Tag Archives: ohio

Feb25

Hadestown At EJ Thomas Hall Review

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Hadestown At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Hello!! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had Part Two of our Valentine’s Day celebration: A night at EJ Thomas Hall in Akron to see our favorite musical, Hadestown. Two years ago, we saw Hadestown for V-Day at Playhouse Square and it was magnificent so I just had to jump on the opportunity for us to see it again. We both went into the show knowing that it wasn’t going to be as good as our first viewing and we were spot on about that. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty about it that we liked. However, this show had some glaring issues that were difficult to look past. Let’s get to it:

First things first, let’s start with the good because there were two standout performances. Jaylon C. Crump as Hermes really helped carry the show and was so solid from start to finish. His vocals were phenomenal and he was exuberant, which was very necessary especially considering the times when the actors on stage just seemed tired. Johnny and I were blessed with seeing Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes at Playhouse Square and, frankly, no one compares to him. Having said that, I could tell that Jaylon found inspiration in Graham’s portrayal and that was good enough for us.

Next up was Nickolaus Colon as Hades who, easily, had the strongest performance of the night. During our first show of Hadestown, the man who played Hades took the dark and mysterious route and that is still my preferred portrayal. Nickolaus had a different approach, playing Hades with anger that boomed and resonated. This was further complimented by his larger than life and looming presence and he made it work so well. We were both really impressed by him and his rendition of “Why We Build the Wall” was one of the best numbers of the whole show.

Finally, we have Megan Colton as Eurydice for Honorable Mention. I loved that she brought some grit to Eurydice’s character and my qualm isn’t exactly directed at her but to her acting partner, Bryan Munar, as Orpheus. Look, I don’t know if he was having a rough night and I am not trying to be mean but he was not good at all. His falsetto, which is such an important part of the vocal performance was simply not there. There was no strength behind it and his performance felt more like one of their first rehearsals rather than a real live show.

Johnny and I were not the only ones to feel this way about Munar. In fact, as we were both in line for the bathroom, literally everyone we chatted with was not impressed with him either and had nothing but negative feedback. He brought the entire show down and because of that, Eurydice didn’t shine as brightly as she should have. This is truly unfortunate and while I understand that everyone has a bad night, I really wish it didn’t happen when we saw it lol. From this performance alone and the fact that he could barely hit his falsetto definitely had me questioning the casting decision.

Last on the “not so great” list was Namisa Mdlalose Bizana as Persephone, which was a major disappointment for me. Persephone is one of my favorite characters of the entire show and I don’t think she was done justice with Bizana’s portrayal. It is no secret in Hadestown that Persephone loves to self medicate with booze and drugs. She is so much more than that, though, and Bizana played her as a falling down drunk. This did little to add dimension to Persephone’s character and Bizana turned her into a caricature. On top of that, her vocals didn’t feel strong enough for such a boisterous lead and she seemed exhausted throughout the show.

It’s funny because I saw Jesus Christ Superstar at EJ Thomas Hall after seeing it at Playhouse Square. I was so surprised because it really was a comparable performance for the most part and there were even aspects that I liked better at EJ Thomas than at Playhouse. Having that experience going into Hadestown made me feel hopeful that we would still be seeing an excellent show despite my ambivalence. I am kind of bummed because regardless of the cast members that shined, this performance felt like a dress rehearsal and not even a good one. Major characters brought the whole cast down and that is a crying shame!

Although this performance of Hadestown was literally nothing to write home about, Johnny and I still had a fabulous time on our date night. Stay tuned for my OOTD coming soon!

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

Feb20

New Merch Drop

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New Merch Drop

Hello! I have been working as the social media manager for Ohio’s premier personal injury lawyer, Tim Misny, since April of last year. I truly consider myself to be the luckiest girl in the world because it is a dream job and I love every minute of it. The best part about my job is everything but what I am especially partial to outside of creating content is assisting with billboard and merch designs. Tim’s billboards are an institution in Ohio and it is an honor to have had some input on them!

One of our most popular billboards is, easily, our Warhol inspired print and I am thrilled because we just made it in hoodie form for Misny Merch:

Misny Merch is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only will you look ultra cool BUT you will be helping those in need with your purchase. ALL proceeds from Misny Merch benefits the Cleveland City Mission, which is a charity Tim holds very close to his heart. It is so important to Tim to give back to our beloved community and Misny Merch does just that. Our merch is also incredibly special to me because that’s how Tim and I first met – through an OOTD I shot wearing some of our signature swag. It really is something that hits me in the nostalgia every time because it has been a whirlwind since I posted that outfit. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I am wearing my Warhol hoodie as I type this and it is so snuggly and warm – perfect for the single digit temperatures we are currently experiencing. I had many people compliment it as well as question who it is on the picture lol. Tim has really fallen into IYKYK status and once you are in on it is when the magic happens. Your eye will forever be drawn to his many, many billboards every time you hop in the car. Misny Merch is ideal for those in the fandom and, if not, I think it would be hilarious to have a subliminal shirt of a personal injury lawyer from Ohio! Either way, your order is going to do a world of good for those at the City Mission. ❤

Keep checking in on Misny Merch for brand new swag and old favorites. Don’t forget to peep Tim Misny on social media to see all of the fun we get into!

Who is a local celebrity in your neck of the woods? Does anyone in particular dominate billboards where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

What Would You Do?

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What Would You Do?

Hello!! Every job I’ve ever had has involved working with the general public in some way shape or form. I like to think I’m a people person, even if I’m not always feeling it! During my fifteen year tenure of working with the public, I feel like I’ve encountered every situation imaginable – good or bad. And, sometimes, I leave situations feeling like it wasn’t my best work lol. This past week, I found myself in a situation that I have never experienced before and it really left me scratching my head. So, I’m curious, What Would You Do? Story time:

This past week in Ohio has been BRUTAL. We have had temperatures in the negatives or close to with very strong wind, making it even colder. On Wednesday, I had a quick errand to run and it was a whopping two degrees by the time I got to the store. Allow me to paint a picture: This particular store is located in a plaza with a handful of other businesses. When I arrived, the parking lot was completely empty with only one car at the farthest end of the shopping center. Due to the weather, any signs of parking lines were invisible so I parked my car as usual and headed into the store for a less than five minute stop.

When I opened the door, a literal gale of wind followed me inside. I walked up to the front desk, only to be informed by the employee that I parked incorrectly because my car wasn’t on a slant. I said something along the lines of not being able to see the lines and now I know for next time. However, he insisted I take my sorry ass back out in the two degree weather and fix it. I almost thought he was joking until I realized he was serious.

Because I was on a time crunch to get to work and didn’t have the time to go to a different location, I did as I was told. I was greeted with a sarcastic “welcome back”, made my purchase, and promptly left. In the three or so minutes I spent in the store, not a single car entered the parking lot to be blighted by my poor parking job. *Massive Eye Roll*

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I thought this was so strange lol. I just feel like it’s not a good look to send paying customers back outside to fix a parking job in an empty lot. Had I had the time, I would have just left rather than go along with it. Trust and believe I was screaming profanities in my head, though! In conclusion, I won’t be giving that store any more of my business.

Was this weird or is it just me? What would you have done in this situation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Date Night!!

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Date Night!!

Hello!! As per my New Year’s Resolution, I have been diligently penciling in at least one outing per weekend. Honestly, I can’t remember doing so much over the weekends as I have these past few weeks and it feels awesome to be having fun! This past Friday, Johnny and I went on a special Date Night to celebrate his new position at work. We are simply thrilled over this latest development so a night out was definitely in order. Johnny wanted to go to the arcade restaurant located in downtown Cuyahoga Falls called The Workz. That sounded great to me because their food is the bomb, so off we went:

By the time Date Night rolled around, Johnny and I were both famished and, thankfully, we were seated immediately. The Workz is a really popular spot, especially on Friday, so we had a Plan B should it have been too crowded. Happily that wasn’t the case because we both had been talking about their food all week lol. We had a delightful waitress who recently moved back to Ohio with her daughter, who also worked at the restaurant. In between waiting for drinks and dinner we had a lively chat about recommendations for hair and nail salons and it was so nice for two reasons. 1) I love sending people to my go to salons. And 2) It took our minds off of how hungry we were!

After sipping on drinks, a Margarita for me and some tropical cocktail or another for Johnny, our food was hot and ready. I’m pretty sure I heard the hallelujah chorus when our meals arrived at the table! Johnny got a smashburger with truffle fries on the side for us to share and I got their white cheddar mac n’ cheese which is DIVINE. We were both enamored by the little basket the fries came in and even more so by the taste. This was the first time we tried their truffle fries (My favorite!) and they were easily some of the best I’ve ever had.

We made quick work of our dinner and decided to stick around for a bit longer to play some games. By this time, The Workz was pretty jam packed so we opted to get forty credits on a game card and head home afterwards. This didn’t take long at all because the hatchet throwing game took eight credits per player so we could only play through it together twice. However, I could have stayed there playing all night because your girl was a natural!! Almost every single throw, I got a bullseye and there was nothing more satisfying than hearing that “thwack”!!

After retiring home for the evening, Johnny and I finished building our Malfoy Manor Lego set and it turned out amazing. I can’t wait to show all of you! Needless to say, it was a very successful Date Night!!

What did you do this weekend? Do you have any arcade eateries 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

Jan17

Driving Safely In The Snow

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Driving Safely In The Snow

Hello!! In my youth, winters in Ohio were brutal. The snow was extreme, the temperatures were frigid, and school cancellations were frequent. When I began driving over a decade ago, it was so important to be well versed in driving in the snow, even if the weather wasn’t “as bad” as I could recall. In fact, I vividly remember driving an hour home from the dealership in my new car during a crazy snow storm and it was terrifying! As the years passed, winters in my neck of the woods became far more moderate and it felt like we barely got snow at all anymore. Then, winter weather came back with a bang this year. Not just in the AK-Rowdy but all across the country. It snowed in Atlanta where my brother lives and the whole city shut down!

I drive a lot for work and I can tell that so many people on the road now have little experience driving in snow. I have to admit, it took me a good minute or two to shake off the rust once it really started coming down here. So, I thought it would be helpful to compile a few pro tips for driving safely in the snow should it hit your area next:

Tap Those Breaks:

The natural instinct should something unexpected happen while driving is to slam on the breaks. But in the snow, this is the worst possible thing you can do because you’re not going to stop. You’re going to slide and that has the potential to cause accidents. Give yourself plenty of space between cars because that will give you the time to be able to break accordingly. Pump those breaks with a tap, tap, taperoo and keep it in mind every time you are prepping to come to a stop.

Proceed With Caution:

No matter the weather, there is always going to be someone on the road driving faster than you. This can be intimidating when it’s snowing because you might get the urge to speed up too. DON’T. Driving in the snow is all about being fully comfortable in regards to handling the car and your speed. Once you push yourself beyond what you feel capable of doing, panic can quickly set in and that can cause even more problems. DO YOU on the road and anyone who doesn’t like it can go around you.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Honestly, I’m pretty lucky to have more years of experience than I care to admit driving in the snow. Many people can’t say the same so don’t let your first trial run be on the road itself. If you are not familiar with driving in the snow, find yourself an empty parking lot as soon as snow starts to fall. Practice breaking, turning, slowing down, speeding up, and anything else you need to get a feel for it. Then, it’s a good idea to take some drives through your own neighborhood or residential areas so you can get experience on less busy streets before hitting the major roads.

It Sounds Silly:

For those who live in snowy areas: How often do you see people inquiring about the conditions of the road on social media? In my neck of the woods, our talk of the town page is always exploding with them! Now, ninety-nine percent of the time, people are happy to let you know. The other one percent is someone saying you’re stupid and they’re a hater! Anyways, if you do find yourself questioning driving conditions – just make a post because the chances are high that you are going to almost immediately get a real time update. If your question has been answered and you’re uncomfortable driving because of it, just stay home until the plows come through. And, yes, you are sure to get an update on that too!

I have driven in some NO joke snow storms this winter and it was scary even with my experience. There is no shame in pulling to the side of the road or hibernating the day away. Your safety is the most important thing!

What is winter weather like where you live? What is the worst weather you have driven through? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

Beboe Blackberry Gummies Review

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Beboe Blackberry Gummies Review

Hello!! Marijuana was legalized in Ohio for recreational use a few years back and it was honestly one of the coolest things my state has ever done lol. Since then, dispensaries (or as I like to call them “Weed Boutiques”) have been popping up everywhere. Some of the ones nearby are specific only towards medical use, but the one I go to called Curaleaf offers both medicinal and recreational options. I usually opt to buy cartridges for my vape but on occasion I will go the gummy route. This can be hit or miss and I am, more often than not, less than impressed. The Blackberry gummies by Beboe, however, are something to write home about:

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Let me start out by getting this story out of the way… Johnny and I have a million different nicknames for each other. They start out as one thing, then they dissolve into something light years away from the original pet name. For example, I have no idea why I call Johnny “beboe” but I do and it is frequent word that’s thrown around our household. So, I guess what I’m trying to say by this is that I had a moral obligation to give the Beboe gummies a go. It is our namesake, after all.

I really wasn’t expecting much out of these gummies, but my first impression was a good one. The blackberry flavor was just right. I have tried quite a few Black Cherry gummies in my day and they tasted like cough syrup. Not that I need them to taste like candy, but the Blackberry was easily one of the best tasting ones I’ve used. The gummie size was a little bit smaller than a piece of Laffy Taffy (I guess we are on a candy kick now!) and after having one, all that was left was to wait for it to do its thing.

All I have to say is, if you are a fan a soothing, but giggly high – these are the gummies for you. Even on the weekends, I find it very difficult to relax and can feel guilty for having a nice time. My mind is always, always going and because of work related stress, it was racing this past weekend. Once these babies hit, it was legit like “what work?” lol. It honestly felt like the first time I wasn’t thinking about work all week because I’m pretty sure it was. Negativity disintegrated into the giggles and it was SO nice to have a laugh and not get an immediate guilt trip.

By the time I was ready for bed, I slept incredibly after many nights of constant tossing and turning. I woke up feeling fully energized and it was as if a “mental reset” button had been hit. I would happily buy the Beboes again and *highly* (lol) recommend them!

Do you have any dispensaries near you? What is your favorite brand of gummy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec15

Gym Vibes

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Gym Vibes

Hello!! I am one of those people who never really understood the appeal of going to the gym. I was a competitive figure skater back in the day, which is very much a solo sport. And, in my adulthood, I love the solitude provided by hikes and walks. With that in mind, you can see why being in a roomful of other people working out might not be something I would enjoy very much. However, my sentiments have changed entirely. This past month, I started working out with my brother at the Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls and I have been freaking LOVING it!

My brother has been working really hard to improve his health and we have been visiting the gym at least once a week after he had a tutorial on learning the machines. I wouldn’t say I was chomping at the bit to join him at first, but I was happy to be supportive and the weather has been crap so it’s not like we could hike or walk outdoors anyways. I have to admit, I was extremely intimidated during our first visit. Everyone looked like they knew what they were doing and I so didn’t lol.

As I made my way to the machines I wanted to work on, I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. But, hey, if I was in a gym then I might as well make the most of it. I floundered my way through several machines and some very nice exercise enthusiasts showed me how to use the ones I was struggling with. Internally, I was kind of frazzled but it ended up being the perfect way to break the ice. After that initial self consciousness was gone, I was ready to rock!

At this point, I am pleased to report that both my brother and I are 1) Accurately using each machine and 2) Enjoying it. We start each work out session by power walking a mile on the track. Afterwards, we complete our machine circuit which gives a fantastic, full body work out. Thanks to my extensive tenure as a figure skater, my legs have always been really muscular. The arm and torso exercises are the real killer because I literally have no upper body strength lol. Although that portion of the work out is difficult for me and I’m screaming profanities in my head the whole time, I love knowing that it will get easier eventually. And, when that happens, you are all invited to the gun show! 😀

My brother and I aren’t the only ones who have been going to the gym because Johnny is too! He has been going to the one at his work every morning so look out because we’re all going to be super buff soon!

What is your favorite kind of exercise? Do you like going to the gym? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

Community Fun

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Community Fun

Hello!! Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that there are downsides to living in Ohio. It’s basically just corn lol. However, I love my life here and still wouldn’t change it for a thing. One of the best parts about the greater Akron area is the true sense of community we have and it’s greater amplified by all of the fun events hosted throughout the city. Concerts, food truck festivals, vendor fairs, you name it and chances are we have done something similar in our neck of the woods!

A particularly fantastic community gathering spot is the Quirk Cultural Center in Cuyahoga Falls. At the Quirk, they offer workshops for people of all ages. From tiny tots to seniors, there is something for everyone there. In fact, I used to take pottery classes there for several years in my youth and have enjoyed watercolor painting classes in my adulthood. And, this past weekend, I took my nieces there for a special crafting workshop so they could make Christmas presents for their parents.

All I knew for the craft class was that we were going to paint mugs and the girls were so excited. I was too because any time with them is the best time! Even though it was a simple activity, our hosts at the Quirk did such a phenomenal job of making it special. When we walked into the space, we were greeted by a huge Christmas tree, holiday inflatables, festive music, and a hot chocolate and cookie station. The greatest surprise was how neat the mugs to be painted were. There was a snowman, a reindeer, Santa, and a mug with Santa’s belt going around the middle. They seriously looked like something you could paint at All Fired Up and it only costed ten dollars per person to participate.

The girls and I had SO much fun and my eldest niece did a banner job painting the mug herself and my younger niece, who is two, did the best she could lol. Either way, I knew they both knew that they were making something for their parents and they were so happy to have a gift for them that they made all by themselves! There were so many families at the event and it was a joy to get in the holiday spirit all together. I hope that they will be doing more paint parties soon because it was a hit for both the adults and kiddos!

A wonderful time was had by all at our pseudo All Fired Up workshop and I am definitely feeling merrier and brighter for it!

What kind of events does your community put on? Have you ever taken a crafting workshop before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov15

Fall Hiking Spree Success

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Fall Hiking Spree Success

Hello!! One of my favorite forms of exercise is easily taking walks and hiking. There are countless amazing Metro Parks in my neck of the woods within a twenty mile radius and beyond and it’s exciting to explore them. I try to go on at least four walks or hikes every week if the weather permits. Despite my absolutely insane schedule, it’s important to me to squeeze in that extra time for exercise. And, I always find that I feel much better after my walks even if I am really tired.

My go to walking companion is my older brother, Andrew, and we decided that we were going to make an effort to complete the Fall Hiking Spree. For the spree, the goal is to take hikes at eight different Metro Parks in the general vicinity by November thirtieth. Now, literally every year we talk about doing the hiking spree together and while we might do a few on the list, we never finished it in its entirety. I am pleased to report that this year, we not only talked about it but were about it. We took our last hike of the spree on Wednesday!!

I love walking with my brother and whether we spend our hikes chatting and joking or in silence, it is nice to work out together. I couldn’t tell you how many walks we take throughout the year but it is a lot and I can really tell that this hard work has paid off. Every time we hike together, we try to go a little bit further than we did the time before. These small increases might not seem like a big deal, but they were everything for an improved stamina. By the end of the spree and our past combined efforts, we were doing strenuous, three plus mile hikes like it was nothing. This was a thrill for us because we saw all of our previous “training” coming to fruition right before our eyes.

Not only did we complete the spree with time to spare, but we also became privy to Metro Parks that we had never been to before. It really gave me a better appreciation for the beauty in my own backyard and we found new favorite trails because of it. We saw the leaves change colors and fall, spotted wildlife, and fell in love with the trails that reminded us of Lord of The Rings. From beginner and moderate level hikes to the most advanced, we did them all and I am so proud of us!! We set our goal and achieved it and there is nothing better than that. 🙂

After our Fall Hiking Spree Success, I just know that Andrew and I will continue on with our new tradition for many years to come. I can’t wait already!!

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

Nov13

SO Excited!!!

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SO Excited!!!

Hello!! My favorite place in my neck of the woods has got to be Playhouse Square in Cleveland, hands down. I have seen countless amazing shows there with Johnny, friends, and family and have the fondest memories of each and every visit. Playhouse Square dates with Johnny are something I revel in and I consider our Valentine’s Day date of 2023 to be one of the best. That was when we saw Hadestown together and it skyrocketed into one of our all time favorite musicals.

Since seeing the show at Playhouse Square, we must have said over a million times that we would love to see Hadestown again. As fortune would have it, I received an email from EJ Thomas Hall in Akron for their spring lineup and Hadestown was on the bill. Does EJ Thomas hold a candle to Playhouse Square in terms of overall experience? IE: Venue, theater size, visibility of the stage. Absolutely not. But, I saw Jesus Christ Superstar there and it was a phenomenal effort for what it was. In fact, there were some parts of the show that I liked better than the Playhouse Square production of it that Johnny and I saw. (Also one of the best nights ever!!)

Although EJ Thomas isn’t my preferred venue, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for Johnny and I to enjoy Hadestown once more. I ordered us our tickets this weekend and scored awesome seats: Smack dab in the middle of the third row on the balcony. The best part? We will be seeing it the week after Valentine’s Day so it will be like a do over of our treasured V-Day date two years prior. This past week, I have been really trying to make space in my schedule for fun and purchasing these tickets was the perfect way to dip my toes in the water. We can’t wait!!

If Hadestown is playing in your area, RUN to go see it. You can thank me later when it becomes your favorite musical too. I am so lucky to be able to see this show twice for Valentine’s Day with my main squeeze!

What is your favorite musical? What is the best date you have ever been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah