Latest Obsession: Shoes!

May 4, 2016May 4, 2016 | The Bee Life

When it comes to clothes and shoes I don’t usually splurge too much and if I do, there are LONG periods of breaks in between, especially when it comes to my shoes! Last time I bought soft canvas sneaks or loafers was probably in 2013? (Are you judging me… just a little? It’s ok…) And they’ve finally gotten to the point were they’re a bit too dirty to pull off anymore. The last time I bought a pair of sandals was probably 2014… (still judging?) What can I say? I make my shoes last – it’s not to say I don’t admire and dream over a few pairs, I just don’t like spending a lot of money on them, it’s physically impossible for me to do, even though I don’t buy them that often (it’s okay, you can think I’m totally weird). So, needless to say 2016 is going to be my restock year (and I’ve already started!!) Latest Obsession - Shoes - the bee life
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Printed Canvas Sneaks/Loafers: I’m obsessed with these! I think they’re a fun way to show off your personality with neutrals or bright colors, not to mention they’re super comfy and can be casual or dressed-up. Perfect for all the spring and summer picnics, and not to mention the perfect travel shoes!

Flats: You can never go wrong with flats, I especially need a variety of options for the office, since wearing heels day after day is exhausting. Flats can also be the perfect look for a date night or bridal shower.

Sandals: This is a given, although I think it’s good to have a mix of of different colors and styles from casual to dressy in case there are the occasions where you don’t want to rock heels or wedges the whole time.

Rain boots: You need at least one good pair! And personally, I need a pair of rain boots that’re a little less obnoxious, but still fun and cute. Unfortunately I can’t rock the Hunter boot, because I have muscular calves *smiles* – having these for those random rainy days is clutch, especially if you’re like me and have to walk a block or two to the office!

My word of advice for any of these shoes, is if you find a pair you love, don’t be afraid to stock up on a few pairs, because you’ll regret it if you don’t! I know I do, it’s definitely something that I make a point that if I do see my pair on sale or back in stock to buy another pair.

Happy Shoe Shopping!

Weekend Recap – Girls Trip!

April 18, 2016April 19, 2016 | The Bee Life

This past weekend was so fun and gorgeous! We finally had some beautiful sunny weather with cloudless skies.

It was super fun, because Katie and I met up for a girls day/night yesterday. We met at the cabin, which is just about half way for us – so it was a nice quick trip. With her wedding being a month away, we’ve been trying to plan some extra girl time, and finally got it in the books!

One of the goals of our meet up was to get some of her her wedding DIY’s complete for her centerpieces so we worked on that in between candid girl talk and day drinking. It was also the perfect excuse to wear tights, a loose tee and veg out taste testing different martini’s with wine in between!

I can’t remember the last time Katie and I had that much one on one time AND a sleep over. It was so much fun – the only thing I messed up on was forgetting my wireless speakers, so we lacked some major dance sessions and jamming to 50 cent. We are definitely going to try and make these more of a point, or at least invite the guys next time, it’s the perfect, peaceful getaway especially for some much needed girl time. We wrapped up the weekend pretty early on Sunday, but it was nice getting back home and enjoying the rest of the sunshine! I’m looking forward to this upcoming week and some gorgeous weather.

Local Love – Holiday Edition

December 16, 2015January 11, 2016 | The Bee Life

One thing I love about my city is all the great local talent and shops we have! Here are some of my favorites, with a little holiday twist for your last minute shopping, baking, and hosting ideas!

(Links in main headers)

Snicklefritz Bakeshop
These cookies are to die for, seriously the best cookies I’ve ever had! Not to mention the attention to detail and designs are perfectly custom – she even offers cakes. I especially love these Christmas Story inspired batch she created. If you ever want some special and custom cookies for a party and to make everyone’s taste buds scream, check out Kendra at Snicklefritz Bakeshop.

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The Wandering Wardrobe
Originally a food truck turned into a clothing boutique touring local neighborhoods and festivals, she now has a ‘small box’ boutique within walking distance of my office! Perfect for a holiday outfit or fun winter wear that’s unique and limited quantities! You can even shop online if you can’t make it to her locations. Perfect for every fashionista in your life or if you need a little something special to wear!

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Lucy Williams Illustrations
If you want something super unique, custom and insanely beautiful – check out Lucy Williams Illustrations. Her hand-drawn letters and illustrations are simple and elegant, an import to Cleveland she’s dived head-in illustrating for many brands and companies, including one of my favorite’s Mitchell’s Ice Cream.
Email her at: lmwilliamsillustration.com
Instagram @lucymarshall

CLE Clothing Co.

Yes – I’ve bragged about these guys a few times before on my blog. They’re clothing and shirts are the softest I’ve ever felt! I seriously wear mine religiously. Every year they release some Christmas (and CLE) specific pieces that are perfect for any gift giving ideas for friends and family!

Share some of your local brands and stories in the comments below! Whether they’re near or far, I love seeing people’s ideas and dreams coming to life.

A Weekend of CLE

October 19, 2015October 20, 2015 | The Bee Life

This past weekend was a busy one, but it was so much fun!

It started on Friday, with Cleveland Magazine’s 10th Anniversary Best of Cleveland party! This was the fifth year I’ve attended the #BestofCLE and every year it gets better. There was one point in the night when I was in complete awe, looking around at the hundreds and hundreds of people just dancing and partying – and thought “This is my Friday night.”

In case you’ve never been to the #BestofCLE; it’s a gathering of all of Cleveland’s best restaurants, boutique’s, bakeries, clothing shops, car dealerships, clubs, and apartments. Samplings of great food, drinks and beers, along with other little goodies and discounts! This year, I was all about the sweets, so I really only consumed a number of cupcakes and sushi over the course of the evening (I know, a horrible combo).

My Stops:

Campbell’s Sweets Factory – I grabbed one of their ‘Wedding Cake’ flavored cupcakes, because it’s my favorite and it is delicious!

A Cookie & A Cupcake – Mini cupcakes! I went for a chocolate and vanilla, this little shop in Tremont never disappoints.

Main Street Cupcakes – It was their birthday, which meant sprinkles all over their cupcakes, which in my opinion is a perfect combination.

Jack Frost Donuts – I did not have these, simply because I would’ve been in a sugar coma. They had full-size, elaborately decorated donuts they were impressive and so beautiful (picture below).

A bunch of our friends were at the party so we had a fun time catching up with them, dancing and singing and sipping some cocktails! This party never disappoints and my absolute favorite part was when DJ EV came out, I seriously could’ve danced the entire night. The music was so good.

Saturday AM we woke up to run the Dawg Pound 5k – it was an unwelcoming 43 degrees out with some intense winds, although it was much better than the cold rain we had last year. A group from my office met up early to go down to the start line, the weather did not keep away the sold-out crowd. The course was similar to last year, a good route with minor hills,the wind definitely tempered down once you got running, which was a good thing! B and I ran the whole time to finish just under 30-minutes, not bad for not training! Then the group of us went up to a favorite local spot, Nauti Mermaid for Bloody Mary’s and brunch! The Bloody Mary came out with a fresh fried, Lake Erie perch, it was surprisingly delicious, the food was amazing too. It was a fun start to our Saturday!

After our jam packed fun, it was pretty low-key and relaxing for the rest of the weekend. The #BestofCLE and the Dawg Pound 5k are definitely two of the reasons why I love Cleveland so much and why I love the month of October!

Happy Monday!

Appendix:

click here: 2015 Best of Cleveland’s Participating Winners

Mums. Plaid. Boots. Pumpkins.

September 25, 2015October 21, 2015 | The Bee Life

Ever since Wednesday, the beginning of Autumn, it’s now acceptable to decorate for fall! Here are some of the essentials for fall. And it comes down to the basics, Mums, Plaid, Boots and Pumpkins.

Beyond adding mums to your front foliage for a last bit of color on your porch- pull the colors of mums into your home to brighten the darker nights. Sherwin-Williams’, ColorSnap app allows you to pull colors from any photo and find the same color, it’s amazing. Use these as inspiration in DIY projects or painting your pumpkins!

Thanks to Target, Plaid is covering every other commercial accompanied by catchy songs we loved from our past. If you haven’t checked out Target’s Plaid section, please do – you’ll fall in love with at least one or five things. Promise. But instead of going overkill in everything plaid, here are some other ways to incorporate plaid in this fall without giving your house or wardrobe a complete makeover.

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Boots! As much as I love a good knee-high boot, I am really loving the bootie look for this fall – classic, easy to put on, and versatile with jeans, tights, and dresses! Here are some of the boots I have my eye on this fall. Of course, having a great pair of rain boots for those dark nights is key too.

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Pumpkins! Of course, you can’t forget about pumpkins! One of the most important things when picking out your pumpkins is getting a variety of sizes, small pumpkins can be great around the house as accents or focal points in your centerpieces. Larger pumpkins are great to serve as the supporting cast to your mums. Creating wooden pumpkins for an easy DIY helps with cost year over year, and can allow for updates and custom pieces in your home, inside or out.

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/g240/natural-halloween-decorations/#ixzz2fSPGhttc&i

http://dandelionsdragonflies.blogspot.com/2011/10/front-porch.html

http://www.occasionallycrafty.com/2010/10/one-last-fall-craft-2x4-pumpkins.html

http://www.occasionallycrafty.com/2010/10/one-last-fall-craft-2×4-pumpkins.html

It’s hard not to love fall, it’s one, if not my favorite season for many reasons, but especially the ones above!

Summer Party Ideas

May 29, 2015October 13, 2015 | The Bee Life

I love parties. I especially love planning and hosting parties. Although I don’t feel I have all the means to pull off my ideal party, because when it comes to planning I’m All-Out Emily. And as much as I like to make items, and use things in clever ways – money is usually a factor. And, for me it goes down to every little detail, from the napkins to the lighting, from the invitations to the music. But money usually doesn’t stop me.

We are planning an upcoming house warming party, I know a little late, but I wanted it to be warm! Bad joke? It is also our houses 100th birthday this year, so I am calling it our Centennial Party…because I love a good theme.

To get some inspiration I went to my favorite place and pulled some ideas that I hope to incorporate and adapt.

http://eye-swoon.com/my-midsummer-nights-dream/

http://blog.smartyhadaparty.com/mimosa-bar/

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-essentials-for-your-outdoor-117227

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/12/individual-seven-layer-dips.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/ofLCo+(The+Girl+Who+Ate+Everything)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Hope to share some of my finishing touches and pictures from our upcoming party!

Until then,

Winterfest 2014

December 1, 2014 | The Bee Life

For the last four years it has become a tradition to attend Cleveland’s annual Winterfest and tree lighting. My parents are usually in town for Thanksgiving, so that means they’ve become part of the tradition as well.

This year, the tree lighting was moved down to the Theater District, meaning our beautiful outdoor chandelier could be included in the celebration. B works in the Hanna Building, so we were able to watch the lighting and fireworks from a warm view on the 7th floor. It was amazing, especially being able to see how many people filled up Euclid Avenue!

After the tree lighting we headed down to 200 Public Square, at the Huntington Building for the Winter Wine & Ale Fest. Local breweries, wineries, and food samplings are available throughout the concourse. Each year we continue to get spoiled with the food samplings and also spoiled on the beverage samplings… they’re very generous!

My favorites:

Ken Stewart’s – Served Smoked Chicken & Gouda Endive Cups
Brewnuts – The Symon, The Bernie, The “Santa’s Little Helper”, The Apple-Teeny, and The Bumbler (and yes, I tried them all!)
Willoughby Brewing Co. – Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter. Enough said.
Lagerheads Brewing Co. – Winter Mischief, one of my favorite Christmas beers

Honorable mentions: My Dad’s favorite was Cleveland Whiskey, he loved the 100 proof, so we know what we are getting him for Christmas! B also really like the up-and-coming Portside Distillery’s “Yule Shoot Your Rye Out” Christmas Ale… located down by Aloft, and behind the EY building, they should be opening mid-December, so be sure to check them out.

It was a really fun night, Cleveland was packed! Beside all of the Winterfest activities, the Cavs brought in a home victory and Playhouse Square had a show. It was a good night to be a Clevelander. And it was the perfect kick-off for the month of December and the official countdown to Christmas.

Happy (early) Holidays!

#BestofCle

October 15, 2014October 15, 2014 | The Bee Life

Friday night was Cleveland Magazine’s annual Best of Cleveland Party, and for the second year was hosted at the Public Auditorium. This year’s theme was graffiti – and it was well represented, attendee’s could get faux tattoo’s, custom graffiti bags and hats (donations benefiting the Breakthrough Schools of Cleveland), and furniture and table tops were free for artistic expression. Photo booth’s allowed party goers to graffiti their own photo – or pick one of the custom backdrops (see ours below!). BOC winners filled the hall offering up favorite treats and special promos.

The standouts:
Names link to BOC winner’s websites

Jack Flaps – served a fried pancake ball with cinnamon glaze – yum! Not to mention their menu is amazing.

Harness Cycle – first time BOC winner! Great to see them represented, plus they were handing out promo codes for a free class – you can never have enough spin in your life.

Brewnuts – their brewnuts tasted even better than they look … I follow their mouthwatering Instagram account, I was so happy to try these in person, definitely worth a visit.

Wine Bar Rocky River – they served beats and goat cheese on bread, not to mention handed out complementary tickets for a glass of wine during your next restaurant visit – always a good spot for a date night.

Sheiban Jewelers (VIP Lounge) – only because they let me try on zillion dollar diamond rings (one ring was $460,000… the other was $93,000… a girl can dream right?)

Trentina (VIP Lounge) – the gentlemen did a great job at selling this place, B and I will be booking a reservation. The dining experience sounds like no other – 6 or 12 course meals!

CLE Clothing Co. (VIP Lounge Goodie Bags) – thee softest shirt ever + the drive, the return = love

The night ended with DJ EV on the turntable with some fun throwbacks. The Best of Cleveland is one of my favorite parties, and truly brings the best of Cleveland together under one roof, for one big party! If you have not been, I highly suggest it – mark your calendars for next October!

Prismatic World Tour

August 21, 2014October 8, 2014 | The Bee Life

In honor of my festivities last Thursday, here are some pictures from Katy Perry’s Prismatic World Tour with my mom. The concert was so much fun, I went three years ago to her Teenage Dream Tour, and it was so awesome. This tour did not disappoint… I wish I could do this every week!!