Positively Awesome Cleveland Trip: Day Two

September 3, 2013 - Mel

My weekend trip to Cleveland had LOTS going on — read more about it here and here.

Before I started my day with the group, I headed over to Erie Island for a fantastic Americano. Sitting on the cafe’s outdoor patio on East 4th in the early morning was just perfection.

Day Two itinerary:
We started off with brunch at Lucky’s Café in the Tremont neighborhood (my favorite! yes, I have also previously been to Lucky’s). There was no swaying me away from my breakfast burritos either. I know how good those things are.

lucky burrito

Afterwards, we stopped by the Christmas Story House (we did not do the tour) and shopped its neighboring gift shop — leg lamps galore! The movie was on loop too, naturally.

leg lamp bag leg lamp cookie cutter

xmas story bunny outfits xmas story house

Our next stop was the Westside Market, which is probably the number one “thing to do” on a tourist guide to Cleveland. Every visit I find something new to see or eat. And I always leave with meat sticks from Mel’s Deli (which is now some strangely-named Tony Baloney’s or something). Man, do I wish I saved room for one of those giant apple fritters though. We also toured the neighboring City Farm, which has its own farm stand.

WSM

city farm stand

Still walking off all that incredible breakfast, we went back east to tour Lakeview Cemetery. This was definitely on my Cleveland Bucket List, and it an amazing place to explore. Garfield, the Rockefellers, Higbee: they’re all buried here. Garfield has a massive monument built here — he is also interred there with his wife and some family members — it’s a magnificent structure, really, with winding stairs up to a beautiful lookout point of the city skyline.

garfield monument

garfield monument stairs

Also within the cemetery is the historic Wade Chapel. You need to enter solely for its Tiffany-designed interior; it is breathtaking to see in person.

The rest of the group went off to the Cleveland Museum of Art for the afternoon (jealous!) and Hodge’s for dinner, while I had to get ready for a game down in Akron (we won!).

When I arrived back to CLE, the group was turning in for the night (they also had a nightcap at Society, which I need to put on the list for my return visit). I needed some grub (and still smelled like stinky, sweaty derby pads). Thankfully, Greenhouse Tavern has late-night food options (and a bar seat for a casually-dressed guest like myself). This hungry, hungry hippo ate up a local beef burger with pommes frites and a Mikkeller I Hardcore You beer. I also took a cheese plate and can of Dale’s Pale Ale back to my hotel for “dessert.” I usually get pretty wired after game days, so I knew I wasn’t going to sleep any time soon (Love it or List it marathon, what’s up?!).

take out hotel

There’s still more Cleveland! Day Three coming up in the next post.

Disclosure: Positively Cleveland provided accommodations, meals and admission prices for my participation in this socially-driven trip. All opinions herein are my own.

Weekly Therapy: deine Katzen sind wilkommen

August 30, 2013 - Mel

the week:
My sister had major surgery this week to remove a tumor (the size of a football o_O). Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer, but she still has 4-6 weeks of recovery (she had one ovary and tube removed because of this). Please send good healing (virtual) wishes her way!

duolingo german iphone app

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer (and I guess I can get rid of those white shoes and bottoms that I never wore this season). It’s a little surreal to think that my favorite season is around the corner (fall-flavored beers and pumpkin lattes and Halloween candy). It’s also a super-slow time at work, which… boring.

Because I donated my well-loved tennis shoes to the Tough Mudder’s foundation, I am on the hunt for a new pair. I’m no marathoner, but I can DEFINITELY get behind stomping around in the woods and mud again for fun, so trail running shoes specifically. I hope this will not be a tortuous process (but if so, THERE ARE MACAROONS TO BE HAD). See also: where did all my bandanas go, and why can’t I find the old school 100% cotton ones anywhere?

weekend:
My boyfriend is away for the weekend on a bachelor party somewhere on a farm in Pennsyltucky-nowhere. I don’t know. I heard there would be skeet shooting. His (our) friends are weird.

For me, a ladies-only neighborhood happy hour Friday night, an extra Saturday afternoon practice and work Sunday.

seven things, seven days:
1. You know I lost my driver’s license TWICE last weekend at Tough Mudder? Seriously, found it in the grass the first time I realized it was dropped from my hands (thankfully I found it!); and somehow my boyfriend ended up with it the second time.
2. Skating outdoors is fun!
3. Remember that guy who came to seal up the chimney? Yeah, it’s basically raining into our living room now when it’s raining outside. And of course he hasn’t returned our calls to fix it. FML.
4. Am I crazy to sign up for a 6am Crossfit class? Probably. But it’s about the only time I can fit it in.
5. I started brushing up on my German again via Duolingo. It’s really fun to see what I can remember and laugh at some of the verbs that I still misinterpret.
6. With all this talk about road trips, here is Seventeenth & Irving’s Road Trip Essentials
7. Now I’m obsessed with this Weekender bag from Everlane.

Got any road trips planned for this last weekend of summer?

Every 30-something needs… a mix of the good memories and bad.

August 28, 2013 - Mel

Something weird happened this week: I saw a blogger’s recent teaser post about her wedding, and her dress looked similar to the one I purchased seven years ago for my wedding.

THIS is the dress, by the way. *sigh* — This is THE dress, by the way. *sigh*

I didn’t get married. In fact, I’m *still* not married (obviously, I’m not with the same person anymore either). Believe me though, I’m not hung up over it — that whole experience basically turned me off to the idea of marriage. But I was struggling with why it made me so sad to see the dress. Was it because she looked beautiful in it, and I never had the opportunity to look beautiful in mine? Or was it simply just another hurtful pang of memories passed?

Or perhaps it was the $700 deposit that I couldn’t get returned?

From wikipedia:

Motivated forgetting is a debated concept referring to a psychological defense mechanism in which people forget unwanted memories, either consciously or unconsciously. There are times when memories are reminders of unpleasant experiences that make people angry, sad, anxious, ashamed or afraid. Motivated forgetting is a method in which people protect themselves by blocking the recall of these anxiety-arousing memories… This could induce forgetting without being generated by an intention to forget, making it a motivated action. There are two main classes of motivated forgetting: repression is an unconscious act, while suppression a conscious form of excluding thoughts and memories from awareness.

As my friend so eloquently put, “It’s a memory… not necessarily a bad memory, and a very important part of your life that shaped you.”

Now, as I’m remembering all of this, I almost want to have a good memory (wedding) to replace the bad one (canceled wedding). But this would mean getting married, which… I have mixed emotions about altogether. I’m sure many 30-somethings have found themselves in similar emotional turmoil. Let’s have some group therapy in the comments!

More:
Why People Remember Negative Events More Than Positive Ones {via New York Times}

Positively Awesome Cleveland Trip: Day One

August 27, 2013 - Mel

There is so much to write about this trip! Catch up on my Cleveland summary post first, then continue along with Day One’s itinerary below.

Day One:
After checking into the fabulous Holiday Inn Express downtown, we met our “tour director” April for our first meal. By social media poll, Positively Cleveland fans selected Jonathan Sawyer’s Noodlecat. This casual Asian spot on Euclid Avenue is a follow-up to the popular Greenhouse Tavern (just around the corner on East 4th Street!). A newbie to the noodle craze, I enjoyed my short rib ramen, but the fresh tomato steam bun was definitely the standout for me (sandwiches, man!). The lunch combo I selected came with a half salad (I picked the Asian chopped) and half aforementioned noodle choice — it was so much food for a midday meal. Yes, even for me.

After lunch, we ventured out to Rocky River Metroparks reservation for a little kayaking on the river with 41 North Kayak. We were able to paddle all the way out to the lake (where we ended up hitting some choppy wake waters… yikes). You all know that I LOVE being on the water — and miss being on a lake — and this was such a relaxing and enjoyable way to check out the Cleveland skyline.

There was a decided excitement from the group after being outfitted with Aquapac lanyards for our iPhones. I mean, we are a bunch of visiting bloggers… and yes, the phones worked inside the pouches! This is definitely going on my Christmas list.

Did I mention how beautiful the weather was? Because that definitely added to the trip.

After our outdoor adventure (and a short break), we met our minivan for an evening activity over in the Gordon Square Arts District. Our first stop: Third Fridays at the 78th Street Studios (another highlight of the trip for me). The studios are in an old American Greetings warehouse that was converted into work/art space and galleries.

As it sounds, every third Friday of each month there is an “open house” of sorts. There are lots of unique things to see (and buy!). Bonus: some of the galleries sell wine and beer. I was especially drawn to the driftwood store and a delicate silver branch necklace from another independent gallery. Unfortunately, we ran out of time, and I didn’t make it up to the third floor. Regardless, I have a few more things to add to that gift list.

cleveland terminal tower euclid avenue

For dinner, we had a strong competition in the online polls among our four choices: Luxe, Happy Dog, Spice & Pier W. Clevelanders picked Happy Dog (what is it with these weird hot dog places everywhere?). I was hoping to try something new (I’ve been to Happy Dog before), but I made sure to stray from my standard-dressed dog to kick up the adventure factor (that’s probably Adventure Mom rubbing off on me — the girl had OCTOPUS for lunch!): Spaghetti-O’s, Mac n’ Cheese, dill pickle and some kind of special hot sauce (that last one was a mistake… woof). Yes, I’m a 12-year-old in a 30-something body.

Our visit to the neighborhood (I’m unsure at this point if it’s still Gordon Square or Detroit-Shoreway?) resulted in an impromptu stop into Valerie Mayen’s store Yellowcake. Seriously, if I hadn’t just splurged in an online designer closeout sale, I would have come home with a new dress (with pockets) and a new skirt (with pockets). Gah, her stuff is adorable! Added to gift wish list.

Anyways, I ate my feelings in ice cream at Sweet Moses down the street. Keeping my 12-year-old self close, I loaded that sundae up with butterscotch sauce and marshmallow cream. The treat shop — named after Mr. Moses Cleaveland, the man behind the city’s namesake — is a throwback to old soda fountains and even has its own syrups and sodas. If you’re up for a challenge, Sweet Moses makes a Terminal Tower sundae that includes TEN SCOOPS of ice cream (one of each flavor) and is topped with hot fudge, sprinkles, pecans, marshmallow cream, whipped cream and cherries. That one will set you back $29.00. And probably a few Rolaids.

Saturday would prove to be an even busier itinerary, so it was early to bed for this blogger.
More about my Cleveland trip coming up in the next post!

Disclosure: Positively Cleveland provided accommodations, meals and admission prices for my participation in this socially-driven trip. All opinions herein are my own. Thanks to Positively Cleveland for the group pictures!

oh nothing, just finished the tough mudder

August 26, 2013 - Mel

Mel_ToughMudder2013

What is the Tough Mudder? Well, it’s a lot of freaking mud. Ten miles of it. Of course that’s why we called ourselves Team F*cking Mud! It’s not really a race, but a challenge — both physically and mentally. If you look up any of the obstacles and videos, you’ll know why. These things test every fear.

There was a little of this:
MudTunnel_ToughMudder

A lot of this:
MelMud_ToughMudder

And some of this:
MelElectric_ToughMudder

THOSE ARE ELECTRIC WIRES AND I’M IN WATERY MUD. Yeah, that was the one obstacle that I almost walked away from. I’m so proud that I finished it.

MelShannon_ToughMudder

And this girl — one of my oldest friendships. We’ve known one another since elementary school, and she’s the tough cookie behind why I do stuff like this in the first place.

I dove under barbed wire, crawled on my elbows through mud (under said barbed wire), jumped in ice cold freezing water (seriously, my heart stopped), jumped off a 15-foot plank, got electrocuted, jumped over fire, climbed through tunnels, pulled myself over walls, ran up a greased-up halfpipe… ran/climbed/swam/trudged through more miles of mud than I could even keep track.

My team finished in around 5 hours (whew). It was really fun to train for and accomplish an endurance-type event. I’m kind of still in shock that TM is already over AND that I actually finished that course and got my orange headband! And I think I might actually be back on a runners kick.

OrangeHeadbandsBeer_ToughMudder

Weekly Therapy: we keep it stinky

August 23, 2013 - Mel

the week:
The stinky corpse flower was blooming at the Phipps Conservatory this week. Of course I waited three hours in line to smell it. If you didn’t get out, it’s already too late (smell ya later, Romero!). My friend and I visited within 24 hours of its bloom announcement (Stink Gram?), and it was already starting to close up. If you’re unfamiliar with the Amorphophallus titanum, it only blooms once every 6-10 years — and only for around 24-48 hours.

Be tee dubs, whomever is handling their twitter account is brilliant.

romero

weekend:
My Tough Mudder is Saturday (ack!) — thought I’d be more excited. But honestly, I’m worn out. My body is worn out. At this point, I’m just hoping not to pass out mid-mud obstacle.

Sunday, we finally are “interviewing” another house cleaner. See above comment about being worn out. I never thought that a 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath house would be too much for one person. It’s too, too much house for me to get a handle on, especially with three cats. I’m not too shamed to admit that. And that’s why life gave us professional house cleaners.

Otherwise, I’ll be over here doing yoga on the bridge.

52 Books in 52 Weeks:
Yeah, I’m seriously behind (don’t judge me!). But I started reading Rust Belt Chic: a Cleveland Anthology as result of my trip to CLE. More reading for my fellow rust belt city homies: Belt Magazine.

seven things, seven days:
1. Painters again. Gawd, I’m tired. BUT OMG I HAVE A YELLOW DOOR!
2. In the process of redesigning our patio space… again. Garden tour is in three weeks. FML.
3. Is there nothing better than finding a dress that just fits. like. a. glove? It really is amazing when you can purchase something and not have to tailor a damn thing (dress definitely not that short IRL). I wish I had all of the monies to shop Shoshanna for all of the things.
4. Forgive me, hair gods, for I have sinned; it’s been nearly 30 weeks since my last cut and color. I’ve had to reschedule my hair appointment twice in two weeks. Third time, the charm?
5. This post couldn’t be more timely: Are Dining Rooms Dead? {via BrightNest}
6. THIS. For all of the pet owners out there.
7. Speaking to my heart here: Writing & Speaking for Introverts {via Art of Non-conformity}

A 30-something in Cleveland: Positively Awesome Road Trip

August 22, 2013 - Mel

Go ahead, get your Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh hangups out of the way. I’ll wait…

Like Pittsburgh, Cleveland can get a bad rap sometimes. But they are both two beautiful (former) Rust Belt cities that are often misunderstood. And seriously underrated. I was thrilled to be invited by the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Cleveland to a special bloggers-only excursion. The itinerary for our three-day stay was suggested and decided by fans of Positively Cleveland on social media. Along with two bloggers from Cincinnati (Adventure Mom and The Food Hussy!) another fellow Pittsburgher (The Steel Trap and a breakfast blogger from Columbus (Breakfast With Nick) we got a look, taste and feel of the locals’ favorites.

LODGING: we stayed at the newly-remodeled Holiday Inn Express downtown — and this hotel is BEAUTIFUL. The room itself was very large — furnished with a super-comfy king bed, chair-and-ottoman, desk and bar area; I was in a corner suite that had high ceilings, wood floors (*swoon*) and a window facing Euclid Avenue. Did I mention it’s in a perfect location? The bed had those stupid square pillows that I hate, but THANK THE CLEVELAND GODS there were two firm (labeled, even; nice!). My bathroom was also big, clean — and contained a shower (no tub). The hotel also serves breakfast at 7am every day (I didn’t have the opportunity to check it out). I can’t begin to tell you how friendly the staff was upon my arrival too.

When I checked in, I had a welcome package reserved for me too; a messenger bag filled with Cleveland-centric items: coffee mug, coozie, bag of Campbell’s Dichotomy popcorn and a Lilly’s Chocolate bar. What a nice touch!

FOOD: Besides my hotel snacks, you might have heard that Cleveland is an epic foodie city, with local celebrity chefs a-plenty (um, Michael Symon, Jonathan Saywer, Zach Bruell, Chris Hodges to name a few). Not to mention, there are entire DISTRICTS devoted to the food scene.

ADVENTURE/LEISURE: Cleveland borders Lake Erie and is home to a park system of epic size. If the outdoors doesn’t appeal to you, there’s a block of theaters or a neighborhood filled with several world class museums — most of which are centered around University Circle; you’ll find the Cleveland Museum of Art, MOCA, Western Reserve Historical Society here. I love a city that appeals to the adventurous and outdoorsy and cultured traveler all alike.

NEIGHBORHOODS: Similar to Pittsburgh (maybe on a bit smaller scale), Cleveland is divided into neighborhoods — Ohio City, Detroit Shoreway, Tremont, Gordon Square, Uptown, etc. Each has its own character and highlights (many anchored by one of those aforementioned amazing restaurants), and unique entertainment, culture and shopping options.

OVERALL: We were positively EXHAUSTED (but well traveled!) by the end of the long weekend. There were definitely a few places that I wish I could have spent more time exploring (MOCA, one of several highlights of the trip for me), and there are only so many meals in one day for so many amazing restaurants. At only a two-hour trip from the ‘Burgh, this certainly won’t be my last trip to Cleveland.

THERAPY: I made some new blogger friends!
And hey, sometimes you just can’t beat a bed to yourself.

Stay tuned for all the details on the fun!

Disclosure: Positively Cleveland provided accommodations, meals and admission for my participation in this socially-driven trip. All opinions herein are my own. Thanks to April & Corinne at Positively Cleveland for the group pics too!

Pura Vida: vacation and adventure in Costa Rica

August 20, 2013April 19, 2018 - Mel

Going to Costa Rica was a bucket list-of-a-trip. The country that I always dreamed about visiting. The beautiful sights, sounds and scenery… a volcano — a tourist destination that was, surprisingly, not all that expensive to travel to (this time of year is considered the “offseason,” but the temps are freaking BEAUTIFUL this time of year; low 80s during the day and 60s at night). Seven days felt like a vacation too, even considering the travel time.

The clouds clear from Arenal — as seen from our hotel property:

The vacation was spurred by a conversation with a good friend — an opportunity to meet said online friend IN REAL LIFE for the first time at that. This, after knowing and talking to him almost daily for the last 13 years. Crazy story, I know, but I’ll touch on that another time. There were six of us altogether: my boyfriend and I, my online friend and his girlfriend, and another couple from Denmark that currently live in the states. Our varied personalities and interests made for a well-rounded vacation, and we all got along perfectly. In fact, I wish I could always travel with the same group!

OVERALL: As I mentioned, going to Costa Rica is a bucket list-worthy trip in itself (in fact, I crossed one item off my 30s Life List!). I wasn’t anticipating the perfect balance of beauty, adventure, fun and relaxation (although I really wish I would have booked an outdoor massage at the hotel). I enjoyed staying remote up in the mountains, but you might enjoy the beach — Costa Rica has both!

We’re all in here too:
rafting

The vacation was made through a Bookit.com deal and included both hotel and airfare.

LODGING: the Green Lagoon Lodge was incredible — the staff really went above-and-beyond our expectations. We ended up being the only couples in the place until the last night of our stay. The lodge itself is small and cozy (only 11 rooms, I believe), so it can book fast. There are no TVs in the rooms (a big YAY from us; I really hope they don’t ever add them because there isn’t really good noise insulation in the rooms); all of the rooms do have an air conditioning unit in the wall (I’m a light sleeper, and every time it turned on, I woke up… it might not bother you, but if those things do, bring ear plugs). Strangely, our room had a double bed and a single bed, but both were REALLY comfortable. The room is cozy and clean, and includes a refrigerator, small sitting area and shower bathrooms (bring slippers for the tiled floors that exist throughout the space).

The property includes a small restaurant area, outdoor cabana/bar area (which wasn’t open until our last day) that includes two outdoor pools (one large/one child size) and a covered hot spring tub area (we drank and played games outside every night). Because of the off-season, there was some construction occurring, but it wasn’t disruptive. We were honestly impressed by how much work was completed in one week.

FOOD: arroz con pollo, no bueno. But ALL OF THE PINA. Breakfast was included with our stay — there wasn’t a menu; the cook just decided what to make us every morning. Breakfasts typically included eggs, fruit, yogurt — but sometimes we had cheese or fried plantains or more rice. After five days of rice-and-beans-and-plantains-with-everything, I wanted something different. There are a few “American” restaurants (not chains) in La Fortuna for this purpose. The last night of our visit, our hotel hosted a travel group from France, but invited us to join them for a welcoming party (we enjoyed a really good meal and drinks and dancing). Also: THE COFFEE.

My rotating snack menu:

from left-to–right: Zucaritas! / Imperial beer of Costa Rica / Lime & Salt Platanos

ADVENTURE: white water rafting, volcano hikes, ziplining, canopy tours, cloud forests and rainforest exploration, waterfall diving, hot springs… yeah, Costa Rica has all of that. If adventure is what you seek, then I highly recommend staying around Arenal. A few other activities that we did: LOTS of hiking, visiting an animal sanctuary, Salto and sneaking into the “secret” hot springs location.

Then there’s this (NEVER MIND THE LANGUAGE):

Yeah, I was a little terrified.

THERAPY: disconnecting from all the stressors at home was what I was looking for — and some peace and relaxation to grieve a bit. This vacation was a good time to get away from everything… well, everything except the boyfriend. Ha! But there were also opportunities to challenge myself… and then, there was my battle with the resulting poison ivy rash.

But it was the perfect place to have a sandwich.

Have you traveled to Costa Rica? Tell me your favorite adventure in the comments!

Dreams: Why We Dream, What Dreams Mean and How to Interpret Them

August 18, 2013 - Mel

Dreams can be characterized as ideas, feelings and images that take shape in the mind, primarily during REM sleep when your brain experiences the highest amount of unconscious activity. Though the purpose of dreams is not entirely known, there are many theories as to why you dream and what your dreams could mean. Here is some information about why we dream, what your dreams could mean according to the experts, and how you can interpret your dreams.

Why Do You Dream?

Again, why we dream is not necessarily clear, though man has developed many theories over the last five thousand years or so. The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that dreams were direct communications from the dead or from the gods, and that they had the power to predict the future. Many other cultures have considered dreams to be prophetic. The scientific study of dreaming is called oneirology, which has lead scientists to believe that many animals also dream as humans do. Also, in modern times, psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung have linked dreams to a connection with the unconscious, and have suggested that dreams act as manifestations of desires and relate to repressed memories and obsessions.

What Do Your Dreams Mean?

Just like the reasons for why we dream, dream meanings have been disputed over thousands of years. Given that dreams are personal and unique, it is difficult to describe what specific images may mean. However, given that people do experience similar images, ideas or emotions in common dreams, many dream experts have developed theories in regards to what certain images may mean to everyone who dreams them. For example, many people have had dreams where they are chased either by a person or possibly imaginary monsters or animals. Some experts believe that these chasing dreams suggest that the dreamer is running from an issue in their waking life that causes anxiety or pain, and that the dreamer has been avoiding this issue. This is a practical interpretation that can be useful to dreamers seeking clarification of what their dream could mean.

How To Interpret Your Dreams

When looking to have your dreams interpreted, it’s important not to jump to conclusions about what your dreams could mean. Though the jury is still out on what dreams may mean, there are experts in the field, from scientific, philosophical and spiritual backgrounds, who can help you interpret your dreams. Psychoanalysts, therapists, and other professionals are always available for counsel, though you will likely have to pay for their services. Psychics and other spiritual advisers are also available for a fee, but many of them also have online resources available for free. Also, because most people are curious about their dreams, many online resources that are free to the public may be able to shed light on what your dreams mean, though the information has likely not been vetted or confirmed by any paid professional. Dreams are largely still a mystery, but that doesn’t mean dream interpretation should only be left up to the experts or denied importance. If you’re looking for answers about your dreams and what they could mean, do your research by going online, asking your friends, or consulting a professional.

Weekly Therapy: I’m eating very well.

August 16, 2013 - Mel

the week:
Trying to manage a week where we had something going on every night (dinner with friends, date night dinner, dinner with friends, repeat). It’s Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, so food tends to happen. A lot.

We had an incredible meal at Toast! Monday night — the restaurant is showcasing two unique menus this week (each, five courses): vegan truffles or his n’ hers foie gras. We went with the latter. FOIE GRAS DONUTS was a course. GET THERE THIS WEEK IF YOU CAN. But seriously, get there any time because the food at Toast has always been delicious.

The other (new) restaurant we visited was just OK. I didn’t order from the Restaurant Week menu because it was mostly uninteresting (bonus, not: they have a limited menu because of PRW) and went a’la carte. There was kind of a “sticker shock” involved here and slow, mediocre service which led to an overall feeling of… meh. Too many amazing restaurants in Pittsburgh to complain about the bad ones.

weekend:
Taking a social trip to Cleveland. Follow along on twitter (@30sTherapy). While you’re at it, like 30sTherapy on Facebook too.

Also, we’re playing our last away game in regular season Saturday in the Akron area. Then it’s PLAYOFFS!

seven things, seven days:
1. Cakestyle is no more (sad for the company), but that doesn’t mean I didn’t score a few awesome pieces during their closeout sale!
2. My new piano book is missing almost 20 pages — total misprint on behalf of the publisher. What the hell.
3. The (gigantic) bruise I got at last weekend’s game has plank marks in it from the floor of the skating rink. FOR REAL.
4. Hey, I had a make-your-own Asian noodles meal this week! I never understood the trend, but naturally, I’m just another 30-something (fashionably) late to the party — LOVE!
5. We finally rented a carpet cleaner to deal with the cat “mistakes” on the area rugs around the house. We figured it would be a bonus to clean the upstairs carpets too… until the cats peed on them, too, immediately afterward. I can’t deal anymore.
6. Anyone have experience with Blue Apron or Hello Fresh (or similar food delivery services)? I’m interested.
7. Life’s Priorities: are you too busy… or are there just more important things right now? {via Art of Non-Conformity}