I think we bought our tickets a good six to eight months ago and it’s finally here. The ultimate girls night out. Yes, my best friend Shaunte and I will be screaming, dancing and singing along with Justin Timberlake tonight at The Q. The last time he was in Cleveland, I was there too. Floor/General Admission seats and somehow managed to touch his hand. While I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen from our club seats, a girl can dream.
And obviously, I do love my holiday music that plays constantly on New 102, today I’m going to be prepping for the concert by listening to all things JT. Non-stop (unless I have to pop out of my office for meetings).
The songs I’m praying he plays tonight: (just a few…of course, my actual list would include all of his songs so we could have a three hour concert…)
1. Not a Bad Thing
2. SexyBack
3. Mirrors
4. Cry me a River
5. Drink You Away
Who else is going tonight? Any songs that you are praying he sings?
Nothing feels more like the holidays to me than curling up, candles and tree lit, (spiked) hot chocolate and a Christmas movie. It brings me right back to childhood (minus the spiked hot chocolate, obvi). And there are some movies that you just have to watch every holiday season. Here are a few of my favorite things/holiday movies (pretty close in order starting with my most favorite):
1. A Christmas Story – you can’t live in Cleveland and not love this movie, I don’t think. The minute it starts playing for 24 straight hours, I know I watch it at least two times.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charlie Brown is a family tradition. My cousins and I used to watch the holiday movies at our grandparents house every year and that tradition still continues. The only difference is I have a glass of wine or bubbles in my hand while we watch.
3. Home Alone – Laughter. Just lots of laughter.
4. Elf – If you know me well, you know I have a thing for two comedians. One is Jimmy Fallon and the other is Will Ferrell. And how can you not just smile during this movie?
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Classic. Who doesn’t love the Who’s?
6. Miracle on 34th Street – Another classic that you cant turn off when it comes on. I have to watch this one at least once, if not twice every holiday season.
7. Love, Actually – Gotta have a chick flick or two on the list. I feel like this is everyone’s favorite though.
8. The Holiday – Just another cute chick flick, holiday-themed movie. Never fails it plays a few times between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
What movies are your must-watch over the holidays?
I’m only a few weeks away from seeing Wicked at Playhouse Square and I cannot wait. It’s one of my top three favorite musicals and seeing it during the holiday season will make it even better.
This year, the cast of Wicked is participating in a fundraiser for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. December 16th, join the cast in an evening of holiday songs and dance at Hanna Theater. If you haven’t seen Wicked yet, the overarching theme of the music is acceptance, which obviously goes hand in hand with the mission of the AIDS Taskforce. A Wicked Wonderland is part of an ongoing series of performances by the company. Over the past eight years that Wicked has been doing this series, the company has raised over $2 million in donations for Broadway Cares/Equality Fights AIDS and local AIDS services organizations.
So, mark your calendars, put on your holiday best and join the cast of Wicked to ring in your holiday season. Tickets are still available and the evening will feature a night of holiday cheer, unique auction packages and the ability to help a Cleveland nonprofit!
Disclosure: I’m promoting this event without any compensation because you know how much I love a great Cleveland event and helping a Cleveland non profit. All opinions are always my own.
No, I’m not going to bust out into Sound of Music songs…though part of me sort did as I wrote that title. It’s no secret that I adore Christmas and it’s one of the reasons I can’t imagine living somewhere that doesn’t have four seasons, including winter.
Since it is one of my favorite times of the year, I thought I could break down some of my favorite things about the holiday throughout the next few weeks. The first? Christmas music. Seriously, I’ve been ready to blare Christmas music. Just ask New 102 who I tweeted to at least once a week asking for the turnover to Christmas 102. And now that it’s officially okay to play Christmas music here are my must-haves:
1. N’SYNC – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. Obvi, anything with Justin is perfection but seriously, how do you not sing along with this one and have a mini dance party? (And this video…lol!)
2. Michael Buble – Cold December Night. I love me some Buble all year round but his voice during Christmastime, just makes me happy.
3. Wham – Last Christmas. I had to include this for a few reasons. A. I love the song and B. I had a full conversation about this song in a bar on Friday night. And again…this video…lol.
4. Maria Carey – All I want for Christmas. Who does not sing this in their car when it comes on? I’d like to know if there’s one person that cannot help but blare this song, sing it out and dance party it out when it comes on. Gosh, I love the 90s.
5. Kelly Clarkson – Underneath the Tree. I heart some Kelly and this song doesn’t disappoint at all. I’m pretty much in love with the entire album but I’ve had a few dance parties in my office to this one on a couple Friday afternoons already.
6. She & Him – Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This is one of my favorite classic Christmas songs and always has been. This version by She & Him just is peaceful.
7. Pentatonix – Little Drummer Boy. I just discovered this version this past weekend and I’m already a huge fan. Take a listen and let me know what you think.
8. A Baby Changes Everything – Faith Hill. Faith is one of my all time favorite country singers so I had to have a Faith song on here. (Of note: I’d like her necklace in this video.)
What are your must have Christmas songs on your playlist during the holiday season?
Pretty much the title sums up the long weekend that I had. Having a half day meant that I had plenty of time to hit up the Express 50% off sale…let’s not even talk about the damage I did there. That evening I was able ot meet up with friends that I haven’t been able to catch up with in awhile. Dinner at Hodge’s, Cavs game (let’s not discuss how that ended), Horseshoe Casino, Lights at the Casino and Corner Alley for bowling. That made for a fun filled night before Thanksgiving. Remember when the night before Thanksgiving was all about bar hopping? I’m totally cool with that not happening anymore, especially when I have nights like Wednesday.
Jamie and her warm/hot cider.
Post-family Thanksgiving, Friday was filled with finished Christmas decorating (which was almost all done last weekend) and plenty of time with friends. I’m not really one that ventures too far from Downtown or Cleveland, and somehow I managed to end up in Akron one night and North Ridgeville the next.
Friday night, Monina and I traveled to Akron to check out the Akron Holiday Pop-Up shop that my friend Kevin from studiokmr set up. Local vendors have plenty of great Christmas gift options. In one stop, I was able to pick up a quite a few gifts, maybe including another one of Kevin’s pieces for my house. Check out the awesome piece that Kevin did for my office:
This picture doesn’t even do the canvas justice….love!
Mo and I grabbed dinner, which included lots of laughs, at Crave in Akron, meeting up with Tim and Kevin for post-show drinks and hanging out. Who knew that Akron was such a happening city?!
Take #10?
The Richards Brothers + Akron + Drinks = a great Friday night.
Saturday, in order to really deal with my hangover, I continued with day drinking and watching the OSU game with my best friend and her family. I absolutely love hanging out with this girl and our time together always promises lots of laughs and good talks. And in just two short weeks, we’ll be doing that again but at the Justin Timberlake concert. Saturday night included some time with my dear dear friend Anna at FeeFest46. It’s always great to catch up with good people and have a night of laughs.
Beers. Buckeyes. Besties.
And Sunday includes this view, catching up on reading and writing and prepping for a couple weeks of work before a nice little break at the end of the month. And you know what….this sounds like an absolutely perfect day. How’d you spend your long weekend?
p.s. Happy Happy Birthday to my friend (and biz associate) Chris Hodgson! I’m lucky to have you as a friend and can’t wait to see what the next big thing is for you!
Another wonderful year filled with happiness, friendships and love. Many new friends. Tons of new memories. Maybe most importantly, another year of health. Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving was filled with many thanks.
After three weeks of travel (to New Orleans and Chicago), not much could have made me happier than just being in CLE, seeing friends and making fun weekend plans. That is until a Spa Day invite showed up in my inbox. And you still have some time to join in for tonight’s event.
Tidal Cool Creations, a local Cleveland Fashion Designer is hosting the Spa Day today from 3-9pm at the new location in Cleveland. A late afternoon and evening of rest and relaxation is totally needed for me and I think for just about all of us as we head into the holiday season.
Since launching her label Tidal Cool Creations in 2012, Andrea Howell has quickly climbed the ranks and gained recognition for her design and tailoring skills. After her first runway event, Cleveland Fashion Week, Howell has gone on to participate in Michigan Fashion Week, Pittsburgh Fashion Week, and Kansas City Fashion Week, and has shown in many private runway productions, including a celebrity event in New York City. Howell has collaborated with top-notch photographers and models throughout the country, and been published in fashion magazines in NYC, Chicago, and Europe.
The show will also be donating a portion of the ticket sales to the Philippine Red Cross to help them in offering relief to Typhoon Haiyan survivors.
Check back next week to see the photos and learn more about Tidal Cool Creations!
Disclosure: I was invited to attend as a blogger to the Spa Day. All opinions are my own.
My favorite holiday season! I adore all things Christmas and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to play Christmas music in my office, house and car. The only thing that’s kept me from decorating my house and office is the fact that I’ve been traveling for work. But the minute I’m back in town for more than a day or two, the music will be blaring, I’ll be shopping for new decor and the house will be feeling like Christmas.
Tis the Season for NSYNC Christmas music…
To really get into the holiday spirit, I’ve jam packed my first full weekend back in town in three weeks with holiday shopping, decorating and enjoying Downtown CLE. From visiting the Cleveland Flea’s Holiday Flea (check out my friend Kevin from studiokmr for some great CLE pieces for holiday gifts!), The IX Center’s Christmas Connection and a visit to Playhouse Square for Once which I may have been anxiously awaiting since the Broadway in CLE announcement, I’m thinking that I’ll be well into the holiday season.
The Christmas Connection at the IX Center gives you the opportunity to shop from over 140 vendors, plus enjoy family friend events like shopping in the Sugar Plum Shoppe, visiting with Santa and plenty of photo opportunities from November 22-24th. You can’t go wrong with shopping, holiday music and plenty of holiday decorations.
Tickets are $10.99 and are on sale now or you can win tickets right here! The team at the IX Center has offered to giveaway four tickets to one lucky reader and it’s pretty simple:
1. Tweet:
‘Tis the season for shopping @IXCenter’s Christmas Connection with @cacoughlin http://wp.me/p1o7Bm-AH
2. Post a comment telling me one of your favorite holiday traditions or favorite place to shop for the holidays.
Winner will be selected Wednesday, November 20th at midnight!
Deck the Halls Cleveland!
Disclosure: I was invited by the team at the IX Center to blog about the upcoming Christmas Connection and in exchanged received tickets to giveaway, as well as four tickets for my use. All opinions are my own.
What? You don’t dress up like Ke$ha on a Friday afternoon for Hell-oween? Weird. (Thanks to my coworkers Marina and Michelle for the makeup magic…which took approximately 20 minutes to scrub off at the end of the night). By the way, I did play Ke$ha music all day on Friday and quote her song lyrics occasionally.
The supplies for the day and the finished outfit.
Ke$ha, Slash, Skrillex, Orange is the New Black…just some of the many costumes (and awesome coworkers)
Just a normal Friday in the office: costumes, drinks, food, tarot card reader, pumpkin contest, clown decorations and inflatables. Totally normal.
What are you dressing up for this year for Halloween? Favorite way to celebrate?
It’s time to start thinking about one of my favorite Cleveland events, the 23rd Jump Back Ball. This year’s theme gives plenty of fun options for outfits and a night of glam – Shaken, Not Stirred. You may remember last year, tickets went quickly so now is the time to mark your calendar and prepare to head to the pre-sale (in fact, last year sold out in just about a month!). The event features food, fantastic drinks, dancing and other activities at Playhouse Square. Check out pictures from last year and tell me it doesn’t look like a great party. Plus, it helps to raise funds for Playhouse Square – a non profit and one of the biggest theater districts in America.
The Tickets:
Date for Pre-Sale Tickets: November 7, 5:30-7:30pm at the Ticket Sales Kickoff Party
Where: Cibreo Privado (the private dining space at the newest Driftwood Restaurant location – Cibreo – located across the street from Playhouse Square.)
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Complimentary apps and drink specials
Price: Partners price is $115 per ticket. Learn more about Partners at playhousesquare.org/Partners VIP tickets are $200 (with food provided by Dante)
2 tickets per person at the kickoff and the first 250 people to purchase tickets will receive a long-sleeve JBB tshirt.
*Ticket prices increase the next day, so mark your calendar and get to the kickoff party!
Disclosure: I was invited by Playhouse Square to blog again this year about Jump Back Ball 23. As part of my promoting of this event, I will receive one free ticket for one purchased. As always, all opinions are my own.
Life in the CLE 