes, published in 1955.

there are hardly any pictures in it, and instead the book is filled with descriptive words and detailed sentences.  and when there was a page with a colored picture, it was like getting a special treat.  it's definitely not like some of the children's books written today.

we had gone through 2 short stories already, and emma wanted to hear more.  as i flipped through i came across a few rhymes and offered those as a nice ending to our reading session.  here's the first one i read to her...

"you will snap off our heads!"  did you catch that last part?

then there's this cute little counting rhyme (click on picture then click again to zoom in and read)...

the last two illustrations just had me laughing.

like i said, these books were from a different era, and not like some of the children's books written today.

but we love them!

wordless wednesday::rice for rainy days

clean up was kind of a pain, but it kept the kids entertained for a while.  next time i think i'll use some colored rice.

 

more wordless wednesday here and here.

top ten tuesday

emma's (and sometimes mommy's) top 10 favorite current reads:

1. berenstain bears messy room.

2. berenstain bears go to school.

3. berenstain bears too much junk food.

4. berenstain bears trouble with friends.

5. berenstain bears don't pollute (anymore).

6. berenstain bears week at grandma's. [are we noticing a trend here?]

7. richard scarry's best storybook ever!

8. her bible (read and share bible)

9. sylvia long's mother goose rhymes.

10. curious geroge flies a kite.

there are plenty of other books we read through as well.  i have to say she has many favorites and i have found her in her room a few times with her bed covered in books.  COVERED.  but i'm thankful that she enjoys her books.  good books are timeless and are gifts that can be used time and time again.

minivan vs. pride

for some of you who have known me a while, you may know that i dislike minivans.  i have plenty of minivan driving friends (i have even been seen a few times inside a minivan...), but i would never consider owning one myself.  if i had to choose between a brand new minivan and a 10 year old car, i would take the old car.  really.  i would never be caught dead driving a minivan (umm...okay, i did drive one once last year and it was nice but i felt very uncomfortable and would never actually admit that i enjoyed the experience).

for years i have been resistant to the whole owning a minivan thing.  years.  even if it may be the practical option and made the most sense for our growing family (as of now we have maxed out our seating capacity...we can't even transport guests in our car).  no way would i drive one.  if i'm going to be driving a van it better be something like this...

gigantic. huge.  plowing through traffic jams and heavy snow.  everyone will automatically get out of my way.

from my perspective, there's a certain stigma associated with mamas driving minivans.  and i would NOT be one of those moms.

until the good Lord slapped me upside the head and said, "you cotton headed ninimugins!  get over your pride." okay he didn't really say that, but he made it loud and clear that i was being very stupid and prideful and that i should just get over myself.

you see, it's not the minivan.  it's my pride.  it's my self-image.  it's my cool-factor.  i pride myself in being different, standing out, set apart.  for who?  not for the Lord, but for me.  this huge claim i make about my disdain for minivans should be called out for what it is...pride (some of you may think i'm a little nuts to be getting all this from a minivan, but in all honesty it has been a total reality check).

how can i maintain that cool, hip, babywearing, indie shopping, tattooed mama image when i'm driving a minivan?  who. cares.  really.  why do i care what other people think of me?  why should i seek the approval of other men and women?  ultimately it doesn't count for anything. 

for am i now seeking the approval of man, or God? or am i trying to please man? if i were still trying to please man, i would not be a servant of Christ. - galations 1:10 (esv)

but our citizinshep is in heaven, and from it we await our savior, the lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. - philippians 3:20-21 (esv)

when i define myself based on what other people may think of me or based on some image i have to maintain instead of defining myself based on God's standards and his truths then all i really am is self-centered and prideful. not only that, i was being a complete hypocrite.  here i am teaching my own kids to not be self-centered, to keep from being obsessed with and defined by material possessions and worth, to be unique and comfortable with the way God had made them to be, and i can't even do that for myself.

do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. - 1 peter 3:3-4 (esv)

my identity, my self-worth and my expectations of beauty should not be defined by people but by God.  he alone is the one that makes me beautiful.  he alone is the one tha can transform me, inside and out.  he alone is the one i should seek to please.

i just need to trust in him.  i need to let go of my own self-centered expectations and wait patiently for him to do his work in me.

and so here it is, *ahem* in writing, i am putting aside my heavy resistance to minivan ownership.  i am willing to own a minivan for God's glory. if that is in our far future, then so be it.  at least then we can accomodate more people (including guests).

do something: weekend april 4-6

one of these times i really will post this consistently.

just a quick handful of things to share with you for this weekend.

6.04:
do you like polka?  well then you can't miss dj kishka at the happy dog tonight from 6-9 p.m. for polka happy hour.  enjoy a dog topped with fruit loops while you listen to old polka classics like ice cubes and beer. or be showed up by older folks who actually know how to polka dance to the tunes of cleveland's own frankie yankovic. 

6.05:
the annual meet the trucks event hosted by the lecpta goes from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at lakewood park.  bring the family and check out the city of lakewood's fleet of trucks.  plus there are plenty of other activities going on from tattoos (no, not real ones just temporary ones) to minor bike tune-ups courtesy of spin bike shop.  and the burning river roller girls will be there...i think this is their 2nd time participating in the meet the trucks event.  so cool!  this is a free event and really a lot of fun for the family.

if you like garage/yard sales you don't want to miss this one very important garage sale.  please stop by at 16919 Clifton, lakewood, oh (perfect if you're on your way or coming back from meet the trucks) and make a purchase.  you know there's going to be something you can't pass up :).  all the proceeds from the sale will go to help the adoption efforts for my brother and sister-in-laws and some good friends of ours.  and there will be some tasty goodies to purchase...like my brownies!

and if you're not exhausted from the day, head over to waterloo in the evening and stop by salty not sweet for their featured vendor of the month event.  for june, they are featuring artist resin nation.  this event will also be a fundraiser, with all proceeds from the sale of her products to benefit her move to NYC in order to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology.

6.06:
lake erie nature and science center will hold their annual family fun fest from noon - 4 p.m.  did you sponsor a duck for the great duck race?  you don't want to miss those cute little rubber duckies battling it out on porter creek to the finish line.  though admission to the event is free, many activities require a ticket.  so make sure you bring some dollar bills.

if you didn't get enough of lakewood park on saturday, come back again sunday evening and join us for our church's 1st picnic at the park event of the summer.  the event starts at 5 p.m.  this month's theme is mexican so be ready to enjoy some tacos (though the picture is misleading since it was from a luau themed picnic).

now what are you still doing inside?  get out there and do something!  happy weekend.

welcome to the 216

greetings blogtrotting visitors!  i'm excited to show you what this city has to offer.  i hope you enjoy your visit.

there is more than meets the eye when you come visit cleveland.

if you go here, they'll refer you to some of the popular main attractions in town, like the rock and roll hall of fame...

great lakes science center (just down the street from the rock hall)...

cleveland zoo...

 or the cleveland art museum...

these are fantastic, family friendly places to go to.  in fact, one of the things drew us to cleveland when we moved here 5 years ago (aside from family) is the art museum.  it's huge.  you can't see everything in one day.  and it's free (except the special exhibits).  it's one of those places that you can escape to for those miserable winter days.  we love it.

but there is so much more to discover.  join me and i'll give you a glimpse of some of our family's favorite places to go and things to do in the 216.

summers here are the best, because there is always something going on.  if you visit in the summer, maybe you can plan on going to the duct tape festival.  you will be amazed at what people can do with duct tape.

or there is the made in the 216 event that showcases a large number of very talented local artists and their creations.

then there's the annual ingenuity festival held in dowtown cleveland, where art and technology come together.  last year, they added an additional event as part of ingenuityfest called the bridge project which was held in the old streetcar level of one of the downtown bridges.  we headed down as a family and had such a great time seeing all that creativity at work.

then there are some great neighborhoods around town offering great, local eats and retail shopping once you're ready for a break from all the attractions.

if you head to the gordon square arts district there is gypsy beans and baking company that offers tasty coffee and delicious food.

or you can try out the happy dog.  they offer regular or vegetarian hot dogs with a whole list of toppings to choose from (even fruit loops).

photo source here.

while you're there, head down to room service (they host the made in the 216 event), a retail shop that offers some locally made items such as shirts, jewelry, and paper goods.  we love going in there to check out some of the unique items.

photo source here.

 photo source here.

on a side note, if you like indie shops, you could also stop by salty not sweet or blush boutique on the east side of cleveland.  they are full of locally-made wares.

or you can check out the tremont neighborhood and munch on a little something at lucky's cafe.  for dessert just walk down the street to lilly's handmade chocolates to enjoy some serious to die for truffles (ask for the one with the bacon...yum!).

photo source here.

then there's melt bar and grilled.  if you like grilled cheese sandwiches this place has it and then some (there's even one with potato and cheese filled pierogies...ask for the parmageddon). i remember when they first opened this restaurant and it was love at first bite.  it was a hidden gem just walking distance from our house.  but now a days, if you want to get in be prepared to wait at least an hour during peak days and eating times (that's usually thursday - sunday starting at 5 p.m.).

 photo source here.

the melt has been featured on the food network's diners, drive-ins and dives and will be in the june episode of travel channel's man v. food.  when we do have a craving for the melt or try and take out of town guests there, we plan for an early dinner/late lunch meal either on a monday, tuesday or wednesday.

 photo source here.

speaking of food, one of my favorite things about summers in cleveland is the farmer's market.  i love being able to walk down the street and pick up fresh, locally grown and made produce and foods.  but there is one market that i love here that is open all year round.  the west side market.  even if you're just visiting and you don't plan on doing any cooking it's still a fun place to visit.  like any market, they have your fruit and veggie stands.  but then there's all the meat stands, deli stands, dairy stands, and the bakery stands.

there are unique stands like oooooooh...fudge and narrin's spice and sauce stand offering specialty asian spices, sauces and dried goods.  and if you get hungry for something stop by crepes de luxe for some sweet or savory crepes.  every time we go to the market our daughter always asks if we can have crepes.  it's probably her favorite stand at the market.

for the nature lover, the cleveland metroparks also offers plenty of activities.  our favorite spots are the rocky river nature center and the lake erie nature and science center.  great spots for kids to learn about the world around them.

if you are a fan of the movie a christmas story then i'm sure you already know that cleveland boasts the original a christmas story house.  yes, people.  this house (and cleveland) is where they filmed some of that movie.  if you visit during christmas time, it will be very, very busy.  it's drawn visitors from all around the world.  they even have shuttles running to the house from downtown.  but if you visit in the summer time, you can get the house tour all to yourself.

there is so much more, but i fear that this post will never end.  there are even things we have yet to discover as 216 residents.  i hope you enjoyed your tour of cleveland.  thanks for stopping by!

top ten tuesday

so, i'll just get to it...

top ten reasons why i've been slacking on my top ten (and blogging in general):

1. the weather.  [it's hot.  it's sunny.  and i love it.  that means i'm outside.  even if it means just hanging in the front yard.]

2. my parents came for a visit.  [so a few days before their arrival were busy cleaning and organizing.  then while they were here i decided it would be much more enjoyable to spend most of my time with them than on the computer blogging.  no offense.]

3. throw pillow covers.  [i made my own covers for the throw pillows on the couch before i owned a sewing machine.  they turned out...meh...okay.  now that i am a proud sewing machine owner, i decided to replace all the covers with new ones.  perhaps i will share photos of them with you later.  i'm very happy with how they turned out.  much better than the first attempt.]

4. while we're on the subject of sewing...handmade plush gifties for gibson's 1st birthday.  [remember when i mentioned the little jingle ball and the cubes that spelled "gibson" for his birthday present? all those pentagrams were tricky!  and the applique work on the individual letters was a whole new experience for me and my sewing machine.  needless to say, it took some time to figure things out.]

5. and more sewing...embroidered kiddie clothes.  [i've been embroidering more items to drop off at salty not sweet and a few that i just listed on my etsy shop.  my hands are fast but they are not flash gordon fast.]

6. birthdays.  [we just had gibson's birthday and birthday bbq.  ty's birthday party is this coming weekend, his birthday is on the 14th of june, emma's is on the 12th of june, and then her birthday party is planned for the 19th of june, and then i've got to finish up a couple of handmade goodies for my girlie's birthday present...too.many.birthdays.]

7. the wash. [with all the crafting and birthdays going on, i have to make sure i don't run out of clean underwear!  so laundry trumps blogging.  did i mention that it now takes about 3 days to do everybody's laundry?  3.  it's impossible to do it all in one day anymore.]

8. the thunderstorm and our oak tree.  [we had a massive (some say tornado-like) thunderstorm that went through earlier in may.  the 2 giant branches on the oak tree in our back yard split, barely hanging on after the storm came through.  ecotree came to the rescue and we said our good-byes to the old tree.]

9. sell, sell, sell. [we are continuing our purging of stuff in the house to keep ourselves on-track with our money management plans.  craigslist and i are BFFs.  #8 set us back quite a bit, but i'm so glad we had extra money in savings to take care of it.]

10. the attic.  [since the paint job and our move to the attic, not much has been done to make it look more like a bedroom/studio space.  the process is slow (mostly in my little studio/office corner), because there is a lot of stuff and not enough shelves and containers to organize it all in,  i think i just need to be a little more creative and do a little purging.  plus, i'm waaaay behind on filing which makes the clean-up and organizing project seem overwhelming.  but it's getting there!]

so pardon the lack of activity around here.  what has been keeping you busy lately?