A Good Cause

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Charlene Ann

There’s not much I love more than a nonprofit with a great mission, especially having started my career in nonprofit fundraising and marketing. When a coworker and friend told me about EDWINS (standing for – Education Wins), I was intrigued and interested in learning more.

 

Brandon Chrostowski of L’Albatros has started this new, innovative program – helping ex-offenders integrate into the community by learning culinary and restaurant skills.

In addition to those skills, members of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute will learn life-skills, have the opportunity to receive housing, clothing and counseling among other services. Not only will this program be assisting the ex-offenders to integrate back into their community, they will also be giving back through this program and learning skills that they may not have otherwise.

EDWINS will be holding their first fundraising on Sunday, October 14th from 6-9pm, “Taste the Potential” to launch the nonprofit and raise money to get the program up and running in our community. The evening will feature fantastic food and wine by some of the very best in Cleveland, as well as James Bear award winners David and Karen Watluck of NYC’s Chanterelle restaurant. Other chefs participating in the evening include: Karen Small of The Flying Fig, Zack Bruell of Parallax, Chris Hodgson of Hodge’s, Paul Minnillo of Flour and Adam Gidlow of On the Rise Bakery.

Tickets are available at $200/person or $350/couple. All money raised from the event will help start the EDWINS training program. Tickets are still available. Click here to reserve a ticket!

Disclosure: Like I said, I love a good cause, which is why I’m featuring this nonprofit. All opinions are my own!

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Giveaway Winner!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Charlene Ann

Based on my calendar the next few months, it’s obvious that it’s Fall Fundraising season. Having spent 5+ years in nonprofit work, I remember these days well. The next one up? Rolling on the River. And one of my awesome readers and a guest gets to join me and The Hunger Network at this fantastic event….drum roll please….

Congrats Monina on winning two tickets and a parking pass for the event. Let me know the best way to get you your tickets and pass!

Don’t forget – you can still get tickets!

Ticket Prices: $65 until October 4th and $70 per person at the door.
Save $5 off the above prices using the following discount code: LIFE2012
(One code per transaction, so if you need multiple tickets you will need a separate transaction per ticket)

You can purchase tickets here!

Roll the dice and take a chance with The Hunger Network!

Disclosure: I was provided 2 tickets to giveaway by The Hunger Network, as well as 2 tickets to attend the event on October 5th. 

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Rolling on the River

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charlene Ann

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend Rolling on the River, thanks to Alicia at Poise in Parma. It was a great event for a really great local non profit that helps thousands of Clevelanders every year. The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland has over 100 pantries and hot meal programs all over Cuyahoga County.

My friend Nick and I loving last year’s event!

Through this organized network of food pantries and hot meal programs, the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland is able to feed nutritious meals to 60,000 each month and 25,000 of those are children. Hunger Network centers are strategically placed in areas within Cuyahoga County where there is the most need.

This year’s event promises to be fun for all – food, drinks and casino games all in one place. Plus, like any good fundraiser, there will be live entertainment, raffle prizes and a silent auction (which I love!) Some of the items to keep your eyes open for: A Suite at a Cavs game, Beauty and the Beast tickets, Kelley’s Island Timeshare, not to mention gift certificates from some of Cleveland’s favorite restaurants.

Want to attend and support the Hunger Network? 
Date: Friday, October 5, 2012
Time: 7:30-11:30 p.m.
Location: Windows on the River
Attire: Cocktail

Ticket Prices: $65 until October 4th and $70 per person at the door.
Save $5 off the above prices using the following discount code: LIFE2012
(One code per transaction, so if you need multiple tickets you will need a separate transaction per ticket)

You can purchase tickets here….or….

Thanks to the folks at the Hunger Network, you can enter to win 2 tickets by doing the following: 

1. Tweet (and leave a comment letting me know you did): I want to attend Rolling on the River with @hungernetwork and @cacoughlin and you can too! http://wp.me/p1o7Bm-p5
Note: You can tweet and enter a comment once per day. 
2. Share this post on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
3. Share with me in a comment where you love to gamble, or where you’d like to gamble. (For me, totally Vegas)

You can enter until Thursday, September 27th until midnight. You must enter  a comment below to be entered. 

Roll the dice and take a chance with The Hunger Network!

Disclosure: I was provided 2 tickets to giveaway by The Hunger Network, as well as 2 tickets to attend the event on October 5th. 

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No Words Today

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charlene Ann

Little too much on my mind and going on to blog today. But some blog keeping is needed…a Yellowcake Hullabaloo Blog winner: The lovely Tabitha (who won due to the tweet she left on her birthday!!) Happy Belated Birthday and excited to see you at the event.

If you don’t have tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Join Valerie and the rest of the Yellowcake gang and make this fashion show/fundraiser a success!

 There are two different price levels available:

General Admission – $15 (before 9/20) and $20 (after 9/20) and $25 at the door. Includes: runway show, apps, cash bar, candy bar, silent auction packages.

VIP – $75 (before 9/20) and $85 (after 9/20) and $100 at the door. Includes: Complimentary cocktails, apps, meet and greet with Valerie and a preview of the runway show looks, signed sketch print, first chance bidding and an opportunity to win a garment.

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Can’t Stop

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charlene Ann

Playing this song….often…usually loudly.

(don’t forget to enter to win 2 general admission tickets to Hullabaloo with Yellowcake!)

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Falling Into CLE Weekends

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Charlene Ann

A little blog-keeping: don’t forget you have until midnight on the 19th to enter to win tickets to Yellowcake’s Hullabaloo Fashion Show! 

This past week brought the feeling of Fall in Cleveland and I can’t lie that it made my heart happy. The cooler weather, sweaters and a weekend full of happiness.

Friday I had my heart set on going home, putting on leggings and a sweater and watching a movie. But how was I going to refuse a glass of wine with the girls from work? Which turned into a couple glasses of bubbles, wine and dinner at Hodge’s. Oops. But it was a needed night with the girls, lots of laughter and getting to know each other better. (Not to mention while at dinner, I ran into another favorite Chef – Chef Sawyer and the one and only Chef’s Widow…these two are just adorbs!)

Saturday, Kimberly and I ventured out together to Beachwood to one of our favorites – Saks Fifth Avenue. For Fashion Night Out, we (Kimberly, Nadine and I as well as other CLE Bloggers and Saks customers) were invited to attend a progressive dinner and sneak peak at upcoming trends for the Fall and Winter. We were also invited by Estee Lauder to come back and have facials and a make-up application. Neither of us were going to turn down a facial and it was needed. Some girl time, fun makeup and relaxing was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening, I hauled it out to the East Side (which everyone knows that I rarely do….I can make it to Little Italy/Cleveland Heights and then I get lost) for Chefs Unbridled to help out the Hodge’s Cleveland crew. What a fantastic event for an awesome organization. I ran into a few familiar faces (and there may have been an experience where someone pretended to be a puma…I have no words for what went on at that point).

Fieldstone Farms is one of the largest therapeutic riding centers and seriously gorgeous. There are a wide variety of programs people can be involved with, as well as opportunities to volunteer. Check it out and see if this is an organization you’d like to get involved in!

Sunday…well it was Browns day and if you take a look at the score, you can imagine the mood I was in due to it. There’s always next week, right?

What’s your favorite way to spend a Fall Weekend?

(p.s. I was clearly a bad blogger/friend and got literally no pictures this weekend of all the fun. Next time…)

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Influences

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charlene Ann
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One Thing I Love: Yellowcake

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charlene Ann

No, not the actual dessert (though, I do like yellow cake for real). This time I’m talking about one of Cleveland’s best fashion boutiques: Yellowcake by Project Runway contestant, Valerie Mayen. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Valerie, she’s more or less the cutest, sweetest, most genuine person you will ever meet. And she has the most adorable little store in the Gordon Square District:

I’d like to have a little girl, just so I can dress her in the adorable Minicake line.

Bright, fun skirts, The Yellowcake Shop and summery dresses to pair with a cardigan for Fall.

I love all of these dresses. Seriously, the whole rack.

I need that pink coat.

Valerie has the best description of her line on her blog: “Yellow cake, the actual dessert, is underrated. It’s the underdog to cake. It’s the classic combination of rich chocolate frosting with sweet yellow cake. it’s the epitome of classic, and the champion of sweets. Sometimes overlooked, but never disappointing! That’s the idea behind Yellowcake. Sweet design with classic style.”

And next month, Clevelanders have a fantastic opportunity to get an up close and personal look at Valerie’s newest collection. So the question is: Do you Hullabaloo?

This fashion fundraiser will help Valerie and Yellowcake to get into their own space (which of course means so many great things for Cleveland – another local business and a local boutique for all of us shopaholics). Defined as an uproarous occassion, Hullabaloo is a fashion event of fantastically colorful proportions.

Trust me – I saw a preview of the collection. You do not want to miss this event.

You will DIE when you see these…..

One more preview of what to expect….

Come for the fashion, sugary sweets, a silent auction, a first glimpse at Beefcake (the new menswear line) and support Valerie. If you are a fan of fashion, you do not want to miss this event. Oh did I mention the after show dance party?

Promo

There are two different price levels available:
General Admission – $15 (before 9/20) and $20 (after 9/20) and $25 at the door. Includes: runway show, apps, cash bar, candy bar, silent auction packages.

VIP – $75 (before 9/20) and $85 (after 9/20) and $100 at the door. Includes: Complimentary cocktails, apps, meet and greet with Valerie and a preview of the runway show looks, signed sketch print, first chance bidding and an opportunity to win a garment.

For all of my lovely readers out there, I have an opportunity for you to join in the fun and win 2 General Admission tickets to this event. 

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment below telling me what your staple fashion item is in your closet.

2. Tweet: “I want to Hullabaloo with @cacoughlin and @yellowcakeshop http://wp.me/p1o7Bm-op” and leave me a comment telling me you did so.

3. Post this link (http://wp.me/p1o7Bm-op) on your Facebook page and leave me a comment telling me you did so.

You can tweet and Facebook once a day (just be sure to leave me a comment letting me know that you did). You have until midnight on 9/19/12 to enter and I’ll announce the winner on 9/20/12!

Best of luck fashion fanatics! 

 
Disclosure: I was given (2) VIP tickets in exchange for blogging and promoting this event. All opinions are my own, as always. 
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Smitten….with The Browns

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charlene Ann

Yes, I’m stealing the title of my post from my dearest friend Kimberly. Cause she’s officially Smitten with the Browns after her first tailgate and of course, I’ve always been smitten and in love with the Browns.

Sunday, the kick off of the season, included tailgating in Muni Lot. Which I consider my home away from home. It’s where all my friends tailgate and it just makes me smile every year. It was Kimberly’s first time tailgating so I had to make sure she was prepared for the experience (such as, bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for weather changes). I was so proud of her! She handled her first tailgate like a pro.

Despite the loss (don’t even get me started on that – but how funny was this?), I had another fantastic start to the season. Tailgating, pudding shots with the girls, running into so many friends, enjoying the game with friends….I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Monday, I was feeling the effects of drinking and being tired from the day but I managed to plow through (and was very productive if I say so myself). Tabitha invited me to join her at Taste of the Browns and how could I say no. At some point during the day, I may have told her I wasn’t going to drink. Clearly, that was a joke. Wine, running into lots of friends (who were all fabulously dressed), enjoying yummy food and seeing some of my favorite Browns players was the perfect way to end my Monday. I’ll be paying for all of this on Tuesday (and Wednesday) but that’s okay.

Thanks Tabs for a fab night!

Kimberly loves an ice sculpture…

Alex Mack!

Joe Thomas is one of my faves (not to mention one of the most humble players around)

Favorite!

How was your weekend? Tailgate anywhere in particular?!!

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In Remembrance…

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Charlene Ann

I have friends who lost loved ones, friends who watched the Towers fall on 9/11 and friends who immediately signed up to serve our country that day. And for that, I thank them.

To those that lost loved ones that fateful day, or in the days to come in Iraq or Afghanistan, please know that those lives are remembered today and everyday.

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”

Do you remember where you were that fateful day? 

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