Wine and Canvas Cleveland

I seem to be suffering from some sort of mystery plague right now that started about a month ago when I got food poisoning. Since then I've been feeling pretty meh, which has kept me home bound. But here's a little story about a recent adventure at Wine and Canvas Cleveland. (if I can make a halfway decent picture while I'm sick, anyone can)

Neil's picture was better than mine

What's Wine and Canvas you ask? Just the best way for non artistic people to get to paint a semi-professional looking picture in a couple hours! Held at different venues around town (east, west, and south), each painting event features a different theme. For instance, I went to Claddagh in Legacy Village to paint some sad looking birch trees, but you could go to Pickle Bills and paint a replica of Starry Night, Strongsville to paint palm trees, or one of many other locations around Cleveland and Akron to paint a picture that appeals to you. Classes are $35 and that includes your canvas, all the materials you need, and step by step instruction. (including instructions on how to fix painting boo boos...not that I needed any help with that...ahem) You start off with a completely blank canvas...and in no time, you have a masterpiece. Or at least something you wouldn't be embarrassed to hang up in your house.

What isn't included in the price of the class is wine. (unless you go to a private event, I think) So that means you can have wine, beer, tequila shots, or a hamburger. I actually think that's better. I'm kind of a wine snob and I'd rather pick out my own booze. (and the night I was at the class, I was sicker than I ever think I've been out in public, so H2O was fine by me)

I think this is a great activity for a girls night...even though I went with my boyfriend. He wasn't the only guy there, though, so guys - don't be afraid to check out Wine and Canvas Cleveland if this seems like something you'd be interested in doing. There was a really diverse crowd of people at this event (event though the "girl power" music they were playing was a little much for me) so whether you're young, old, male, or female...I think you'd enjoy a Wine and Canvas event. Even if you have no artistic ability! 

P.S. If you're reading this and you don't happen to be in Cleveland or Akron, Wine and Canvas has locations across the U.S. so you can join in on the fun even if you're not here in the CLE!

Weekly Wine and Chocolate Tastings at Fantasy Candies in Lyndhurst

I like sweet things. More than I probably should. Ice cream. Brownies. Cupcakes. Riesling. Moscato...I could go on forever, really. But you get my drift. If it's sweet, most likely, I'll like it.

I was watching good old Fox 8 in the Morning a few weeks ago and I saw a Kickin' it With Kenny spot featuring Fantasy Candies, a chocolate/wine shop within walking distance of my house. Although I'd driven by Fantasy Candies nearly every day, I'd only stopped in once, years ago, when they were in another location. I was immediately impressed by the selection of chocolates that appeared on my screen and I was even more impressed when they mentioned having weekly wine and chocolate tastings in the store for only $10.

And so I went. Well, we went. Me and the new boyfriend. (more on that in another post) He and I joke that we're fat kids at heart, so before heading out to dinner last Saturday, we dropped by Fantasy Candies in the 6:00 hour for some booze and candy. Who says you shouldn't have dessert first?

We were warmly greeted by Joel, the owner and he got us set up with a plate full of some of his amazing candies and equally amazing wines. He took the time to talk to us about the different wines and how they complimented the various chocolates. Clearly, he knows his stuff. And you can tell how passionate he is about his business. I chatted with him for a little bit about other wine tastings in the area and asked him about business and he was more than happy to talk to me for quite awhile.

We were given 4 generous wine samples and 4 different kinds of chocolate, including Fantasy Candies' signature chocolate, SweetDreams 72, a high cocoa chocolate. I can honestly say that I liked all of the pairings. There was a zinfandel with a dark chocolate, a Riesling with a key lime truffle, a sparkling red wine with a milk chocolate truffle, and a milk chocolate caramel with sea salt with a port. I can honestly say that I liked all of the chocolates equally because they were all so rich and good. I'm not much of a red wine drinker, but the wines paired with the chocolates were all really flavorful and completely complemented the candies.

These tastings are held every Saturday from 6-8 p.m. right inside Fantasy Candies. Plus, there are other special events held intermittently that you can find out about if you follow Fantasy Candies' facebook page or sign up for their email list. They also have a really good sized space for holding private tastings or events. (think ladies night out, corporate meeting, or bridal shower!)

So if you're a sweets lover like me, you like supporting local businesses, and you're looking for something fun and unique to do on a Saturday night, drop by Fantasy Candies!

The Burdens of Being Upright

If you want to read about booze, food, or CLE happenings, this post is not for you. However, if you've been following my blog for any length of time and wondered why I fell off the face of the earth, here's an update for you...

Blogging is one of those things that I think you're either really into or really apathetic about. After my series of life changing events last fall, I had a lot to talk about. A lot to get off my chest. A lot of feelings to sort through. I shared a lot of very personal things about me on my blog. Heck, I probably even over-shared. But getting my feelings out of my head and into the world helped me to heal and move on. (in addition to all of the love and support I received from my amazing friends and family)

My mother (who happens to always be right, even when I think she isn't) assured me that the funk I was in would eventually fade, that my life would go on, and that I would realize that all of the crappy stuff I'd gone through happened for a reason so I could ultimately be a lot happier. She told me the catalyst for all of this was me buying a house. ("Everything is going to fall into place once you have your own house again.") I doubted her, but she was right. After I bought my house, I felt like a regained a sense of purpose. When I felt sad, I painted something. Or organized something. Or unpacked boxes. Every change I made to my house made it feel more like home and helped me to regain my sense of stability and sanity.

As the sad fog cleared, I wanted to live life again. Go out. Have fun. Entertain. Enjoy making new memories in my new house. And I've been pretty successful with that. 2013 has been action packed. I've gone out and had a lot of fun, met a lot of great people, and really enjoyed living my life the way I want to live it for the first time in a really long time. I'm in a new relationship with a person who likes me for me (it's still a very foreign concept) and makes me feel beautiful, and special, and loved every minute of every day.

The culmination of my journey from sad to happy occurred when I converted to Catholicism at Easter. Attending Al Anon meetings really gave me a sense of spirituality, and I felt like the time was right to really let go and let God, and start my life anew through baptism, confirmation, and first communion.  One of my best friends served as my godmother (sponsor), and on Easter Eve I joined the Catholic family with my mom, my boyfriend, and some of my good friends by my side.  I know this might seem a little out of character for me, but I really felt "right." My overall stance on religion still stands - I think it's a very personal thing. It's not my place to judge, criticize, or convert. You do your thing and I'll do mine.

So the moral of this story is, no matter how dark things may seem in your life, how awful your struggles may be, you need to keep moving. Whether physically or mentally. Nothing bad lasts forever. Every day you wake up on the "right side of the earth" is a gift and you need to try and enjoy every moment of it.

And now back to your regularly scheduled vegetarian blogging...

I'm Super (Bowl), Thanks for Asking

Well, that's a bit of a lie. But I am currently down and out with some sort of super virus. I spent two hours at a CVS Minute Clinic for someone to tell me that. Siigh. I think there's some irony in the fact that it took an hour for the nurse practitioner to see one patient at the MINUTE Clinic, but...I'm not a medical practitioner, so who am I to judge?

Something that IS Super is my upcoming Super Bowl party. In recent years, I've secretly become a football fan. (Heck, I think I can even say I'm a sports fan in general.) As with my NCAA basketball bracket picks, I'm using Roxanne-logic to pick who I want to win. I work with someone who lives in Cali and has season tickets for the 49'ers, so I'd like them to win. For that reason and that reason alone. (I think Baltimore is a super awesome city, but since I'm from Cleveland, I have to root against the Ravens, right?)

Having a Super Bowl party is kind of a semi-annual tradition in my life. I have an extensive collection of football themed party ware, and I'm excited to put all of my football shaped dishes to good use. In years past, Super Bowl parties weren't all that fun for me, but this year promises to be pretty awesome! I have a small army of friends coming over to help me break in my new 55 inch tv (please don't rob me) and brand new family room furniture. I had my kitchen slightly remodeled just so it will be easier to see the game from my kitchen table.

I still suffer from what I call the Shawshank Effect, meaning it's weird for me to make a decision about things on my own without having to check with someone else first. Like, I can invite anyone I want to? I can serve up lots of vegetarian food alongside the meaty Super Bowl favorites? I can tell people to take their shoes off because it's my house and that's the way things go here?

I say all this because I held a Super Bowl party last year and it was one of THE most miserable experiences of my life. (Well, at least up until that point. If only I'd known about what was to come 5 months later! Zing!) I'd held plenty of Super Bowl parties in the past, but this one was thrown together kind of last minute. The days leading up to the event are a bit foggy in my mind, but I think I remember saying that I wasn't going to help with party prep because I wasn't allowed to invite any of my friends. Not the most mature response, but my feelings were hurt and I didn't have the confidence to stand up for myself and insist on inviting my own friends over. (hello, codependency!) Party time rolled around and all of my ex's friends came over. They were all great friends with each other and I never quite fit in. I tried to make pleasant conversation, but my responses to their conversations were met with disapproving looks, silence, or a quick subject change. Siiiigh. I spent part of the evening upstairs talking to my cats because I felt like a stranger in my own house. It was not cool. Roxanne today wishes she could go back in time and shake old Roxanne. I let my own insecurities ruin my night. In my own house! How crazy is that? I wish I'd been able to just chill out and enjoy the party. But at least that's the plan for this year.

This year I look forward to a drama free affair full of good food, better drinks, and the best possible company - my uber supportive friends! So whether you're a fan of football, party food, commercial watching, or halftime, I hope you have an enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday. And don't forget to watch the puppy bowl on Animal Planet!

Crazy Cat Lady Event Alert - Berea ARF Soup R Bowl

Hello, friends. I'm typing this post late at night, covered in paint. I'm up to my eyeballs in construction in my house this week, and I've had little time to do anything besides make trips to home improvement stores for my contractor. I call my house The Green Monster, and as much as I love my house, it's been quite a bit of work getting it to look like 31 year old Roxanne's house and not like the home of the 90 year old woman who lived in my house for 40 years. As you might imagine, we have different tastes. I've been on a painting streak since I moved in, and nearly my entire first floor is "done" now. I'm having my half bath remodeled this week (should be done today - hooray! need that extra bathroom for my Super Bowl party!) and because I'm overly anal about just about everything, I had my contractor paint the bathroom a color, but I ended up hating it so I repainted after he left for the night. Fun times! This whole painting process would be a heck of a lot easier if I picked out good colors in the first place! (it would also be easier if half of my house wasn't painted over wallpaper.)

As a reward for my efforts, I'm taking the weekend off from doing anything around the house. (in theory - it would nice to get my bedroom painted before my next party!) Tonight I'm going out with some friends to spend our "winnings" from bar trivia and tomorrow is one of my favorite events of the year - Berea ARF's Soup R Bowl, an all you can eat soup and sandwich buffet at Berea High School for the low low price of $10! (Kids meals are $5!)

The proceeds from this smorgasbord of soup, wraps, and chili benefits Berea Animal Rescue Friends, a no time limit dog and cat shelter in Berea, Ohio. (and yes, there are always vegetarian and even vegan options!) I've been a volunteering in the cat building for longer than I can remember and I'm really proud to be a part of this organization. I've seen some pretty miraculous things over the years and I've seen hundreds of kitties get fur-ever homes. Plus, it's going to be a pretty cold day again on Saturday, and what's better on a cold day than a bowl of soup?

If you're not able to attend this event, this mainly volunteer run organization is always looking for people to share their time or resources! Visit their site to learn more!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We'll see if I can keep myself away from paint brushes...

When the Going Gets Tough - Runners Support Each Other

Dear friends, I know my blog has been straying away from vegetarianism and things that I normally post about in this blog, but...this is perhaps the post important post I've ever written.

I'm a member of the East Side Striders - Lyndhurst, a running group based out of the Second Sole running store in Lyndhurst. We meet throughout the week for group runs, bar trivia, and all sorts of other fun activities. On Sunday, one of our long time group members, Bob Daley, collapsed on a group run at North Chagrin Reservation. He's currently in critical condition. Tomorrow night - 1/15/13 - the group is meeting at Hillcrest Hospital at 6:30 pm for a group run to show support for the Daley family. We're trying to get a big group together to not only show our love and support for the family - but to show what running is all about - camaraderie, togetherness, and supporting members of the running community when they're in need, whether we know them or not.

So whether you know me personally or not. Or whether you know Bob personally or not, if you're a Cleveland runner and would like to show your support for this great runner and family man, please join the Striders tomorrow night at 6:30 pm. If the tables were turned, I know I'd want the running community to show their support for my family.

Click here for more information and to view the Facebook event page.

31 Going on 21

Have you ever seen the movie 13 Going on 30? I LOVE that movie! If only we could all get in a time machine and go back and completely change our lives, huh?

I've been pretty quiet since the end of 2012. At least here in the blogosphere. In real life, I rang in the new year with a hodge podge of friends and family, complete with a Taylor Swift karaoke session on my part (that girl and I could be friends, I think...or at least talk about relationships). For the record, I do not sing well. And I'm also a terrible drinker. Shout out to my mom for being there to cart my sorry behind up to bed when I conked out at my own party. (I'm out of practice, what can I say?)

In some ways I feel like I'm 31 going on 21. I've mentioned on this blog before that I've been in long term relationships from the ages of 19 to just a few months ago. Younger, more naive Roxanne molded herself into a person she though her former boyfriends would like. (hello, codependency!) With Kevin, I didn't drink because he didn't drink. I didn't cook because he didn't cook. I didn't work out because he didn't work out...and with Jeff? We've spent too much time on that subject. But I can say that I picked up a lot of great habits. I'm neater, cleaner, can cook, and sew, and do all sorts of other domestic duties that I could never do before. And I'm a pretty active person now.

But who is Roxanne? Really? That's a question I've been asking myself a lot lately. Am I the girl who's been drinking bottles of wine at home alone? Maybe. Am I the girl starting dance parties after too many drinks at the bar? Unfortunately, yes. But not usually. Am I someone who puts running before everything else? Not so much anymore. So who exactly am I? While many people have a chance to find themselves when they're in their early 20's, I think I was too busy being stuck in wifey mode. I was one of those horrible 25 year olds (sorry to any of my early 20-something friends) who just wanted to be married. I had this fairy tale plotted out in my head. But as we all know, fairy tales are just that - fictional.

So what does 31 year old Roxanne want? That's a tough question. If you'd asked me a year ago, I think many of my answers would have been different. Being single girl Roxanne has given me some insight as to what I want. Or at least what I think I want now.

1. Old Roxanne was an introverted hermit by nature. True story. If you know me IRL, you might not believe that, but...it's true. But new Roxanne love beings around people. Life is about experiences. And spending time with people you care about. And having fun! That's why I've lived in my house for 4 weeks and have had 2 parties already. Because a house is just a house until it's filled with memories. Then it becomes a home. I want this house to be a home, darn it. The last house I owned on my own was just a house. My new house is my home, and I look forward to having years and years of fun there.

2. Old Roxanne was so weight/calorie/etc. conscious that she missed out on lots of fun. As the comedian Louis CK said when I saw him earlier this fall, if you want a cupcake, eat an f-ing cupcake. That's really my new motto in life. If you want something and it's not going to kill you, go for it. If you enjoy it, it's not hurting anyone, and especially if it makes you happy, do it! Because you never know what tomorrow brings. If I miss a planned run, or eat or drink more than I should, I'm not going to beat myself up. I'm not hard on other people, so why should I be so hard on myself?

3. Old Roxanne wanted commitment more than anything else in the world. It's almost embarrassing how I've chased after the fairy tale happy ending that all Disney movies feature. Even when in my heart, I knew that fairy tale wasn't going to happen. Aladdin isn't going to come and take me on a magic carpet ride. But I do believe in love and long term relationships. I've been attending mass regularly and met a couple who'd been married for over 60 years one day. 60 years! At my age, the likelihood of being married that long is pretty unlikely, but still! Think of everything that's changed in the world in the past 60 years! And if that little old couple couple make it, what's to say that I won't be grey haired, sitting next to my hard of hearing husband 40 years from now? I'm bent, but not broken. I still believe in love and marriage. Maybe now more than ever.

4. Old Roxanne was a great designated driver. New Roxanne? She needs to work on that a bit. I'm a little past my prime when it comes to boozing at the bar. Or at least I feel that way. Sure, it's ok to go out and have fun, but I'm no 25 year old party girl. There's a time and a place to have fun. A random weeknight at a dive bar in my hood? Not so much. I'm trying to get into new hobbies. I'm learning how to fix things around my house. Clearly, I know how to be that drunk girl at the bar. But I'd like to learn how to be someone else. Someone with a skill besides drinking double shots of Jaeger.

5. Old Roxanne was horribly frightened of children. New Roxanne is, too. But I am so very excited for each and every one of my friends who's expecting or recently added a baby to their family. Despite the jokes I make about being a crazy old cat lady, I hope that someday my mother gets to be a grandmother to something besides a cat. (maybe a dog this spring! but hopefully something a little less furry)

I just want to get so much more out of 2013 than years prior. I want more fun. More laughs. Less rigidity. Less chaos. Definitely less crying. Less depression. More friendships. More time with family. More time discovering my faith. More time recovering from being a depressed, codependent monster. I really think that brighter days are ahead. I wouldn't suggest having your world turned upside down for fun or anything, but I can say that the past few months have really helped me to prioritize a lot of things in my life and really focus on what's important - living life. Enjoying life. And not stressing out so much over everything. In an Al Anon meeting the other day we talked about excellence versus perfection. If you strive for perfection, you're always going to fail, because nothing is perfect 100% of the time. But if you strive for excellence? You're less likely to let yourself or others down. So that's my new motto for 2013. Excellence not perfection!

What is it you're working towards in 2013?

2012 in Review

So, friends. It's nearly 2013. At the beginning of 2012, I told myself that I was going to have my best year ever. Obviously everything happens for a reason, but there were some not so awesome things that happened this year. But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens. I plan on spending NYE surrounded by my friends and family in the hopes that 2013 will really be my year.

Lets first talk about the low-lights of 2012.

• My boyfriend of 7 years left me and started dating a much younger woman
• I was homeless after said breakup
• I came as close to a nervous breakdown as you can
• I struggled with depression

So, overall, a short list. Here are the good things that happened:

• Took multiple cooking classes and learned a lot of new techniques
• Went to the Staples Center in LA and saw a Clippers game
• Got a chance to see Santa Monica, one of the most beautiful places in the country
• Had an epic Valentine's Day party with all of my girlfriends
• Had a great birthday celebration with my friends in Tremont - but I still wish I didn't pass out on the floor before it was time for pizza at Edison's
• Had fun in college town Columbia, Missouri
• Had the best St. Patty's Day ever with some of my old and new friends
• Spent an amazing week in Milwaukee, the booze capital of the nation (there's nothing like fresh vodka)
• Had a great Easter with my ex's family
• Ran my first 50k Mother's Day weekend and my mom was there to support me and buy emergency socks
• Ran in the Color Run (my Garmin will never be color free after that race)
• Learned how to CELEBRATE at the DMB concert
• Got to run in a huge 7 mile group run in Davenport, Iowa, my favorite work trip town that I go to
• Went through a soul shattering breakup and came out ok
• Got the opportunity to rent a house and live near a school and be reminded of the tough job teachers have
• Learned who my real friends were when I was going through life altering chaos
• Realized that although my romantic relationship with my ex ended, his family will always be a part of my life
• Ran my second 50k with a little help from my mom and friends
• Learned about codependency and sought treatment through Al Anon
• Discovered that my depression is treatable through meds
• Ran multiple 5ks with my mom and helped her to PR
• Bought the house of my dreams in a neighborhood I never thought I could afford
• Learned to be grateful and accept help
• Regained a sense of faith
• Realized that some people just don't have any business being in my life if all they want to do is bring me down
• Stayed in the most frightening hotel ever in Times Square
• Spent Thanksgiving and Christmas alone to reflect and heal
• Realized that I can't save the world and it's really not my job to - I have enough to deal with in my own life
• Learned how to be handy around the house
• Learned to not be so hard on myself and take things less seriously

If you're keeping score, this year was mainly good, I guess. Like most things in life, I think the definitions of "good" and "bad" are based on your perspective. Did I go through stuff I didn't want/expect to? Yep. Did I experience some awful times? Yep. But I've chosen to not focus on those bad moments and focus on the great times I had and the brighter days ahead. As I tell myself when I'm running and feel exhausted or discouraged, one foot in front of the other, step by step. That's really all that life is, I think. A series of footsteps through good times and bad. But the trick is to keep moving. Because nothing good or bad lasts forever, and if you don't keep moving, you'll miss out on the beauty waiting for you down the road.

Best wishes for the new year...and whatever lies ahead on your road of life.

Merry Everything

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope that your holiday season is filled with love, light, laughter, and quality time with friends and family. And maybe a little booze. And football. Oh, and definitely some fattening food.
I hope to take some time off this week to continue to work on my beautiful new house. Operation get the place in good shape so I can have a NYE party is in full effect!

My trees this year - I'm a little out of control