Tag Archives: ohio

Sep14

Let’s Shop At Sweets & Geeks

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Let’s Shop At Sweets & Geeks

Hey! This past Friday I went on an adventure with Johnny and my brother, Andrew, to have a little fun in Medina. Our plan was to hit up Alien Vacation Mini Golf but, first, some shopping at Sweets & Geeks was in order. Sweets & Geeks is right up the street from our mini golf destination and we just had to check it out as we have all heard nothing but amazing things about it. All of the rumors were definitely true because this was one of the coolest shops we have ever been to! I think we could have spent the entire day and a lot more money in it lol. Stay tuned for a walking tour on my TikTok but let’s discuss further here:

^^^ Obvi had to get the AC/DC Monopoly! More on that later. 🙂

When we first stepped into Sweets & Geeks, I think we were all a tad awestruck from the sheer enormity of product and the size of the store. This place was almost like a labyrinth with countless different rooms to explore all featuring sugary delights or memorabilia from literally every fandom known to mankind. There was anime, superheroes, Star Wars, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, music, and everything in between. Shelves were adorned with models and Funko Pops, adorable backpacks were on display, and there was an entire wall dedicated to Pokemon and anime plushies. This was, indeed, a nerd’s paradise and I mean that in the best, most loving way possible as I, too, am a nerd!

While it was neat to look through the insane candy selection, we were all pretty set on checking out our favorite fandoms and simply walking the space. We couldn’t believe our eyes at the immense amount of playing cards lining walls in cases, massive containers of posters throughout the store, life size replicas of superheroes and villains, and some of the biggest plushies we have ever seen. It really was like being in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and everywhere we turned showed us something brand new.

Johnny and I walked away with a new Horrified board, AC/DC Monopoly, some novelty snacks, and anime themed sparkling water. By the time we made our rounds throughout the store, we were all eager to pay for the goodies in our basket lest we spend any more money lol. Believe you me, that would not have been hard to do! Sweets & Geeks was basically like shopping through vendors at a Comicon all in one place and the best part is that we don’t have to wait for a yearly event. We can make the drive to Sweets & Geeks whenever! 😀

If you are ever in my neck of the woods, Sweets & Geeks is a must see destination. There is truly something for everyone and you will have a blast!!

What is your favorite fandom? Do you have a store like Sweets & Geeks near you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep7

Buc Off!!

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Buc Off!!

Hi!! You might have seen in the news or, in mine and Johnny’s case, on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver about the ongoing saga of Buc-ees suing small businesses with animal logos that don’t even resemble their own. It is absolutely ridiculous and is such a David and Goliath tale of big corporations screwing over beloved local staples. In a recent instance, Buc-ees turned their focus to a small town in Ohio called Beavercreek. As you can imagine, a lot of businesses there have beaver themed names and mascots since they’re… In Beavercreek? Lol, it makes perfect sense!! Buc-ees currently has their sights set on Beaver’s Mini Mart and, let me tell you, Ohio is pissed.

A majority of people in Ohio frequent and support local businesses every day. We love the comradery of getting to know the staff and regulars and in many instances for myself and Johnny included, we have made new friends. So for some big corporation with a busted beaver logo to pick a fight over a mini mart IN Beavercreek was infuriating. In support of the current lawsuit against the mini mart, people have traveled to make purchases, businesses changed their logos in solidarity, and fundraisers were created to assist with legal fees. Although we didn’t make the drive to Beavercreek, Johnny and I did purchase two matching shirts with twenty-five percent of the sales going directly to Beaver’s Mini Mart. Check it out:

^^^ You can purchase a shirt here to stand strong with the mini mart!

It’s no secret that it is hard and expensive work to own and operate a small business and Buc-ees’ insane lawsuits have rubbed countless people the wrong way. And it should!! This is truly a situation of “pick on someone your own size” and it just feels rotten that go to community staples are being targeted by a bunch of suits. We should all be supporting local but we have to protect local too. That means doing your part to patron small businesses and bypassing big box stores, use your preferred form of protest, and educate yourself and inform others. There is literally no reason why Buc-ees should have any say in any other business’s mascots but in Beavercreek, no less? Come the F on. *Massive eye roll*

This is a household that is proud of Ohio businesses like Beaver’s Mini Mart. We might not be in Beavercreek but we’ll be wearing our new swag all around Akron!! ❤

What is your favorite local business? Has Buc-ees targeted any businesses in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug16

WE SAW IT!!!!!

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WE SAW IT!!!!!

Hi! After celebrating my bestie girl’s engagement, Johnny and I continued the festivities by celebrating another monumental occasion: The Oscar Mayer Weenie Mobile made a stop in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. As the brewery we were at for the engagement partay was just down the street from our downtown hub called the Riverfront, Johnny and I obviously had to make a cameo. My Johnny is a hot dog loving guy. Lol so much so that he even has one tattooed on his arm! Needless to say, seeing the Weenie Mobile IRL was a must and we scored big time. Johnny got a Weenie Whistle as well as a hilarious sticker with the Weenie Mobile on it that simply says “I SAW IT”. We came, we saw, and it was a hoot!

^^^ Pure ecstasy!!

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls rules and it has been spruced up so nicely over the years as a one stop destination for shopping, dining, and community events. There are countless sweet boutiques and antique shops, a delicious ice creamery, and a candy store that we love taking our nieces to for a shopping spree. Their parents can deal with the sugar rush afterwards! 😀 The Riverfront also hosts lots of concerts, festivals, and movie nights as a lovely way for the community to come together and have some fun. There are splash pads in the summer, a skating rink in the winter, and fireworks on special occasions. We are very lucky to have this spot for folks young and old to enjoy throughout the year.

All of the aforementioned is great but, honestly, the Oscar Mayer Weenie Mobile really took the cake lol. I have been to many a Riverfront event with excellent turnouts but the joint was JUMPING on Weenie Mobile day – as it should! There were food trucks galore, music playing, kiddos running around in the splash pads, games, face painting, and basically every Cuyahoga Falls resident within a ten mile radius. We were there for the Oscar Mayer but stayed for the true joy of being out and about with our friends and neighbors. There is nothing better than an entire community coming together and the Riverfront does exactly that. If the Weenie Mobile comes around more often, then I think we have lots of evenings in downtown CFalls to look forward to!

WE SAW IT and our lives are the better for it. Shout out to my hometown for kicking ass and taking names!!

Do you have an event center in your neck of the woods? Does your city host festivals often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug4

Anime Club

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Anime Club

Hi! My brother, Andrew, is an avid fan of anime and turned me on to so many great shows like Demon Slayer, Black Clover, and The Promised Neverland to name a few. We are always gabbing about our current anime line up, what we plan on watching next, and the releases of new seasons of our favorites. And, now, we have a brand new group to share in our love for anime too! There are so many wonderful local libraries in my neck of the woods that offer amazing programs for adults, teens, and children. One of the newest additions being an anime club for adults that meets once a month. We have been going regularly for about four months now and we both look forward to it because it is a total blast!

At anime club we watch a few episodes of a show while enjoying a Japanese snack, have a discussion, and then do a craft themed around whatever show we were introduced to. For two hours, we are immersed in our world of imagination with like minded individuals and it’s such a treat. It’s also a thrill to check out new shows that we might not have watched before. For example, during our second meeting we watched the first three episodes of My Hero Academia and I was immediately hooked. Since then, I have been watching an episode every morning while I eat my breakfast and I just can’t get enough. It is SO good and I’m already halfway through season three. I look forward to my viewings every day. 😀

While some animes have been a hit with me at our meetings, some of them are a miss and that’s truly okay! Last week we dabbled in Jujutsu Kaisen which I have always been interested in but never bothered watching. During our screening, I learned that it was not my bag whatsoever and it was no harm no foul because I could move onto something different. Regardless of if I would continue the show on my own or not, it’s so exciting to watch something new. To experience different styles, stories, and characters and getting into the nitty gritty of what we liked and didn’t with our group allows for the best conversations. I am already chomping at the bit for our August get together!

Long live libraries!!! Thanks to Anime Club my brother and I have both made new friends, found new shows, and get to spend time with people who share our passion. It is just the best!

Do you attend any programs at your local library? What kind of events does your library offer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Akron Zoo Adventure

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Akron Zoo Adventure

Hi! I recently visited the Akron Zoo and, honestly, it forever blows my mind that we have the most lovely zoo a few minutes beyond the central hub of downtown Akron. In the midst of all of that hustle and bustle there are lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! And it’s so easy to forget where you are after spending a few hours walking around the zoo. It’s always a shock to the senses to leave and be right smack dab in the middle of hospitals, universities, restaurants, and event venues! This particular trip to the zoo was very noteworthy as a few new animals were introduced, one being intentional and the other not so much. Check it out:

Lol! Cheese!!!

Baby Leuco getting the hang of swinging!

My dinosaur robot friend!

What is a cat doing…?

Especially in the bald eagle enclosure!!!

As we made our rounds throughout the zoo, it was a delight to see so many new additions including mountain lions, porcupines, chinchillas, tamarins, conures, and white-faced sakis. The Akron Zoo has been expanding so nicely over the past several years and it will even be the home to giraffes in 2028. I can’t wait! After saying hello to all of the new animals the zoo has introduced this past year, we came upon a creature from the land of old with a modern update – a dinosaur robot! The Akron Zoo hosts the Dino Trek every year featuring huge animatronic dinosaurs and the baby robots are brand new this year. The zookeepers put on demonstrations to “train” the dinosaurs and attendants young and old so enjoyed the show. It was so cute to see this little buddy toddling all around and I wish I could get one as a pet lol.

After exploring the bottom portion of the zoo, it was time to climb the hill into Grizzly Bear Ridge to see grizzlies, otters, wolves, coyotes, and bald eagles. We definitely got more than we bargained for in the bald eagle exhibit as there was a stray cat inside!! I have no idea how this kitty cat got into the habitat to begin with but it was there and sipping on water in the pond. Blessedly, a zookeeper was already aware of the cat intruder and was able to get it out safely. Thank goodness because as much as I would have loved to see an unlikely animal friendship form, this was not the time or place for the cat!!

The last exciting occurrence happened at the final stop of our adventure, the East Asia exhibit which is home to a family of white-cheeked gibbons. At the end of June of last year, baby Leuco was born and it has been so cool to see him grow. This one year old is on the move now and after many visits of seeing him tucked in his mom’s arms, he has started swinging! Leuco was jumping and swinging all over his huge enclosure while his proud parents watched on from the side. I think they were both feeling happy to have a break while he played and entertained everyone passing by. I could have watched him for forever!!

This was an Akron Zoo Adventure, for sure, and I am so looking forward to even more improvements to this absolute gem in our city!

Has your zoo welcomed new animals recently? Which zoo do you like to go to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul15

The Lion King At Playhouse Square Review

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The Lion King At Playhouse Square Review

Hello! This past Sunday Johnny and I had an absolutely fabulous time going to see The Lion King with my entire family at Playhouse Square. It was freaking amazing! When I was about five years old, my family vacationed in Toronto and we saw The Lion King on our trip. I don’t remember much from it but I remember being so wowed by all of the costumes and that sentiment amplified as soon as all of the actors took the stage this weekend. It was awe inspiring to see giraffes, elephants, gazelles, and of course lions right before our very eyes! Whether you are young or old, if The Lion King is coming to your neck of the woods then it is a must see. You are going to love it!

The Lion King opened on the strongest note with “Circle Of Life” and within that first second, we were fully in and delighted in the magic of the theater that followed. The puppeteers, the costuming that transformed actors to animals, and the singing, dancing, and acrobatics made for the most spectacular show that blew the cartoon out of the water. It was such an immersive performance that it really felt like we were all on Pride Rock watching the scenes of betrayal and redemption along with the rest of the cast. From the small practical touches to the big blow out scenes, this viewing of The Lion King can only be described as triumphant.

My favorite songs of the performance have got to be Scar’s “Be Prepared” and the sentimental ensemble song of “They Live In You”. The piece de resistance song and scene, however, was when Simba looked to the stars for guidance in “Endless Night”. As he stargazed, the cast somehow assembled the image of Mufasa into the night sky and it was nothing short of glorious for Simba to see his father once more and know what needs to be done next: Take his rightful throne. Another major scene, the stampede was also particularly effective as it literally looked like hundreds of animals running towards Simba on a relatively small stage. There was dusty smoke billowing, the rumble of hooves, and the dread of the knowledge that something really bad is about to happen.

While The Lion King shined in its full scale production numbers, there were so many little moments that added to the sense of wonder. The ingenious costumes worn by the lionesses created the sleek curves of the animal as they danced. During water scenes, fish were projected onto the billowing cloths that formed the rivers. There were cast members twirling bird puppets on poles throughout the audience. Or, my personal favorite: When young Simba sang “Hakuna Matata” with his newfound friends, Timon and Pumbaa. To transition into adult form, young Simba swung off of the stage on a vine. One second later, adult Simba swung in to join the show. Every effect was so clever and intentional and it translated to every seat in the theater!

I am so thankful for this super special viewing of The Lion King with my whole family in tow. It was simply phenomenal and, without a doubt, a theater bucket list performance!

Have you seen a play or musical recently? How was it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul6

Nature Walk

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Nature Walk

Hi! My brother, Andrew, and I are avid hikers and it is our absolute favorite form of exercise. There is nothing better than hitting the beautiful trails in our neck of the woods and chatting away while immersed in nature and it’s safe to say that I live for our biweekly walks. We have recently decided to travel thirty minutes or so to explore even more trails and it has been so exciting to check out new to us Metro Parks. This past week we took a little road trip to the Barberton Trailhead and it was easily the best hike and bike trail we have been to yet. We saw more wildlife on this trail than all of our hikes of the past year combined!

The Barberton Trailhead is a flat, paved path directly across from a lake like body of water and right off the bat we were seeing animals left and right. Seconds after we began walking, we saw something we have never seen before – a river otter!!! River otters returned to Ohio a few years back and it has been my mission to catch a glimpse of one during our hikes that never came to fruition until now. It was SO cool to see its sleek body weaving in the water and the little face popping up for air. In a similar breath, we also saw a beaver for the first time too. We enjoy hiking at a trail called Beaver Marsh and ironically have never seen any there in the water so this was such a great added bonus. 😀

And then, there were the turtles. We saw fifty-five of them to be exact during our three mile trek! Posted up on logs, swimming, or camouflaging in the algae, we surpassed our original personal turtle sighting best of seventeen by far. Spotting them was literally like playing I Spy in nature and it was a thrill every time we added another one to our tally. As if all of this weren’t enough, we also saw five Blue Herons, two of which that flew directly in front of us. Seeing Blue Herons is like seeing a dinosaur in real life and they were so majestic! As you can see in the last picture, I think that Heron was ready to catch itself some lunch!

Finally in our wildlife jamboree, we saw more baby ducks than we could possibly count. We stopped at thirty something because it was just too much and also too much cuteness! There were baby ducks swimming, resting on the grass, and playing peek a boo behind the logs in the water. The cuteness overload went simply over the top when we were in the right place at the right time. We walked past a family of baby ducks tentatively stepping into the water and then taking off at a rapid pace. I’ll post a video on my TikTok soon so stay tuned because holy adorable. ❤

After our excursion, we treated ourselves to Skoops for a well earned frozen treat. All the while recounting the amazing wildlife we were so lucky to see. We can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a favorite hiking spot? What kind of wildlife do you see on your hikes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Glow Sticks Mini Golf

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Glow Sticks Mini Golf

Hi! Johnny and I freaking LOVE to play mini golf and we visited an ultra cool new indoor course in Chagrin Falls called Glow Sticks this past weekend with my brother, Andrew. Several months ago I saw on Facebook that Glow Sticks would be opening and it was themed around music from the 1950s to the 1990s. I made a mental note of it because it combines our two great passions, music and mini golf, and I just knew it would be a blast. It sure was!! Glow Sticks was absolutely amazing from start to finish and we cannot wait to go back! Take a look at these many MANY pictures and let’s discuss:

So I might have gone a little picture crazy but, in my defense, how could I not?! There was so much awesome artwork, golf puns, and excitement that I wanted to capture it all! The Glow Sticks course consisted of different rooms set up for different decades where we started in the 50s and took a musical tour into the 1990s. Each room played the music of the times and the walls were adorned with the icons of that era. The murals were totally and completely fabulous and we really appreciated all of the golf humor! We are very partial to Stevie Nicks encouraging us to putt your own way and and KISS letting us know that they want to putt and golf all night. Lolol, we were in stitches!

As if all of the music and art weren’t enough, we were delighted by the unique and challenging play through of the Glow Sticks course. As you can see, one of the holes was a literal loopdiloop which we have never seen before! We learned that you had to whack the ball really hard for it to go all the way around. When it was my turn, I told Andrew and Johnny to stay far away so they don’t get a concussion lol. Other noteworthy parts of the course include hitting the ball through a giant Rolling Stones tongue statue, playing on Freddie Mercury’s stage, a skateboard half pipe, and even a 1970s style camper decked out in peace and love decals.

We were simply blown away by the creativity of the Glow Sticks course and everywhere we looked featured something fresh and exciting. Johnny’s favorite part was the mural of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the putting green. I was a huge fan of the of the Roy Orbison “pretty putter putting on the green” portrait and Andrew enjoyed the statues of The Beatles. Glow Sticks was the perfect tip of the cap to the music that we all know and love and we were singing along to the rocking tunes the whole way through. What a fun afternoon!

If you are in the greater Northeastern Ohio area or are visiting, a stop in at Glow Sticks is a must. You will have a ball!

What is your favorite era of music? Do you prefer outdoor or indoor mini golf courses? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

The Strokes Concert

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The Strokes Concert

Hi! Mine and Johnny’s birthaversary this year brought us the gifts of video games and concert tickets. We each got each other a new game for the Switch 2 as well as tickets to Blossom Music Center to see The Strokes, Josh Groban, and Billy Idol this summer. The first up in our concert lineup was The Strokes and I could not have been more excited. I have been a huge fan of them since the early 2Ks (Not aging myself whatsoever!) and they have always been a band on my concert bucket list. I genuinely couldn’t believe it when I saw they were playing in little old Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and purchased our tickets immediately. They were worth every penny and then some!

After tailgating a bit in the parking lot of Blossom, Johnny and I made our way into the venue just as the first opener, Hamilton Leithauser, was wrapping up. At the time, I didn’t recognize the name, however, I definitely recognize it now and regret not seeing his full performance. We used to play him ALL the time when I worked at PacSun back in the day and I really enjoyed his music. Hindsight is 20/20 and after he left the stage shortly after we took our seats, we made friends with the people sitting behind us while we waited for the next opener, Thundercat, to play.

Thundercat came on shortly afterwards and it was neither here nor there. I didn’t love it or hate it – it was just a very average band with very average songs. I will say that the sound quality when Thundercat performed wasn’t great and that might have improved my lackluster review. However, I don’t think I would go out of my way to listen to them again either way it panned out. I was there for The Strokes and The Strokes alone and it was kind of painful waiting around with all of that anticipation while a subpar band played!

Finally, around nine o’clock, The Strokes took the stage and opened with Ize of the World and all was right in my world. Their performance was a true celebration of their impressive discography and was filled with nonstop bangers and lesser known favorites. I was simply thrilled to hear so many of my alt kid anthems like Juicebox, Hard to Explain, Take It or Leave It, Heart in a Cage, and You Only Live Once. It took me back to evenings spent in the basement with my siblings playing video games and listening to The Strokes’ early albums on repeat. It was a blast of nostalgia from over twenty years ago that made my modern self so happy. ❤

Seeing The Strokes live was an absolute whirlwind. The light show was awesome, they sounded incredible, and the atmosphere couldn’t be beat. It was one big party where we were singing and dancing our hearts out in unison and it was so beautiful to experience. Going into the show, Johnny had only heard a handful of songs by The Strokes and was there for me. By the end of it, he was a super fan too and said he never realized how good they were. I could have told him that years ago but I’m glad he came to the realization now. I would have been worried if he hadn’t because this was one of the best live shows I have ever seen. Best night EVER!

On a totally opposite note from The Strokes, we are seeing Josh Groban next and I cannot wait for more summer nights at Blossom with my main squeeze!

What is your favorite song by The Strokes? Who is one of your favorite early alt bands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun5

Great Lakes Science Center Titanic Exhibit

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Great Lakes Science Center Titanic Exhibit

Hi! I recently visited the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland with a friend to see their newly installed Titanic exhibit. I don’t know much about the Titanic and I have never seen the movie but my friend is most fascinated by it and I was more than happy to tag along. We spent a solid hour and a half making our way through the exhibit and I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot. It was set up beautifully with replicas of different rooms, artifacts recovered from the sea floor, and an actual iceberg which really blew my mind! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss further:

After paying for tickets for the exhibit, we were given a boarding pass of one of the passengers of the Titanic to hang onto until the end. Then, we could see if our passenger survived or not and gained insight into their outcome. With boarding passes in hand, we explored the exhibit with a fine toothed comb and it was wonderful. My favorite part was definitely seeing the restored artifacts that were recovered as the displays featured a picture of when they were found on the sea floor. The before and after was nuts! A particularly interesting display had au gratin dishes that were found in perfect rows. They were stored away in a box that disintegrated and they were still lined up as they were left. I also was drawn to the different clothing and accessories that were found but it was so sad to think of the people who were meant to wear them.

As well as artifacts, there were also room replicas including the boiler room, first class cabins, and the bunking rooms. A fun fact I learned was that a first class ticket on the Titanic would have been equivalent to over one hundred thousand dollars today! As we went about the space, there were direct quotes from passengers and employees and their portraits along the walls. The quotes recorded from when the ship was sinking was harrowing and reminded me a lot of the last messages that people sent during 9/11. I could tell how lovingly those displays were made and it was inspiring to read about their bravery.

The piece de resistance of the Titanic exhibit was twofold. There was the iceberg, of course, which I’m not quite sure how that worked out and neither did the employee that I asked. It had something to do with a cooling plate and gathering moisture in the air? From what the employee said, the iceberg has actually grown since the exhibit opened in late May. There was also a display of part of the ship that was recovered that we were allowed to touch and that was way, way cool. It’s not every day that you get to touch a literal piece of history!

If you are in the Cleveland area or traveling nearby, I can’t recommend this exhibit enough. Even if you haven’t seen the movie like me, you are still going to be in for a treat!

Do you know a lot about the Titanic? What is a classic movie that you haven’t seen? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah