Tag Archives: akron

Sep14

The Bomb Shelter Shopping Trip

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The Bomb Shelter Shopping Trip

Hello! There is a super cool vintage store in Akron called The Bomb Shelter that Johnny and I have always talked about visiting but never bothered doing so until this past weekend. We are going to see Weird Al today and wanted to find some Hawaiian shirts to wear to the show. Johnny suggested hitting up The Bomb Shelter to shop their selection and I am so glad he did so. This was my first trip there and it was absolutely amazing. If you love vintage shopping and ever find yourself in the greater Akron area, this is a total and complete must. While we didn’t have any luck finding Hawaiian shirts, we sure had a good time browsing the massive property. Check it out:

^^^ The Bomb Shelter’s mascot lol

Walking into The Bomb Shelter was like stepping into a time machine and it was as wonderful as it was overwhelming. Every single area in the expansive warehouse was covered with vintage goods from floor to ceiling and I mean that quite literally. They had chairs, doilies, and pieces of art hanging from the ceiling! Each shelf and tabletop was home to wonders of yesteryear and you honestly would need a full few hours to really look through The Bomb Shelter and see anything and everything it has to offer. Johnny and I spent at least two hours browsing easily. And also sitting because he insisted on trying out Every. Single. Piece. Of. Furniture. And there was a lot!!

For all of the millions of things in The Bomb Shelter, it was actually very well organized. Of course, I loved browsing through the clothes and jewelry as did Johnny. And don’t tempt him with a shelf full of records! As much as I enjoyed the clothing, my favorite parts were where the old appliances and kitchen sets were featured. You could literally make your home feel like the 1950s with a shopping trip to The Bomb Shelter and a lot of money! It was SO neat to see furnishings, place settings, and decor that reminded me of those that were in my grandparents’ homes. It was a beautiful touch of nostalgia to simply see a set of cups that were like ones my grandma used to have that sent so many happy memories of childhood rushing back.

From movie memorabilia and toys and games to old presidential buttons and photography equipment, there was something for every collector at The Bomb Shelter. They even had a DeLorean in the garage portion of the store as well as a Yugo which we wanted to bring home with us so badly! It would have been all too easy to spend my life savings while we went on our shopping trip but I think we exercised self control pretty well. We walked away with a couple of trinkets and gifts as well as some “new” vintage jewelry for me. Peep those later!!

We may not have found what we wanted at The Bomb Shelter but it showed us what we truly needed. I can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a store like The Bomb Shelter in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite era of home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug1

Date Day!

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Date Day!

Hello! On Saturday, Johnny and I had plans to meet up with his old band mate for some lunch and a jam session. That plan fell through, but we had literally no food in the apartment and were dressed up with nowhere to go so we decided to do lunch anyways. We hit up Mr. Zubs in Highland Square for some drinks and grub and had the absolute best time. By the time we were done with our meal, we both REALLY wanted to go home and take it easy because the food coma was intense. Even though our initial plan was a flop, the day truly couldn’t have gone better!

Mr. Zubs is a funky little place that has an eclectic menu, a full bar, and fun events happening constantly. In fact, Johnny and I might attend their newest hangout called Tubi Tuesdays where they literally just play Tubi all evening and provide snacks. It sounds like a hoot! Lol, anyways, after ordering our food we went to the bar for a libation. I got a Diet Coke, of course, and a Lady which was a tasty concoction of vanilla vodka, cranberry, and Sprite. Johnny, on the other hand, thought he was trying out a new pineapple seltzer…

WRONG!!!!!

After taking a sip of his drink, Johnny realized he was not sipping on boozy bubbly water in the slightest. He just took a sip of a THC drink!!! It was SO. Funny. and because he was driving, he let me have dibs on the cannabis bubbly water. Ourselves and the bartender were in stitches and we couldn’t get over my Holy Trinity of drinks. The young chap tending bar said it was a “bisexual drink order” and I’ve honestly never felt more seen or heard. I immediately quipped back “how could you tell?!” 😀

Our food arrived shortly after we returned from the bar and, as always, everything was delicious. There is no one who appreciates a restaurant with a really good vegetarian menu more than me and Mr. Zubs delivers. They have a ton of meals and apps for vegetarians and vegans alike and it’s nice to be able to have my pick of a bunch of different things rather than a lone veggie burger. Whenever Johnny and I DoorDash Zubs, I have to get their grape leaves and this time was no different. They are not the best I have ever had – that is reserved for a tiny Mediterranean market up the road from my place but they still hit the spot. I also got their triple decker grilled cheese which was worth every difficult bite because it was delicious!

With nothing left to do for our day but to lounge and veg, we headed home and spent the rest of our time listening to music and watching stand up specials. It was a wonderful Date Day, indeed, and be sure to peep a brand new OOTD from our outing coming soon!

What is your favorite local restaurant? Where is your favorite place to go on a date? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Summer To Do List

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Summer To Do List

Hello! I would not call myself a summer gal in the slightest but I have been having a lot of fun in the sun this season and I am beginning to see its merits lol. Days at the park with my nieces, baseball games, mine and Johnny’s little getaway, and a trip to the Cleveland Zoo have definitely inspired me to live it up. Summer is not even close to being done yet and there is still so much that I would like to do before the best season, fall, falls upon us! For that reason, I created a To Do List of the outings that are a must for me to continue making this summer one of the best ones yet:

Cleveland Museum Of Illusions:

Something that I have wanted to do for a long time is visit the Cleveland Museum Of Illusions. It is fairly new to the area and my Facebook has been bombarded with ads for it. Hey, it worked because they are extremely enticing! This museum is fully interactive and creates amazing optical illusion photo ops for yourself and friends. Yes, I may or may not be most encouraged by the photo ops but I am a content creator after all! From vortex tunnels, reverse rooms, tilted rooms, Beuchut chairs, and even a head on a platter illusion – this place has got it all. I cannot WAIT to explore it!

Columbus Zoo:

It was a wonderful treat to see the setup for the incredible Asian Lantern Festival during my last trip to the Cleveland Zoo. It is such a beautiful park but the piece de resistance in my general neck of the woods has got to be the Columbus Zoo. I have only been one time over a decade ago and it was amazing from start to finish. The park was huge, they had countless animals you couldn’t see in Cleveland or Akron, and a lot of ways to interact with animals through feeding times or hopping on the back of a camel! I have wanted to take the trip to Columbus for a while and that urge only grew greater from, you guessed it, Facebook ads lol. The Columbus Zoo also hosts an Asian Lantern Festival and from what I’ve seen while scrolling through The Book, it is the Cleveland Festival on steroids. It will certainly make for a fantastic day trip!

Glass Blowing:

Facebook ads, you have done it again lol. I have been aware of Akron Glass Works for a while and have always fancied taking a workshop there for a totally unique craft to display. I really do think phones read your mind because one of the ads on my newsfeed was for Akron Glass Works’ fall pumpkin workshop. It is their most popular class and for good reason – the end result looks absolutely fabulous! During a field trip in grade school to an interactive historic village, they had a glass blowing setup and my mind was simply blown by it. Young and old Sarah are going to be most excited to finally give it a go. 😀

For my Summer To Do List, I wanted to find activities that are fully possible to go to as well as relatively cost effective. If I can do these three things before summer is out, I will be a very happy Lil Red indeed!

What is on your summer to do list? What has been the best part of your summer so far? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Simple Summer OOTD

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Simple Summer OOTD

Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we are going to take a look at a Simple Summer outfit I wore to cheer on Akron’s beloved minor league baseball team, the Rubberducks. My core four crew and I went to a game in April and had the absolute best time. It was, however, cold AF and we left early because we were all freezing our nads off. This time around was simply perfect. It wasn’t too hot or too cold – just right for a baseball game! I wasn’t trying to pull out the fashion stops for this outing, rather something simple and sweet. My boys and I get rowdy at the games and I wanted to be as comfortable as possible while constantly getting up on my feet and rooting for the home team. 😀 Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Candy Button Platforms: B.A.I.T., Unique Vintage

Hoop Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target

Sunglasses: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

I wouldn’t say that dressing for summer is my time to be lazy, rather my time to be comfortable which results in simpler looks. I’m on a fair bit of medication and almost everything I take increases my susceptibility for heat related illnesses. I have never done great in the heat, but this takes it to the nth degree so I try to wear as little clothes as humanly possible while still being gained entrance to wherever I’m going lol. So, I decided to stick with the classics in this look and what is more classic than a sweet little tank top and jean shorts?!

Being comfy doesn’t have to mean frumpy and I love how form fitting the short and tank top combo was. If I’m going to be wearing basic essentials, I want my curves to be on full display to turn even the simplest pieces into Va Va Voom status. The tank top by Rachel Zoe gets a lot of use during the summertime and for good reason. I’m all about that V-neck, thick straps, and vertical ribbing! The shorts then added a dose of sass factor with their high waist and distressing. With the tank tucked in, it enhanced my silhouette even more to turn these classic staples on their heads.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories and I knew exactly what I was going to wear. I purchased the darling Candy Button platforms for my Candy Queen Halloween costume last year. They were so fabulous but I was sad that I had to wait until the summertime to wear them again. The baseball game was just the occasion I needed to break them out and It. Was. Awesome. They added such a fun pop of color, were super easy to walk in, and everything I imagined wearing them again would be and so much more! For jewelry, I wanted to let my tattoos do the talking as they were out for god and everyone to see. A sparkly pair of pink, purple, and silver hoops were definitely the move and it allowed for candy cuteness from head to toe!

Did the Rubberducks win the game we attended because of this fit? I think YES! Duck em up!!!!!

What is your ideal temperature for an outdoor outing? How do you stay cool in the summer heat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Feeling Ducky

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Feeling Ducky

Hello!! In good ol’ Akron, Ohio we have a minor league baseball team called the Rubberducks. They play at Canal Park which is a mere ten minutes from my apartment, but I have never been to a game! That changed in April because Johnny’s work generously gives free tickets to the Rubberducks games all season long. Johnny snagged us some tickets and we went to a game with our best friend, Cliff, and my big brother, Andrew, and had the absolute best time. It was freaking freezing during the game, but we enjoyed every minute of the ridiculousness that is minor league baseball: The spectacle, the mascots, the contests, and the cheering at anything and everything like crazy!

This past weekend, my crew and I ended up at another Rubberducks game with a twist. They were no longer the Rubberducks but the Galley Boys. What is a Galley Boy, you might ask? If you’re not from Northeast Ohio, you’re not going to know lol but it is a hamburger from a local staple called Swenson’s. Everyone in my neck of the woods has been to Swenson’s and the Ducks rebrand their name with the drive-in’s signature meal once a year. As my husband is most fond of a Galley Boy, he had to get tickets to the Galley Boys versus the Senators and we all couldn’t wait to go to Canal Park for some fun.

Just like the last game we attended, it was a total blast but this time was even better because we weren’t freezing our nads off lol. To be back at the ball park with my boys was such a treat and we picked up right where we left off the last time: Noshing on stadium food, sipping on sodas, and being super fans. We were hooting and hollering, stomping and clapping, and cheered our Galley Boys on to a victory. The park was packed and to be in the mix of all of the excitement was intoxicating.

If there is a minor league baseball team in your general vicinity, I truly can’t recommend going to a game this summer enough. Even if you don’t like baseball, there is literally no way that you aren’t going to have a good time. If your team is anything like ours, you are in for hilarious sponsorships, mascots that don’t make a lot of sense, crowd pleasing entertainment, and the joy of being out on a summer evening. Johnny, Andrew, Cliff, and I are going to try to go to as many Rubberducks games as our schedules will allow and I am already on pins and needles for the next game we attend. 😀

Our Rubberducks have dominated in both games we have been to and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a threepeat the next time. My crew’s official slogan is DUCK THEM UP and the Ducks haven’t disappointed us yet. Let’s go!!!

Do you have a minor league baseball team near you? What are they all about? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Spring Hiking Spree Success

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Spring Hiking Spree Success

Hello!! My neck of the woods is gifted with countless beautiful Metro Parks to hike, bike, and explore and I love visiting them with my brother. We got extremely into hiking about a year ago and even completed the Fall Hiking Spree together for the first time. The hiking sprees are exactly what they sound like – hike at X amount of parks in a certain amount of time and get rewarded with a new shield for your hiking stick. We had so much fun achieving this goal and were most excited when a Spring Hiking Spree was announced. I am pleased to report that we finished this challenge this past week and I think we saved the best hiking trail for last!

^^^ Giving ALL the Shrek vibes

our final hike for the Spring Hiking Spree, we visited a Metro Park called Sand Run for a trail we have never been on before. This was no ordinary trail, however, but a Parcours! As we hiked through the scenic woods, we shortly came across a numbered wooden sign that walked us through a work out for arm circles. Rather than bypass it, we completed the advised reps and decided to do so for every sign we encountered. The work outs started out easily enough: Leg lifts, toe touches, torso twists, and balance exercises and it was honestly really fun to see what we were going to have to do next. It almost turned the hike into a game and it was so different than any other trail we have done before.

As we made our way through the lengthy woods and exercises, we began to notice a huge increase in difficulty. The trail was winding and the work outs were getting intense. We’re no longer talking toe touches but push ups, chin ups, hand walks, and vault jumps. I am not sorry in the slightest to say that we bypassed those lol! Eventually, we got out of the woods and the end of the hike was upon us. Or so we thought! We ended up on a bike trail that took us past a huge swamp that was serving so much Shrek and then we were back into the woods for another good twenty minutes to complete the trail. We were exhausted by the time we finished our work out within a work out but both agreed that we would love to do the Parcours again!

My brother and I finished our Spring Hiking Spree right in the nick of time because it has rained every day since. We can’t wait to get back on the trails once they dry out!

Have you gone on any good hikes recently? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Beat The Spring Blahs

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Beat The Spring Blahs

Hello!! When I think of spring, of course, rain is involved. However, I mainly am focused on sunny days, light jacket weather, and pretty spring flowers blooming. Unfortunately, the sunny days in my neck of the woods have been extremely limited and it has been grey, cold, and rainy for a majority of the season. It sucks! In fact, I’m bundled up in a heavy hoodie and beanie as I type this and I am still chilly. With days that feel like it’s six o’clock in the evening all day, everyone in Akron is desperate for a change in the weather as the blahs have definitely kicked in. Mine most certainly have and I have been trying to do the following to help perk me up. Maybe some of these ideas will help you too:

Make Your Own Sun:

If the sun isn’t shining, who says you can’t make your own?! Try incorporating brightness into your day any way you can. Whether this be picking up a bouquet for your kitchen table, wearing a bold colored jacket, or painting your nails in a shocking hue. These vivid shades add a much needed pop to the dreariness outdoors and it will be sure to make you smile when you utilize them. I employed this method by getting bright pink and orange nails during my last fill and complete strangers have told me how nice it is to see some color!

Take Advantage of Rain Free Days:

The rain free days have been scarce, but when the days are blessedly clear, you best believe that I am walking! Take full advantage of the break in weather and get outdoors. Your dog will love a good walk or hike in the woods, you can complete lawn work, or simply sit outside and read a book or chat on the phone. You will be so happy that you took the opportunity to get out and get active once that next storm hits and it is back indoors.

Rainy Day Activities:

There are some activities that just hit different when it’s raining out. IE: Crafting, reading, listening to music, or watching scary movies! If the day is a wash, you might as well make the most of it indoors and enjoy yourself. Use these rainy days to relax, recharge, and unwind because the rain falling on your windows gives you the perfect soundtrack. And, yes, these rainy day activities can also include a good nap to catch up on some Zs! 😀

Daydreamer:

Summer might not be here yet but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for it now! What is your perfect warm weather day like? A BBQ with friends? A late evening bonfire? Going swimming or playing outdoor games? Build your day and make it happen as soon as that warm weather hits to celebrate. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to and a fun day or party is just what the doctor ordered. After a big get together in the sun, you will be kissing those springtime blahs goodbye.

I am not a summer girl in the slightest but I have been craving it something fierce as of late. Just a few more weeks to go and I cannot wait for the rainy day blahs to kick rocks!

What is springtime weather like where you live? What is your favorite rainy day activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May9

We’re Going To The Zoo!

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We’re Going To The Zoo!

Howdy!! The Akron Zoo simply blows my mind. It is the most wonderful place right in the heart of downtown Akron and every year it just gets better and better. It’s wild to think that this park and all of the amazing animals are literally right in the middle of the city lol. Every visit to the Akron Zoo is a fun one and it’s the perfect size because you can do and see everything in one afternoon. I recently took a trip to the zoo with a friend and I had no idea that I was going to be walking into Jurassic Park! Check it out:

When we approached the entrance to the zoo, we were greeted by a gigantic T-Rex and it was like “Wait, what?” lol. Little did we know, the zoo was setting up for an animatronic dinosaur adventure. Unfortunately, the dinosaurs weren’t moving when we visited but there were an abundance of them in all of their massive glory scattered throughout the park. It was definitely a different experience to be greeted by a Brontosaurus at the turn of a corner! Our visit turned into a scavenger hunt to find all of the dinos and it turned our outing into a unique adventure.

As we explored the park on the search for dinosaurs, we got to see so much awesome activity and a lot of napping in the exhibits. It was the first super hot day of the year and all of the big cats were snoozing in the sun! The animals that were up and about were moving and grooving, though. The penguins were swimming, the monkeys were swinging, and the Grizzly Bears were taking a dip in the pool. We were lucky enough to see the brother and sister bears, Cheyenne and Jackson, playing in the water. Granted, their playing looked a lot like fighting but as long as they were having fun lol. We could have stayed and watched them all day to see what they were going to do next. 😀

We were the happiest campers after our Zoo Day and have grand plans to return once the animatronics on the dinosaurs are in full swing. It will certainly be a sight to see!

What is your favorite zoo to visit? What is your favorite animal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

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Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Howdy!! I had a big day when I went to see Peter Pan at Playhouse Square. Very shortly after I arrived home from the show, it was time to go on the move again for an evening at Canal Park in Akron. My brother, Johnny, our bestie Cliff, and I all went to see our minor league baseball team, the Akron Rubberducks play against the Altoona Curve. Johnny’s work generously offers free tickets to their employees and we were all so excited to attend a game together. I had no idea what to expect because the last time I went to a game was almost a decade ago. And, let me tell you, all of our expectations were exceeded a million times over because we plan on going to as many games as we can this spring and summer!

Going to a minor league baseball game was truly the most fun I have had in ages. Not for the baseball itself but for the pure spectacle that unfolded before us. At least once per inning between the Ducks and the Curve, some type of audience interaction event was peppered in. The Ducks mascots: Astro, Webster, Rubberta, and Homer would amble through the crowd or run around the field. Children were brought onto the field to tip people dressed in inflatable cow costumes. There was an inflatable pony race and the list goes on. Not to mention the fact that a signature catchphrase was repeated frequently to everyone’s delight: “That’s a Luigi’s foul ball!!” One of the most popular restaurants in our neck of the woods, Luigi’s, has been affiliated with the Rubberducks for forever and their namesake is on the loudspeaker Every. Single. Foul. Ball. It’s hilarious!

As we watched the game, we were literally on the edges of our seats for what would happen next. Was the umpire going to scream at the coaches again? Would someone on the Curve get struck out with the prize being five dollar beers for the crowd? Would the children behind us continue to chant “five dollar beers” all night? This was a fantastical mystery of an experience and I wanted to know everything – Including why in the H-E-double hockey sticks it took us this long to go to a game together? Had I known a Rubberducks game was this ridiculous, we would have been season ticket holders. You live and you learn and I can’t wait for the next game. 😀

This Akron Rubberducks game opened my eyes to all of the fun we can have essentially in our own backyard and all I have to say is: Duck em’ up!!

Does your city have a minor league baseball team? What is your favorite baseball team? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb26

Just Something Silly

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Just Something Silly

Hello! Johnny and I live right down the street from a Circle K and it is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Whether I am in desperate need of a Diet Coke, we’d love a snack, or a refreshing White Claw after work, we frequent our go to gas station several times per week. Because of our high return rate, we have a very friendly relationship with all of the employees and it is always nice to pop in and exchange pleasantries. In fact, sometimes Johnny plays music with one of the guys who works there. What can I say, Circle K is a community!

This past Sunday, we needed a new lighter and, of course, a Diet Coke for me so Johnny made a quick Circle K stop. He told one of our favorite employees who calls him “rock star” every time she sees him (So cute!) to surprise him with whatever lighter she wants – as long as it was a fun one. When he returned home, he showed me her selection and we had to laugh because it was the most random choice ever lol:

I honestly have no idea why this is the lighter our fave employee handed Johnny, but I am SO glad she did. Maybe it reminded her of me and Johnny as a couple if we lived on a farm and weren’t emo AF, maybe she just liked it. Regardless of why, I can’t help but have a chuckle every time I see it sitting on our coffee table. It really is the little things in life and we have vowed to have her pick our lighters since this fateful Circle K run. I genuinely cannot wait to see what we get next!

Whether it’s your favorite store, restaurant, or gas station, I truly believe it’s a special thing to go somewhere where everyone knows you and you know them. Our Circle K is that place for us and we wouldn’t have it any other way! ❤

What store do you frequent regularly? What is your favorite snack to grab from the gas station? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah