Amy's Backstage Blog

Hi! I'm Amy Scalia, co-host here at Star64! I'm starting a new blog for the station's website, and I couldn't be more excited about it!

I love to write… it's in my blood… my grandma was actually one of the first female newspaper reporters in Ohio! After falling in love with writing as a Harrison High School student, I went to Miami of Ohio on an English scholarship. I got a BA degree in Mass Communications with a specialty in electronic journalism.

When I'm not hosting for Star64, I'm running an online women's publication in town called Cincy Chic. I started it about five years ago, and it now has more than 22,000 subscribers! Check it out at cincychic.com.

I also love to run (I've run three marathons!), cook, garden, make jewelry and crafts, shop for shoes (it's an addiction), and play with my Vizsla "Dino." So, here on the blog, I plan to post a variety of useful info that'll range from yummy recipes and gardening tips, crafting ideas and inspirations, as well as fashion trends, sales and events going on you'll want to know about.

So, bookmark this page and check back often! I'll be posting at least once or twice a week!

Paint for a Purpose
05/17/12

Last year, my girlfriends and I went to Cheers to Art to enjoy a night of fun, wine and painting (click here to read all about it!). It was such an awesome night, and now, every time I look at the painting I made, I think of my girlfriends and how much fun we had that night. Fast forward to this year, I was talking with the Cheers to Art co-owners how we should do another event - make it open to the public - and have it benefit a local charity. We eventually came up with the idea to do "Paint for a Purpose" on June 15. Click here to learn more about it, gather your friends, date or significant other and make plans to join us! The philanthropy we partnered with is the Cincinnati Museum Centers Renovation Fund, which benefits Union Terminal, so help us save a real treasure. See you there!

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Spring has Sprung!
05/17/12

I just have to say... this weather is so amazing! With the comfortable temps and all this rain, my yard and plants are just loving it! I actually tried something new this year, and I really recommend it. I bought my flowers and veggies through Burpee's site... mainly because they mail the plants directly to you when it's the perfect time to plant them in your region (no trying to figure out if they're hardy enough to withstand late spring's dips in temps). I also did it because it saves me time not having to go to a nursery, pick out plants, get my car all dirty transporting the plants, etc. They just arrived on my doorstep - so nice! And now they're all planted, budding and blooming! Love it! Thought I'd share some pics of my container gardening in our back yard and all my pretty flowers in the front (and little herb garden on the porch)! Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

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Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory
05/03/12

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine." ~Jeffrey Glassberg

Today we had a shoot at the Krohn Conservatory to promote their Butterfly Show. I love butterflies (admittedly, they feel a little creepy when they're crawling all over you, but they're beautiful nonetheless), but I've never been to the Butterfly Show before! It was absolutely ....magical. (it took forever to come up with the right adjective to describe it there but "magical" sums it up) I felt like I was walking into a fairy tale. These beautiful, delicate, happy and friendly little creatures flittering around... landing on you to say hello... it was such a neat experience! So, I highly recommend checking it out... and actually, I learned that Mother's Day is a great day to see the show in this week's feature story on Cincy Chic. Click here to read the story and download coupons!

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Swimwear Fashion Show Sneak Peek
05/02/12

Storm (my co-host here on Star64) and I work together a ton - on and off camera. When we're not doing work for the station, we partner together with his ad agency and my publications. One of the things we're working on is this awesome Swimwear Fashion Show on May 17.

Anne Pachan, the Cincinnati native whos now in NYC designing divine swimwear for Cala Ossidiana (the brand she created), just emailed me with some AMAZING pics of some of the suits that shell be featuring in our May 17 Fun in the Sun swimwear fashion show! I thought I was excited about this event after I wrote this sneak peek last week. but now, after seeing the suits, Im starting to lose sleep! The bold fun colors, the sexy sheer, the strappy backs all to die for! And those backs are not only fashionable, theyre functional too. Anne says the straps and knots are adjustable to customize for the perfect fit! Posh suit, pretty color, perfect fit. Every. Womans. Dream. Click here to check out the slideshow of all the pics Anne just sent me! And click here to RSVP to the fashion show on May 17 at Pirates Cove on Kellogg Ave.!

Attention Brides and Divas!
05/02/12

A group of local ladies planned what looks to be a fun event thatll get you into the Spring spirit! Its called Spring Time in Paris, and itll be at Charming Charlie in Rookwood. If you havent been there before, its an absolutely immaculate mecca of clothing, shoes and accessories. and the best part. its all color coordinated. Need a pair of teal earrings for that new dress you bought, you know exactly where to look in this store!

The event is being held on Sunday, May 27 from 6-8:30pm. Enjoy food, makeovers, pictures, games, and 20% off all items purchased at Charming Charlie!

A bridal ticket is $25 and a Diva (aka non-bride) ticket is $15. If you need to contact anyone with Brides and Divas you can reach them at 513-202-6375 or email them here. You can also check them out here. They also have a Facebook page now, so be sure to check that out!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping me put this blog post together!

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Upcoming Inclusion Magazine Feature
04/26/12

I just found out that I'm going to be featured in Inclusion Magazine's Summer issue for the work I do at Star64 and Cincy Chic! In case you aren't familiar, Inclusion is a new fashion magazine based in Dayton OH, but it reaches an international readership. It's a gorgeous, high glossy, high fashion, print magazine, and I'm so honored to be featured! Check out the pics from the behind the scenes shoot!

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Launch Speaker Series: Amy Scalia
04/25/12

The Launch Speaker Series is featuring yours truly at an upcoming event! The fun networking event will be held on Friday, May 11 from 6:00-9:00 pm.

Launch (cool lounge downtown) will be offering complimentary snacks and half-priced drink features plus live music after my presentation and guest Q&A.

The mixing and mingling will run from 6-6:30, from 6:30-7 I will speak, from 7-7:30 will be the Q&A, and from 8:00 until whenever will be more mingling and live music!

The event is free and open to the public, 21 & up! And if you didn't know, Launch is located below Lunar Lounge at 435 Elm Street in Cincinnati.

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Bajon Salon & Spa Mother's Day Deal!
04/21/12

Bajon Salon and Spa let us in on a cool little secret. They've partnered with some West Chester restaurants for a new Pamper & Dine deal.

Here's how it works: get mom a $100 gift certificate from Bajon Salon and Spa (either online or in-store) and you'll get FREE dining deals from Marriott North River City Grill, Stone Creek Dining Company, Wise Owl Wine Bar, and Grand Ole Pub- that's a $140 value!

Plus, you'll be able to purchase a Groupon-style deal from Jag's Steak and Seafood! The deal is, buys a $50 gift card for $25!

Check out Bajon Salon and Spa's website here to get all the details and to get this amazing deal!

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High Performance Strategies Course – $100 Off!
04/18/12

I dont know what it is about Spring, but it always motivates me to be a better person. I get outside " smell the roses " more, workout more, and (I know it sounds corny but) I check in on the progress of my New Years resolutions. This year, my resolution was to simplify, simplify, simplify

I was feeling disorganized and unfocused personally and professionally. I've started using a few new tactics that have helped, such as the "Work Smart, Not Hard" techniques I read about. But a friend of mine - Monica Scalf, who runs The Playground Group just told me about an event she has coming up that sounds like the PERFECT solution I need to get my resolution to simplify in gear.

It's an upcoming six-hour event called High Performance Strategies. Ooh... I like that already. Sounds very, well, high-performance and strategic! According to the invite, the class includes individual, customized, scientifically-backed profiles that assess and identify strengths and improvement areas. The course covers The Playground Groups three specialties Productivity, Personal Branding, and Stress Management in one content-filled day (but it promises to be fun, too ...heck it's put on by a business called The Playground Group, so it has to be fun, right?). Promos say its great for anyone who wants to immediately boost their effectiveness. Yup, that's me!

The course is $399, but if you put in the coupon code CINCY you will get $100 off so its only $299! Small price to pay to actually accomplish a New Year's Resolution! That'll be a first! haha!

Click here to register: http://everydaysuccess.eventbrite.com

Grand Opening of Parlour Salon
04/16/12

A friend told me about this event and it promises to be loads of fun! It's the grand opening event for a new salon in East Walnut Hills called PARLOUR.

The event is being held this Friday, April 20th from 6-10pm at 2600 WoodBurn Ave and will be celebrating the local art and fashion inspired by so many talented Cincinnati stylists and artists.

PARLOUR takes the original salon and turns it on its head. The salon is a hair salon and gallery expanding into all aspects of lifestyle, fashion, art, and grooming. The goal is to create a space where creative people can go to be inspired and inspire others.

Also included in the event is:

Raffle of PARLOUR salon services

Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres provided by The Painted Chef

Complimentary wine, beer, and water

Photographs for purchase by local artist Jennifer Hoffman

Hark+ Hark will be on location and have jewelry selections available for purchase

All Davines products are 15% off and available for purchase

Music and DJ by Derek Ruch and Tyler Games

Event photography by Susan Keller

Be sure to get out there this Friday and check it out!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Vertical Gardening
04/12/12

We ran this story about "Vertical Veggies" on Cincy Chic a few weeks ago. It inspired me to think outside the box... or should I say, raised bed box. We moved in fall last year to a new house with a blank slate for a back yard. At our previous house, I had a raised bed that the owners prior to us had built, so I used that. But, now in our new house (which has a much smaller backyard), I decided that I didn't want a raised bed. They take up a ton of space and they aren't that attractive. I decided to buy a bunch of pretty pots and have different kinds of veggies and herbs growing in them - thus doubling as edible and attractive plants sprinkled all over our back yard and entertaining area! I did a bunch of research on container gardening, and collected lots of tips I'd like to share with you!

Big outdoor planters are a great way to display flowers, but moving them is backbreaking. Heres a simple way to cut the weight in half, with packing peanuts and improve drainage at the same time: Put packing peanuts into the container first, then fabric, then your dirt and plant.
If there's a hole in the bottom of your container (which is great for drainage, but not good for keeping your dirt in the container), put a coffee filter over the hole before putting in your dirt. So, you get the benefits of drainage and keeping your dirt in the container!
The next time you boil eggs, save the water and pour it on your garden and plants. The water becomes enriched with calcium when the eggs are cooked. Plus, why pour the water down the sink when you can reuse it for something, right?
Talk about reusing...reuse those wine bottles, my wino-o friends! Fill it with water and stick the opening into the dirt. It'll release water as your plants need it... perfect if you don't have time to water every day, or if you're going on vacation!
Speaking of being busy and limited on time, I actually ordered all my seeds and plants online this year! You can get pretty much everything you'll ever need for your plants and garden delivered to your door by ordering on Burpee.com. Also, one of the things I love is that they send you the seeds and plants you want when they're ready to be planted in your region (safe from frost). They also include directions (and QR code for online directions and video help!) for planting and continued care. Completely foolproof - just what I need! haha!
Put Epsom salts and sugar into each hole with your plant; It makes them grow larger, leafier and greener!

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Conundrum Concert
04/11/12

Confession: I was a band geek in school. I started playing the flute in 7th grade, and ended up getting really into it... doing concert band, marching band, church band... and, yes, I even went to band camp. So, when I found out that a friend of mine (Marianne Breneman) was a professional clarinetist, and also in a quartet called "Conundrum," I couldn't wait to go to their next concert! They don't play often, but when they do, it's fabulous. The first concert I went to was a "starry starry night" theme - they played at the Observatory and played all music with "star," "moon" or some sort of astronomy tie in the lyrics. During the intermission, we could climb the stairs to the Observatory deck and explore the stars with their amazing telescopes. Very cool. Conundrum just had another concert recently, and this one was at the Celestial in Mt. Adams. I don't know if they planned this or not, but the concert played as the sun set over the city - absolutely breathtaking. I just thought I'd share how much I enjoy watching these concerts, and recommend you keep this group on your radar so you can enjoy their next performance too -- regardless of if you're a band geek or not! :)

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Calling All Hair Stylists, Make-up Artists, and Fashion Designers!
04/10/12

Are you a hair stylist, make-up artist, or fashion designer? Heres a chance to show off your work! All N 1 Studio is looking for someone just like you to for an upcoming Cincinnati Event! Auditions will be held Saturday, April 14! For information, contact 512-202-6375! Submit pictures of your work as well as a biography here so you can be contacted!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

CASA for Clermont Kids Spring Charity Gala
04/06/12

Good time good cause good excuse to get dressed up! Thats what this CASA for Clermont Kids Spring Charity Gala event will be! CASA is an awesome organization that supports child abuse advocacy! Click here to learn more about it, and I hope to see you there! (oooh and added bonus one ticket holder will win a special gift from Tiffany & Co.! So exciting!!)

7 Below Premiere
04/05/12

My friends Aymie, Terry and Joe own Barking Fish Entertainment and they just produced a new film, "7 Below," starring Val Kilmer! It was filmed in the area (Goshen) and just released this week! The world premiere was at the Kenwood theater on Wednesday where a select group got to view the film - I was lucky to be one of those select few! It's a scary movie, with quite the spine-chilling plot, but it's very good and I highly recommend checking it out! Especially since so much local love went into it! To learn more, click here to check out its IMDB site! I took a couple pics at the premiere - one with Joe Busam, the film's visual effects supervisor. The other pic is of many of the producers and cast! So exciting!

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Blaine’s Robert Graham/Allen Edmonds Trunk Show April 12
04/05/12

As much as I love to shop for myself, I also love menswear and shopping for my hubby! That's why I'm so excited about the Blaines Robert Graham/Allen Edmonds trunk show coming up on April 12. The event will feature a fashion show showcasing the latest Spring and Summer trends from Robert Graham and Allen Edmonds, live DJ music, interact with local style bloggers, and enjoy cigars from DEPs Fine Wine & Spirits as well as complimentary wine and cocktails featuring Bourbon Vodka. Men and women are welcome to attend! Me and my blogger friends from Folk & Feather, Ostentology, Josh Stevens, and Style Everyday will be there!

My hubby, Pete, actually wore a Robert Graham shirt over the weekend so I had to snap a pic to give you an idea of how awesome these shirts are. They always have great colors, prints, and little details " like the floral, paisley, polka dot, silk and metallic inside the collar, cuffs and interior trim! I cant wait to see whats new at the trunk show! See you there!

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St. Jude Radiothon
04/04/12

I'm so honored that I was asked to be "celeb" volunteer for the St. Jude radiothon on WDBZ "The Buzz" and MOJO this morning! I learned so much about St. Jude in the process, and it's fascinating! Did you know it's just one hospital, based in Memphis TN? Their daily operating costs are $1.7 million (yes, a DAY) and the majority of those costs are covered directly by donations (which is why fundraisers like the radiothons are so important!). Why is it so expensive to keep this special kid-focused hospital up and running? It's because they cover all costs that the family of a sick child might incur, which include the patient's treatments and food of course, but also the family's travel and stay. Speaking of food, the kids get to eat whatever they want whenever they want when they're at St. Jude. I learned that because the kids going through treatments, such as chemo and radiation, they often don't have much of an appetite. So, when they're hungry for something like grandma's mac & cheese, the chef at St. Jude's literally calls up grandma for the recipe and makes it for the patient. These are just a few of the awesome things I learned about St. Jude. Check out their website to learn more and make a donation today!

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Dream Dinners
04/04/12

I absolutely love to cook, but unfortunately, I don't always have time for it. That's why I almost did a cartwheel when I learned about Dream Dinners. Basically, they provide everything you need to assemble wholesome meals - made just to your specifications - that you freeze and then make on those busy nights you don't have time to prep a whole meal. They have all the recipes, all the ingredients are prepped for you (i.e., onions chopped, noodles cooked, garlic minced, etc) and you whip everything together how you like it (i.e., more cayenne if you like heat, less cheese if you're on a diet, no onions if your kids don't like them, etc). It's also very social. I visited the Anderson location last week and there were a bunch of other women there. It was fun chatting and prepping meals with them! Most of the ladies I talked to say they come once a month and prep all their meals for the next few weeks. They said it makes it easy for those busy nights when you need to get kids to school, a soccer game or band practice on time... some even said they take the meals on vacation so they don't spend precious vaca time cooking! What a great idea!

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National Donate Your Hair Day
03/29/12

On March 22, more than 120 members of the P&G Family and Cincinnati community cut and donated their hair to benefit the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.

The Beautiful Lengths program makes real-hair wigs for women undergoing cancer treatments. Since its creation in 2006, the program has collected nearly 310,000 ponytails and has helped distribute more than 18,000 free real-hair wigs through American Cancer Society wig banks across the country.

The March 22 event was in partnership with The Childrens Theatre of Cincinnatis March 2012 production of Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale. So, some of the characters came and visited attendees, which is super cute. I put together pics of the event below so you can see how much fun is was!

Turns out, this event is actually a sneak peek of a nationwide event coming up! Pantene is teaming up with Seventeen Magazine for a first-ever National Donate Your Hair Day on April 27. Theyre encouraging people across the country to cut and donate their hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program. So, if you have some lovely locks youd like to shed before summer, this is a great opportunity to do so for a great cause!

Click here to learn more about the program!

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Got (Bridal) Junk in Your Trunk?
03/29/12

I just found out about this event, and I love it for many reasons two of which being: 1) its a great idea 2) saying junk in your trunk is fun. Check out this event (details pasted below)! Sounds like an awesome opportunity to trim down your trunk of bridal stuff you dont want or need any more, and its also the perfect opportunity to snag a good deal on fab finds for your big day!

Bridal Junk In Your Trunk Bonanza

http://www.915monmouth.com/bridal_flea_market.html

Sunday

12:00pm until 6:00pm

915 Monmouth Street Newport KY

** DROP OFF TIMES**

Tuesday from 10 am until 3 pm
Wednesday from 10 am until 7 pm
thursday from 10 am until 3pm and 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm
friday from 10 am until 7 pm
Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm

Call your Grammy and tell her to pull out the good stuff its time to make a little cash. This April 1st from 12pm to 6pm, well be holding our first Bridal Junk in the Trunk Bonanzaan event that will allow to-be-brides to come shop for those must-have items for their wedding and recent brides or everyday collectors to unload their treasure while making a few extra bucks.

Youve browsed the forums, scoured craigslist and even hit up ebay, but theres something about not only seeing an item in person, but seeing it set up just how you picture it in your mind at your wedding. Thats what well do for you this wont be set up like your neighborhood yard sale. Nope, were going to use the items that you drop off to create beautifully styled tables so you can see just how all these pieces can look at your own wedding.

If youre interested in selling some of your goods, contact brides@915monmouth.com to get your items registered, a vendor number and your paperwork all set to go before March 24, 2012. All well need is your contact information, a list of your items and photos of those items if you have them. There will be a small fee based upon the number of items you have to sell, which we can figure up for you quickly after you send over your inventory. If you need help with how to price your items, were happy to help with that, as well.

Here are a few examples of items were looking for from you (but dont feel limited to these items- we just want your best stuff!)

Vintage books
Crates
Mason jar
Jars in general
Cake stands
Apothecary jars
Unique vases
Bud vases
Unique containers
Handmade items
Table number holders
Frames

If you have any questions, feel free to email brides@915monmouth.com

If youre bride looking for something specific, email us and let us know! We can do our best to try and hook you up!

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The Flying Pig is Calling All Bands!
03/28/12

The Flying Pig is doing a search for bands! After running the Flying Pig several times, I know the bands at each mile marker really help to motivate you! Also, my husband Pete will be in the band playing at the victory party at Sawyer Point. The band's name is Snidely Whiplash so make sure you look for them. Good luck to all the runners and walkers wrapping up their training!Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

Reds Opening Day Parade!
03/28/12

Baseball season is in the air! My co-host Storm and I will be in the Reds Opening Day parade on April 5 at 1pm. The season opener starts at 4:15pm.

So make sure you come down to visit the parade or tune in to Star64 to see all of the parade festivities!

I got to visit Great American Ball Park the other day and hang out with the Reds PR guy Mike Anderson. The stadium is looking perfect for a great season! All the more reason to watch the parade and go to the first game of the season!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Run for Shelter 5k and Carnival!
03/26/12

A friend told me about this great event coming up, the Run for Shelter 5k and Carnival! It seems like an awesome event so I wanted to share the details with you! The 5k and family carnival will be held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Oakley Recreation Center in the Hyde Park Plaza. The event will benefit Transitions Global, an international non-profit organization that works to restore the lives of girls who have been exploited and abused. They provide aftercare for girls rescued from trafficking. Transitions Global helps to get the girls back on their feet and restore their lives, while giving them hope for the future! This sounds like an extremely amazing opportunity to help girls in the Cincinnati area. I hope to see you there!Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

12 Ways to Wear a Denim Top
03/22/12

My husband recently bought me a denim shirt. It's super cute, but probably not something I would have picked out for myself. Pete and I don't really randomly buy things for each other like this (I'm liking this new trend though! haha!) So, to encourage more repeat purchases, I want to wear it often! :) Searching for inspiration, I relied on my trusty new friend Pinterest and it didnt disappoint. Dont know what Pinterest is? We wrote about it here in Cincy Chic and I actually just wrote a whole article about what it is on my co-host Storm Bennett's site, so click here to read that. I found a ton of great ideas for how to wear my top, and it turns out that I'm going to be able to wear this a TON! From dressy and business to boho and casual. Im excited! Check out all the pics below to see all the looks, and click here to see more style inspirations!

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Three Tips for Moms with Tiny Tots
03/22/12

Ok, I don't have any little ones yet, but I recently came across so much great info about kids that I just had to share! Three things in particular caught my attention...

Our "Mommy Maven" columnist on Cincy Chic recently wrote about this cool place called The Honey Bee in Madeira. They have a bunch of events - like one every Monday called "Honey Bee Tots" where kids aged 2-4 can enjoy music, story time and more. Thursday is Lunch Brunch from 12:00-1:00 for kids 4-5. You can bring your child by for story time with a brown bag lunch and drop them off for the hour! ...And it's FREE! Check out their site for more info - www.honeybeekids.com
Lelli Kelly Event Saturday at Little Lords & Ladies this Saturday. If you have a future fashionista in the fam and want to foster her shoe fetish early, check out this Lelli Kelly event on Saturday. Click here to learn more about the event and this fun kids lifestyle brand!
Pinterest. I've been absolutely obsessed about Pinterest lately. If you don't know what it is, I actually just wrote a whole article about what it is on Storm's site, so click here to read that. It's great for a variety of people in specific industries like interior design and fashion, but it's also great for moms, crafters, foodies, etc. I see a lot of moms collecting ideas for kid's crafts that look like so much fun, so click here to see those! Enjoy!!

RV Road Trippin!
03/22/12

This week, we did a super fun shoot for the station. We partnered with Tom Raper RVs to do a "tourist in your own town" roadtrip around the Tri-State. I had never actually been in a RV before, so this was a completely new experience. I absolutely loved it! These things are like houses on wheels! Actually, the one we took out was bigger than my first apartment... no joke! Some of them have multiple levels, bedrooms, and even kitchens with granite countertops and stainless appliances! Unbelievable! We just had so much fun traveling from Fairfield to Eden Park, and Devou Park to Newport. We did everything from staging a tailgate to just siting back, relaxing and enjoying the skyline... we even ordered a pizza to the RV! haha! Funniest phone conversation ever... "Hello, I'd like to order a pizza" "Ok, what's your address?" "Um, we don't have one. We're in an RV on a hill." They did find us and got us our grub! So awesome! It was an absolutely beautiful day for it too! So, I highly recommend RVing now! You can even rent them for a roadtrip, concert, tailgating for a game or just touring the town like we did! So fun!

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Help Local Inventor's Product “Get on the Shelf” at Wal-Mart
03/15/12

Attention all soccer moms and sports fans! My friend Kellys husband developed a really cool product youll want to know about! Whether its rain, sleet, snow, or the steamy-hot sun " this new invention will keep you out of it when youre on the sidelines. The product is called Under the Weather its water resistant, wind proof up to 38 mph, has SPF 50 Sun protection, and like I mentioned it was created by a local inventor! Now, he needs your help!

Thanks to a program called Get on the Shelf, Walmart is letting local entrepreneurs share their stories, let their products shine. and the best one gets on the shelves of Wal-Mart along with a bunch of business advice and support! Check out the press release below to learn all about the Under the Weather product, the Wal-Mart Get on the Shelf Contest and watch a video to see how the product works! CLICK HERE to vote! Tell your friends!

Local Entrepreneurs Invention Featured in Walmarts Get on the Shelf National Contest

Soccer Dad Inventor Looking for Cincinnatis Support, Votes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Local entrepreneur and native Cincinnati resident, Rick Pescovitz, is hoping for as many votes as he can muster in order to get his invention, Under the Weather, a shelter for inclement weather, on shelves at Walmart stores nationwide. After years of refining the design and materials, Pescovitz just last month filled a warehouse with the final product ready to be shipped. The timing of this contest was uncanny, says Pescovitz. We began talking strategy for bringing this product to market just a few months ago and when we saw an article about this contest, we couldnt help but think it was meant to be, he adds.

The contest, hosted by Walmart, is called get on the shelf and winners are selected based upon the total number of votes their product receives. Voting begins March 7th and runs through April 3rd. Winners get featured placement on Walmart.com, valuable marketing support, advice on scaling up and, most important, a spot on Walmart store shelves

To vote, consumers can go to: http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/5087/Under-The-Weather. The get on the shelf contest is based upon votes. The product with the most votes wins. Pescovitz needs hometown support because every vote counts.

Pescovitz spent three years developing this product because he along with his wife and all of the other soccer moms and dads was tired of standing outside in the cold, wind, rain, snow and sleet to watch their kids play soccer. In fact, he says it was conceived after a brisk soccer tournament in Richmond, Virginia. On the drive home he did a simple sketch based upon the shape and size of a port-o-let. The parents spent the weekend joking around about warming up in the port-o-lets and that is what sparked the idea, he adds.

The product, a small tent large enough for a soccer chair or two small stools, is fully enclosable and sees through. It has a Polyurethane floor and Clear PVC windows and is highly water resistant and wind proof up to 38 mph, making the inside conditions up to 30 degrees warmer than the outside in cold weather. It is also lightweight and portable, folding into a circular carry bag 23 in diameter, weighing only 6 lbs. In addition to cold weather protection, it also provides SPF 50 Sun protection. A lot of people like the fact that you can get sun protection without having to hold an umbrella and because it is self enclosed, its really good for babies and toddlers, also, adds Pescovitz.

Pescovitz has decades of manufacturing and importing experience having worked a promotional product company for almost 25 years. Knowing about fabrics, specifications and having the contacts in place to convert my sketches into product was extremely helpful, he says. Of course, having three kids competing at the club soccer level also provided him with ample opportunity to consumer test the product, as well. We have been through around seven different versions, making suggested improvements each time and we are confident the final product is excellent, says Pescovitz. This past weekend my wife was in St. Louis in 30 degree, heavy wind weather conditions and I was in Cincinnati watching the games in the snow While it is nice to stay warm, the other upside now is that we sell a bunch of tents in this weather, says Pescovitz.

Owners of the tent agree. I just used my new sports tent all weekend, through wind, rain, cold, and sun, and I just love it Im a grama lady and supposed to stay out of the sun so I will also be using it all summer to help keep the UV rays off of me. My husband and I (together) can easily manage to fold it up It is lightweight enough for me to carry myself Great idea, says Michele Baker from Cleveland, Ohio. Baker saw Pescovitz in the tent in a tournament in Dayton, Ohio before the final rendition was developed and was one of the first to purchase the product.

Tents are available in red, yellow and blue. Under the Weather also comes standard with an additional roof that can be decorated with team logos. Tents cost $69.95.

For additional detail about Under the Weather and to purchase the tents, visit www.under-the-weather.com. Links below highlight demonstrations of how the tent is put up, folded, and stored:

http://www.under-the-weather.com/video/setup.php

http://www.under-the-weather.com/video/windrain.php

http://www.under-the-weather.com/video/sun.php

About Rick Pescovitz

Rick Pescovitz knows a little about starting a company and product development. Nearly 25 years ago he started Professional Image Apparel, a uniform company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rick is the father of three soccer players. His oldest son, Max, graduates this spring from Walnut Hills High School. He played for Cincinnati United Premier and was the 2011-2012 Southwest Ohio Player of the Year. Madeleine, 16, plays for Ohio Elite in the ECNL league traveling nationwide throughout the year and is a sophomore at St. Ursula. Anna, 12, is also at Ohio Elite and travels regionally. Rick and his wife collectively have long lost count of the number of games for which they have withstood, rain, hail, sleet, snow and severe winds. Ricks wife, Kelly, has just one regret about the tents and that is that it wasnt invented twelve years ago when they attended their first soccer game as parents.

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Little Black Dress Fashion Show!
03/15/12

I'm super excited for this event because I'll be the Celebrity MC! Yay!

The Women's Council of Realtors will be holding it's 18th Annual Little Black Dress Fashion Show on Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 11am-2pm!

The event will be held at Receptions Fairfield with fashions being provided byThe Snooty Fox. There will be a Basket Bonanza as well as a Silent Auction! A portion of all proceeds from the day will benefit the Pink Ribbon Girls!

Hair Styling will be done by Statements in Hair, Photography by Jude Zirkelbach, Jeff Wieland will be doing the Cake Auction, and Renee Glenn from Your Image Matters will all be in attendance!

RSVP by contacting Kristen Moore at Kristen.moore@onlinehsa.com or by calling 859-816-2645! Tickets are $40 before and $45 at the door- or you can book a table of 10 for $350!

Make sure you save the date and I'll see you there!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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The Yelp Helps After School Special
03/14/12

Drop your pencils, close your books,and come out for a too-cool-for-school party on fun and philanthropy. You'll mix and mingle with passionate yelpers and get the CliffsNotes on noteworthy Cincinnati non-profits, all at the former school turned awesome event space, The Clifton Cultural Arts Center!

As extra credit, indulge in A+ free eats from local restaurants, drinks from local bars and an Enjoy the Arts Cabaret featuring performances by Cincinnati Ballet, Symphony Orchestra, Cincy Blues Society and others. It will be more entertaining than an episode of Saved By The Bell.

Guest are encouraged to dress up for this school-themed event! Nerd outfits, blazers, heck, even a sexy schoolgirl if you want to rock it (yes, guys or girls.) Anything goes, school's out and it's a party!

RSVP right here (http://bit.ly/yWoAmn) you can even bring a +1! Just remember, because of the free alcohol, this is 21+ only. Sorry, no little schoolchildren allowed, no matter how good they've been.

So what's happening at this party? Open up your books to page 1 and read on:

CHARITIES

1. Arts Innovation Movement:aim Cincinnati

2. Bad Girl Ventures

3. BawaForChange

4. Bluegrass for Babies

5. Caracole, Inc.

6. Chicks & Chucks, Inc.

7. Child Wellness Fund

8. Children's Law Center, Inc.

9. Cincinnati Childrens Home

10. Circle Tail

11. Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati

12. Community Services YMCA

13. Crayons to Computers

14. Enjoy The Arts

15. Faces without Places

16. Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart

17. Girls on the Run of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.

18. Give Back Cincinnati

19. Greyhound Adoption of Greater Cincinnati

20. Junior League of Cincinnati

21. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

22. Lady Riders Against Cancer Inc

23. National Kidney Foundation Greater Cincinnati Region

24. Necco

25. Play it Forward

26. Power Inspires Progress

27. Starshine Hospice of Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital

28. Stop Traffick Fashion

29. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation/The Women's Fund of GCF

30. Transitions

31. Women Helping Women

32. Alpine Valley Water

FREE FOOD AND DRINK FROM...

33. Andy's Mediterranean

34. Artrageous Desserts

35. The Avenue Lounge

36. Bakerloo Bakery

37. Christian Moerlein

38. Coffee Emporium

39. FB's

40. Donna's Gourmet Cookies

41. Glier's Meats

42. Izzy's

43. Keystone

44. PhroZen

45. PizzaBomba

46. PLAY

47. Remi J's Barbecue

48. Streetpops

49. Sweet Petit Desserts

50. Table Top Brewing

51. Taste of Belgium

52. Turophilia Quesadillas

53. vitaminwater

54. Whisky Bar Cincinnati

55. Whole Foods Market

56. Windmill Coffee

57. Yagt

EXTRACURRICULARS

THE ENJOY THE ARTS CABARET!

8:00 - 8:15 - Cincinnati Ballet (Ballet) (http://www.cballet.org)

8:20 - 8:35 - Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute (African Drumming & Dance) (http://www.bi-okoto.com)

8:40 - 8:55 - New Edgecliff Theater (Play Excerpt) (http://newedgecliff.com)

9:00 - 9:15 - Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Piano) (http://cincinnatisymphony.org)

9:20 - 9:35 - Cincy Blues Society (Blues - Instrumental) (http://cincyblues.org)

9:40 - 9:55 - Cincinnati Men's Chorus (Jazz - Vocal) (http://www.cincinnatimenschorus.org)

MUSIC

DJ E

The Never Setting Suns

The Young Professional's Choral Collective

RELAXATION

Lighthouse Massage

Premier Salon

Rollers & Rouge

Taylor Jameson Salon

Thrive Chiropractic

GYM

American Cornhole Orgainization

The Cincinnati Rollergirls

PHOTOGRAPHY

Anamedia

ShutterBooth

KEEPING THINGS TIDY

Vesco Cleaning

PRINTING

Seemless Printing

Don't be tardy to this free party. RSVP above!

The CARA Group- A Ladies Night Out!
03/14/12

Nest is hosting a Ladies Night out this Thursday from 5-9pm at Hyde Park Square where they will be donating 10% of all sales! Happy hour starts at 5pm at Cock & Bull, Poco A Poco, and Head Over Heels.
All proceeds benefit the CARA Group, a non-profit organization where community partners work together to raise awareness and funds to enrich the lives of people with disabilities in Hamilton County.
There will be fashion shows at Posh Boutique from 6:30-6:45pm, Jamshid Antique Oriental Rug Gallery from 7:30-8:00pm, and a Raffle Drawing at Head Over Heels at 8:30pm. The Grand Prize for the drawing is a $1,000 Head Over Heels Shopping Spree! Raffle tickets are on sale now for $5 each or 6 for $25!
Also, get to sample Raspberry Lipstick Margaritas from Foxy Gourmet! Yum!
So gather your girlfriends and head to Hyde Park Square this Thursday for a Ladies Night Out, Happy Hour, Fashion Shows, and a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree while also supporting a great cause! See you there! Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Network at Cliqq & Sip!
03/13/12

Here's a great opportunity to get out there and network! Cliqq and Sip is hosting a meet and greet with HR reps from The Cincinnati Enquierer, Possible Worldwide, and Brown Mackie College. These companies are recruiting for Journalism, English, and Creative Writing internships or full-time positions. All Cliqq & Sip customers that day will get short one-on-one interviews with these companies! The event is being held on March 28 from 2-5pm at 261 W. McMillan Street (at the corner of W. McMillan and Chickasaw)Not only is this a great opportunity due to the slump in the economy, but it's also an opportunity to get out to Cliqq & Sip and check out this amazing coffee shop in Clifton. You can catch up on Cliqq & Sip here, where Cincy Chic previously sat down with owner Toyia.And while you're there networking and checking out the shop, treat yourself to the drink of the week, which will be a Nutty Irishmen Latte (made of Irish Creme & Hazelnut!) Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Get Out(side)!
03/09/12

This weekend we "spring forward" which means Spring is almost here!!! YAY! It's my favorite season! I love it because everything is blooming, the weather is beautiful, and .... I plant my garden!!! Each year, I plant something different. The first year I started gardening, I did a bunch of random herbs and lots of tomatoes. But I ended up with too many tomatoes (my hubby started getting sick of me sneaking tomatoes into his breakfast, lunch and dinner! haha!) and herbs that I didn't know what to do with (lavender for example... beautiful to smell, but what do you do with it?!). So, last year, I planted a wider variety of veggies and only the herbs I use most often in recipes, like basil, oregano, and cilantro. This year, I'm going to get creative with how I plant my garden. Previously, I've always had a boring raised bed, but I want to have fun with potted plants, hanging baskets and repurposed containers. So, I created this page on Pinterest to start brainstorming for unique gardening ideas. I'll also include some of my favorites on this blog post. If you're interested in trying out your green thumb this year, I recommend Greener Stock on Columbia Parkway and Marvin's Organic Gardens in Lebannon to get all your green goodies. Enjoy!

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A Village Gift Shop at the Century House
03/06/12

There are lots of reasons to celebrate this March 17! Not only is it St. Patrick's Day, but it's also the 10th Anniversary of Agricola Redesign AND the grand re-opening of the Century House!

I'm soooo excited about this! I absolutely love the Century House, and was completely heartbroken when they announced they were closing in September last year. But I just got a call from Diane Agricola, owner of Agricola Redesign and A Village Gift Shop, who said that she's expanding her businesses by moving into the Century House!

Wait, it gets better she's opening the doors of her new location, 3 Village Square, in style "girlfriend" style to be exact. The theme for the day will be Girlfriends and she's going all out to celebrate the ties that bind great girlfriends.

Local author and Executive Director of Every Child Succeeds, Judy Van Ginkel, Ph.D., will be at A Village Gift Shop 3-7pm to sign copies of her book Life Begins and Ends with Girlfriends. A portion of Saturday's sales will be donated to Every Child Succeeds.

In addition, local musician Tom Laskey will be playing classical guitar from 3-7pm. He received his training at CCM and will play a diverse and extensive repertoire of songs.

At the event, you'll be able to enter one of several drawings to win a Girls Night Out Decorating Class for you and your group of girlfriends. Light refreshments will be served all day long as well.

Hope to see you there!!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

10:00am - 7:00pm

3 Village Square

Glendale, OH 45246

513.771.3927

2012 Greater Cincinnati Independent Restaurant Week
03/06/12

One of my great loves in life is food. Another is saving money. Next week (March 12-21), these two loves unite for the Greater Cincinnati Independent 2012 Restaurant Week! This is where you can get 3 courses for $26.12 p/p (plus alcohol, tax, and gratuity) at numerous local independent restaurants. Click here to for a list of participating restaurants and you can click here to learn more about Restaurant Week! Bon Apptit!

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National Women's History Month
03/06/12

Yesterday, I did a shoot in the Star64 studio to promote National Women's History Month (NWHM). I have a faint memory of learning about this special month in grade school. But being the publisher of a women's publication and huge proponent of pioneering women, I couldn't believe I didn't know more about it! I did a little research on NWHM and learned that each year, there's a theme. This year's theme is "Women's Empowerment." You can click here to learn more about it and click here to learn about past NWHMs. So, I encourage you to take some time this month to learn more about NWHM, celebrate the women who paved the path for us today, and think of ways you can make the world a little better for future femmes! :)

Help Heart Mini for a Mini Cooper!
02/29/12

Heart Mini is holding a special promotion now through March 9. For every $100 each runner and walker raises online, they will be entered into a drawing for a Mini Cooper!

This event is coming up on March 18 and don't forget the promotion ends March 9, so register online and get yourself entered to win a Mini Cooper!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

Help Me Help Cure Cystic Fibrosis!
02/25/12

My co-host Storm and I wwere recently selected as honorees for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "Cincinnati's Finest" awards this year.

Cincinnati's Finest awards will be on March 1 at 6:30 pm at the Bell Event Center. Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door the night of the event.

As honorees, we have committed to raise $2500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

This is an awesome cause and it would really mean a lot to me to have the support of my amazing readers!

If you would like to help me help cure Cystic Fibrosis, you can donate here! I would really appreciate your help!

Thank you and see you on March 1!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping me put this blog post together!

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Guest Blog From NYFW Show Attendee
02/21/12

My friend, and Cincy Chic columnist Kristie Sheanshang, is such a lucky duck. She got to go to New York Fashion Week this year and attend two incredible shows: Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka. But Im lucky too because she offered to write a guest blog to tell us all about her amazing experience and give us insight into what she saw on the catwalks! Enjoy!

Vera Wang

Valentines Day this year was a day filled with dreams coming true, pure excitement and joy, but not in the traditional roses and chocolates way. I didnt get any candy hearts or lollipops, but I sure felt like a little girl walking wide eyed into a candy shop. Thanks to a last minute trip scheduled to the Big Apple, a few nail biting phone calls and I was sitting in the fourth row of the Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka shows.

Attending New York Fashion Week was a super stretch goal I wrote down for my stylist business, Flair (www.Dare4Flair.com). It is truly a bucket list moment and I couldnt believe it was falling into place. Landing at LaGuardia, I had to keep pinching myself, the day was truly surreal.

Since it was a spontaneous decision and not wanting to bring much luggage, my mind raced with thoughts of Have I packed the right thing, which celebrities will we see, would the five various friends and family members be able to shuffle my kids until my husband returned from a business trip? Fortunately I was able to twist the arm of long time friend and fellow fashionista Jen Stuhlreyer to take part in checking off a bucket list moment together.

The day was fantastic and fantasy all rolled into one. I have no doubt that the Big Man was smiling down on me: One day, two amazing shows, seven celebrity sightings, a blogger from DNAinfo.com approaching me for my picture (wow moment), immediately followed by walking in the main theatre of Lincoln Center and a girl from Glamour.com approaching me for an interview. It really took me off guard, I thought it was a joke to be honest, but there was the camera man and chic interviewer Tracey Lomrantz of What Are You Wearing? asking about my print on print outfit (double wow moment). After we chatted, she told me that I resemble Charlotte/Kristen Davis from Sex and the City. I smiled thinking; this is a small taste of what celebrity life consists of. Then my mind raced back to the modeling class I took and how to best place my feet for the pictures. Well see if it runs or lands on the editing room floor.

Badgley Mischka

The shows were outstanding. Not knowing what to expect, we quickly realized they were starting Fashionably late and only lasting about 20 minutes each. We started with Badgley Mischka, who is known for their exquisite evening wear and gorgeous hand beading. They showed textured leggings, bejeweled necklines, fantastic cut-out shoulders on fitted tops (great for women who want to cover their upper arms, but show a little skin), wonderful draping, plus lots of leather and fur trims. There was even a vintage fur stole like my great grandma used to wear, also with cut-out shoulders. Colors shown were black, navy, metallics of pewter, bronze, platinum and gold, plus an evening gown in rose. Vera Wang brought more color to the season with tangerine, charcoal gray, tobacco brown, dark green, plum and Dutch blue. Wangs collection showed how soft and hard, covered up or revealing can coexist. She displayed this by how she cut the jacquard fabric " sharp, structural, architectural and form fitting, yet paired with fluid sheer chiffon. She designed sheer long skirts as well as structured Bermuda shorts that gave the look of a slim pencil skirt, plus heavy winter coats and elegant capes with fur trim. Wangs looks were feminine without being too saccharine.

The shows exceeded my expectations and created a desire to bring more fashionable ideas to my clients. My company stands behind the belief you dont need the newest trend to be fashionable. We focus on making our clients look and feel fantastic by finding clothes and accessories that best for their body, lifestyle and wallet " without looking like everyone else. With this said, only a small majority of my clientele could afford and desire to buy haute couture designs. Watching the shows first hand, feeling the music vibrate through the theatre, seeing the movement of the models hair and listening to the responses of fellow journalists and fashion lovers next to me, I understood the artistic performance. With only a small segment of buyers that would chose to purchase and wear these designs, the designers were providing us the most creative designs with amazing attention to detail as a way to challenge the Prt "a " Port and the mass merchandisers to step up the game. Their designs were fantasy, almost dress-up like compared to what Midwesterners wear every day, yet they inspire us to think outside the box, create different pairings in our own closets and turn the costume feel into knock-out attire that can be worn locally.

What a whirlwind trip. We didnt even have the chance to visit favorite retailers in mid town and the Upper East Side, which thrilled my husband, but not Visa. The Band-Aids of childcare successfully provided my kids with a terrific 36 hours. Fashion Week was a goal. Now that its accomplished, the memory of its performance and learned lesson will encourage greater style to permeate from me and my clients.

Kristie Sheanshang is a style consultant, closet cleaner, personal shopper and public speaker who enjoys helping women look and feel fantastic by finding clothes that best fit their body, lifestyle and wallet " without looking like everyone else. She writes the monthly style column for Cincy Chic and represents the Etcetera clothing line as well as some private boutiques in Cincinnati, OH. Flair is a 2011 Winner " Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce WE Celebrate Businesses WE Watch. Sheanshang is a Certified Image Consultant and has been published in 24-7Style.com, CincyChic.com and 365 Days of Style.com. Dare for Flair in your life and clothes. We will help you Discover your Style and Re-energize your wardrobe. Visit www.Dare4Flair.com for more information.

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Shop to Stop Cancer!
02/20/12

Heres a great event to help stop cancer! The Relay for Life race is coming up in April and there are lots of fun ways you can support the Cause without ever walking or running in the race!

And for that, you can "Shop to Stop Cancer!" The event is being held this Saturday, February 25th from 2pm-8pm at the Weller Haus Bed & Breakfast in Bellevue! At this event you can come, shop, get beautified and voila, you've enjoyed a good time for a great cause!

Shop til you drop with a vendor showcase of all your favorite products! Each of the vendors have graciously volunteered to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Relay for Life cause.

Be sure to tell all your friends and family so that we can all help others while helping ourselves! Even if you cant make it to the event, vendors will be taking orders over the phone and online so that you can still contribute!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jackie Klein here for more info and well see you there!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Big Easy Mardi Gras Bash at J Gumbos!
02/16/12

It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Even if it involves yummy food and 30 craft beers - I'll take one for the team! :) We have a shoot coming up at J Gumbos this Saturday, so of course Storm and I had to check it out first to learn all about it. Apparently, they're going to have a huge Mardi Gras party from Friday through Fat Tuesday (that's one heck of a party!). Storm and I will be stopping by on Saturday, so make sure you tune in starting at noon!! At the J Gumbo party, they'll have drink specials (I highly recommend the hurricanes! Delish!), of course amazing food (I love the spicy stuff but they had a lot of mild/non-spicy dishes too), and they'll have a bunch of prizes to give away to attendees, like jewelry, gift certificates and free gym memberships (to work off all those hurricanes and food! haha!). It was a great little place in White Oak, so definitely stop by to enjoy the fun, food, drinks (if you don't like hurricanes, don't forget about those 30+ craft beers!), and a awesome atmosphere! Check them out and laissez les bon temps rouler!

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Fun Times at Taft
02/16/12

This week, we had a shoot at the Taft Museum of Art to promote their upcoming Bearden exhibit. I'm a history buff, and I love art, so I was on cloud nine for this shoot! The museum is actually Charles Taft's home... lots of people think it was President Taft's but it's not. Charles did have his brother, President William Howard Taft, stay at the house often though. They were apparently very close - wrote each other almost every day - and Charles was William's main financial backer when he decided to run for the presidency (it was super expensive to run back in those days too!). How did ol Chuck make all his money? He was editor of the Cincinnati Times-Star (later became the Cincinnati Post). Because newspapers were THE main source of information at the time, he held a really important position and was rewarded generously for it. Ah... but I digress. Back to the museum. It's truly a little hidden treasure every Cincinnatian should check out. They're open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Even better - the museum is free to all on Sundays and parking is always free. They even have a cute little cafe where you can enjoy a meal ... or coffee and carrot cake like Storm and I did! :) The Cafe is open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy!

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It's Random Acts of Kindness Week!
02/16/12

Random fun fact... February 13-19, 2012 is Random Acts of Kindness Week! So, even though Valentine's Day is over, this is a great way to keep the love alive in your life -- whether it's among friends, family, significant others, or even strangers! Actually, one Ohio fashion designer I just wrote about says that conversation-starting apparel is a great way to break the ice with strangers. That's why he started his "Ohiya" clothing line that you can read about here. But if that's not your style, there are lots of other fun ways to brighten someone's day- this week and beyond! This website offers some really great ideas for how to make someone's day! And attached is a pic of my Random Act of Kindness/Valentine's Day gift I made out of playing cards! So fun and so easy! Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Hats Off to Balconi Gear!
02/16/12

Ladies! If you're getting ready for the Flying Pig or just trying to find something to keep your ears warm and the weather out of your eyes while you're out for a run, Balconi hats are perfect for you!

I posted the pic attached to this blog to my Facebook page because Dino was being super cute after our run. More people commented on my hat than anything else though. I have a few friends training for the Flying Pig and they wanted to know where to get one. So, I thought I'd blog about it to tell everyone! It's actually perfect for Pig training (which I know from experience is always through the coldest, ickiest weather because the race is in Spring).

Balconi hats are great because they're made out of a thick, sweater-like material that keeps your head and ears warm. It also has a visor to keep the sun/snow out of your eyes. Then, it has an open top so you don't have to smash your ponytail into the top of a hat!

Even better, they were designed by local lady, Renee Balconi. Since I last spoke with her, she's released a few more hat colors and a whole line of "wear your confidence" apparel. What a great message!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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It's a Wrap! Yummy Lettuce Wrap Recipe
02/07/12

PF Chang's lettuce wraps. I have dreams about this delish dish, and I finally figured out how to have them in the comfort of home, sans the long wait to get a table. They're actually really easy to make.... so easy, in fact, I've made them twice in just a couple weeks! But, hey, when they're a fraction of the restaurant cost, and you can eat them while watching TV in your favorite PJs, I'm surprised I'm not making them every day! :) Check out the recipe below so you can join in on the homemade lettuce wrap lovin' too!

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 oz chopped carrots
4 chopped green onions
1 lb ground chicken, pork or turkey (I found that ground chicken is tough to find - turkey is easy and tastes really good with this recipe)
1 clove of garlic
cayenne pepper (peppers or powder)
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
1 head of iceburg lettuce
8oz packet of lettuce wrap sauce (I used the Lee Kum Kee Panda brand, which you can get at any Kroger in the Asian Cuisine area)

DIRECTIONS

heat oil over medium heat in a skillet or wok
add meat and garlic
after 2 minutes, add in carrots
stir occasionally until fully browned
add cayenne peppers/powder to taste, depending on spice preferences
add Lettuce Wrap Sauce, peanuts, onion
serve and enjoy!

I also served miso soup with this meal. It's a good compliment and very filling!

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Cincinnati's Largest Ever Pet Adoption!
02/07/12

This Saturday, February 11th, in West Chester, Cincinnati's largest ever pet adoption event will be taking place. The event is called My Furry Valentine and this is a great opportunity to find the love of your life, if you haven't already!

Hundreds of lovable dogs, cats, and other pets will be up for adoption. Forty shelter and rescue groups in the Tri-State region are participating in the main event and 30 plug satellite adoption locations around the area will be hosting adoption opportunities!

The main event will feature pet educational sources, family entertainment, and free "doggie" bags for everyone who adopts a dog (valued at over $200 each!) as well as cat goody bags.

Nothing this big has been done in Cincinnati before and now is your chance to give a pet a new life. The mission of the event is to encourage people to adopt from shelter and rescue groups and for the organizations to adopt out as many animals as possible in one day!

You can definitely do a good deed and bring home a new furry friend for your family this weekend!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Fabulous Frames & Art has a Hot New Deal!
02/07/12

Fabulous Frames & Art has a hot new deal on Hey! It's Half Off!

Fabulous Frames & Art is one of my favorite framing places downtown - I walk past it all the time and just stare at all the beautiful prints, fabulous frames (pardon the pun), and even their cute gift items. So, I'm super excited about this deal! You buy a $100 gift certificate for ... you guessed it... half off at $50. What a great deal!

Plus, Fabulous Frames & Art has locations all over the Cincinnati area so there's no reason to not stop in and check out this great deal and their great frames!

After Cincy Chic's extremely successful Lady in Red event on Friday - which was held at an art gallery - the hubby and I have been in home decor mode! We will definitely be using this deal! Click here to learn more!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

Make a Trip to Perfect North!
02/02/12

Just got back from a shoot at Perfect North Slopes! I haven't been in seven years, so I'm lucky I didn't break anything! Looking back, a lot has changed in the last seven years. Their tubing area is huge now and there were a lot more snowboarders this year! Plus, the whole lodge and food court area has been remodeled and looks great! I felt like I was on vacation in a Colorado ski lodge! So, if that isn't enough to motivate you to come out and enjoy a staycation right here in the TriState, check out their awesome events they will be hosting in February:

Photo Annual Big Air Competition: The Big Air Competition is held in the Audition Terrain Park on February 11, 2012. It begins at 4:30pm and will last until 11pm. Novice competition begins at 4pm - It is $15 for registration which is from 2-3:30pm. The Pro Qualifier competition begins at 7:30pm - It is $20 for registration which is from 2-7pm. The final for the Pros will follow the Qualifier.

College Night: For all of you college kids! Perfect North will be having College Nights on Friday February 10th and Saturday February 11th, 2012. College Night runs from 9:00pm-1:00am. Friday night is the Vitamin Water Party in the Courtyard from 8:00-11:00pm and the Big Air Competition as listed above. If you present a current, valid college ID at the ticket window you will receive one late night special: Either a lift ticket for only $25.00 each or a lift ticket with a ski or snowboard rental for $40.00. Snow tubing tickets with a valid ID are $25.00 for the entire 9:00pm-1:00am time slot.Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

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Cupcakes and Cocktails Could Mean a Free Trip to NYC!
01/31/12

Ladies, we've got a treat for you! If you like cupcakes, cocktails, and vacations to New York City tell your girlfriends about this news!

When: Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 7:30pm-10:30pm

Where: Eve Center in Cincinnati!

Get your tickets for Cupcakes & Cocktails II and you could win a FREE weekend trip to the Big Apple for 2! Not only do you get a free trip, but you get to travel in style on a Private Jet and stay in downtown New York City compliments of Ultimate Air Shuttle and Intercontinental Hotels.

Cincy Chic is also a sponsor for the fashion show, which gives you all the more reason to stop out and see us!

If you get your tickets, make sure you are present, as guests must be present to win the prize! See you in March!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

Win a Free Wedding!
01/29/12

Best Day Ever Photography and Faithful Bull Productions, Inc. announced today that they will be hosting the Happiest Bride on the Block wedding contest, a contest for couples to enter online for a chance to win a free wedding. To enter the contest is free and entries will be accepted February 14-March 6, 2012 on thewebsite.

The winning couple will receive the services and amenities of over sixteen vendors in the Cincinnati area! Including the dresses of the bride and her bridesmaids, the cake, the tux rentals, the wedding venue, the flowers, and much more.

Judges, including myself, will be choosing six couples as finalists. The love story of each couple will be posted on the website from March 16-30, 2012 so that viewers can vote for their favorite couple. The couple with the most votes will be announced March 21, 2012 as the lucky winners!

For more information about Happiest Bride on the Block, click here or visit their Facebook page. Be sure to enter and go for your chance to win the wedding of your dreams!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

Meatloaf Muffins
01/27/12

Last week was crockpot lasagna. This week? Meatloaf muffins. Yes, I'm just cra-cray in the kitchen! haha! This recipe actually happened by accident. I had found this brown sugar meatloaf on AllRecipes and it had a really high rating. But I had two lbs of meat thawed out instead of just the one that the recipe called for. So I put the remaining mixture into muffin pans because I only had one loaf pan. I actually liked the cute presentation of the muffins better and they cooked faster (45 minutes instead of an hour like the loaf recipe called for). So, I thought I'd share!
Brown Sugar Meatloaf Muffins
(Makes 18 muffins)

Ingredients

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease muffin pans.
Press the brown sugar in the bottom of each muffin section and spread the ketchup over the sugar.
In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or until juices are clear.

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Valentine's Day Plans?
01/18/12

I'm a hopeless romantic, which means one of my favorite holidays is just around the corner... Valentine's Day!!! We had a shoot at B&B Riverboats this week which got me thinking about all of this (check out the fun pics Storm and I took at the shoot!)! I know B&B does an annual Valentine's Day Cruise, which I've heard good things about. And below are some other great Valentine's Day date ideas! Enjoy, you love birds! :)

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What a Crock(pot)
01/12/12

I have a borderline obsession with my crockpot. I'm fascinated with the fact that I can throw a bunch of random things in there in the morning, and it's a magnificent meal ready to enjoy when I get home from work. I've started to do a little experimenting with how random I can be with those ingredients. I attempted crockpot lasagna - not even cooking the noodles before I put them in - and I'm happy to report that it was a smashing success. Below is the recipe in case you'd like to also attempt this amazingness, too. I will say that this recipe makes enough lasagna to feed an entire army. It makes about 12 servings total, so I froze half. Not too shabby when you consider all the ingredients total about $10! What a delicious deal!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
29 oz can tomato sauce
8 oz pkg. lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese

Directions

Spray inside of crockpot with cooking spray
Brown the ground beef
Stir in tomato sauce with ground beef
Pour 1/4 cup of water into crockpot (prevents burning)
Spread 1/4 of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crockpot
Arrange 1/3 of the uncooked noodles over the sauce (you can break them up so they fit)
Combine the cheeses in a bowl. Spoon 1/3 of the cheeses over noodles.
Repeat layers twice
Top with remaining sauce
Cover and cook on low for 4hrs
Let the lasagna stand in the crockpot with lid off for 10 minutes before serving

Variations

Add chopped onion and garlic when you brown the beef
Use Italian sausage in place of ground beef or mixed in with the ground beef
Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the cheese mixture
Replace cottage cheese with Ricotta
Add 1/2 cup additional shredded mozzarella cheese to the top of lasagna 5 minutes prior to serving

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Cincinnati Boutique Sale This Weekend Only!
01/12/12

Take in a deep breath. What's that amazing aroma? A bunch of local boutiques are cooking up some steaming hot deals! This is a great time of the year to get some deep discounts at local retailers. Stores are liquidating their remaining inventory and trying to make room for their new Spring stuff! That's why twice a year, a bunch of local fashion boutiques get together for the Cincinnati Boutique Sale. The winter Sale is this weekend! Here are all the details....
When: January 13 - 10am-7pm; January 14 - 10am-6pm; January 15 - 12pm-5pm
Location: Sycamore Plaza, which is across from the Kenwood Towne Center, by Barnes & Noble

There is a $5 donation for admission to benefit The Karen Wellington Foundation for Breast Cancer " so your money will be going to a great cause!

I'm SO excited for this event! Youll find the best deals of the year at this sale. Oh and a little piece of advice is to go on Friday for the best selection, and then go back on Sunday because the boutiques usually add more discounts on the last day to move the merchandise!

Click here for a list of all the boutiques thatll be there. Happy shopping!

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Solutions for Your New Year's Resolutions
01/04/12

Well, we're about to wrap our our first week of 2012. If you're one of the millions of people who made a New Year's resolution to lose a few pounds, I have a few ways to help you stick to it!

The first I learned about from a Star64 "At the Movies" shoot we just did yesterday at Beechmont Racquet & Fitness Club in Anderson. They are doing a "no enrollment fee" deal from now until Jan. 31. My Cincy Chic office is in the Professional Center attached to the Club and I seriously had NO IDEA how huge this fitness center is until we did the shoot. They have a heated pool, indoor tennis courts, racquet ball courts, climbing wall, cardio and weight machines galore, cycling/yoga/aerobics classes, cardio theater (perfect for those of you starting your Flying Pig marathon training) and lots more.

My second tip is from Bella Forza Fitness. They're a cute female-only fitness facility in Oakley. They will be having a special event on January 28 to launch new releases of their Body Pump and Body Combat classes. Then, that evening they will be having a Pole Showcase. The public is invited to all of it! Ahem, yes, I said "pole" ...short for pole dancing... but it's fitness-focused pole dancing so don't expect to be learning a new career here. :) Just a great way to trim down while having fun and gaining confidence!

Third is an event going on this Thursday Jan. 5! It's the "Girls Night Out! A New You . . . Or Less of You!" event at Dr. Amy Brenner and Associates in West Chester. Below is a list of what they'll be doing from 4-8pm. Call 513-777-0787 to RSVP as soon as possible because space is very limited.

Free Women's Health Seminars
4:00pm Weight loss (and the HCG diet)
5:00pm Bioidentical Hormones(co-sponsored by Happy Hormone Cottage)
6:00pm Low Libido
7:00pm Weight Loss (and the HCG diet)
* Free Manicures by Bajon Salon
* Free Chair Massages
* Free Spa- Facials
* Hors doeuvres by Whole foods
* Free Gifts to all Attendees
* Drawings for Gift Baskets

New Year, New Stuff Here at Star64!
12/29/11

Well, this weekend marks the end of 2011 and the beginning of a whole new year. We have lots of great things planned for you in 2012! I can't wait to tell you about all of them! Some things I will have to wait to share (I hear patience is a virtue, right?!) :) but here are some things I can tell you about!

First of all... here on my blog, I'm going to be introducing guest bloggers to mix things up and provide even more great content! Guests will include fitness fanatic Beth Underhill from Bella Forza Fitness, life coach Shari Goldsmith, and fashion guru Kristie Sheanshang. So, make sure you bookmark this blog and check back often to check out all the great stuff we'll be posting for you!

Also new in the new year will be lots of fun interaction on our Star64 Facebook page! Expect to see lots of contests, giveaways, opportunities to appear on-air and sneak peeks of where Storm and I will be visiting for our "At the Movies" shoots.

So, have a fun New Year's Eve celebration, and check back "next year" for all the new things we have planned for the new year!

Kenzies Closet
12/29/11

Hope you had a great holiday! I sure did! My family came into town and spent it with me, my husband and his family... So nice to have everyone together!

If you're still in the holiday spirit and giving mood, I definitely suggest you check out Kenzie's Closet. A few months ago, Cincy Chic hosted a "Wearable Art Fashion Show" event to benefit this awesome non-profit. Attendees were asked to either donate $10 or a gently used dress for access into the event.

I'm proud to say the event generated $450 and more than 200 dresses for Kenzies Closets mission to aid economically disadvantaged girls from schools throughout Greater Cincinnati!

The Oakley-based non-profit organization makes high school prom dresses and related accessories available to students who can't afford them so that no young woman in Cincinnati will have to miss her prom because of family financial limitations.

To learn more about Kenzie's Closet, visit kenziescloset.org.

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Primping for a Cause!
12/22/11

Prepare for New Year's Eve by getting glammed-up and supporting an AMAZING cause! BRIDEface is hosting an event to benefit Rock Pink 4 Ali to help support cancer and to remember the hard fought battle by Ali Nunery.

Come out to support this great cause with a facial for $65 (including airbrush & lashes), blowouts for $30, and updos for $60 by Liz Carter, as a portion of the benefits are going to Rock Pink 4 Ali.

When: Saturday, December 31st from 11:00am-5:00pm

Where: The Bridal Studio

610 Mainstrasse, Covington

These are being done appointment only and you may contact Nancy at nancy@brideface.com

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping put this blog post together!

RoseMERRY Christmas!
12/19/11

Brought in my rosemary plant, dressed it up for the holidays, and voila I have a functional and festive centerpiece! :)

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Project Organize
12/16/11

I don't know about you, but nothing makes me happier than when I feel organized. If it's color coded, alphabetized, or in a spreadsheet or list, I'm in heaven. That's why I completely lost my freaking mind yesterday when I came across the online organization mecca that is "The Project Girl." She has spreadsheets galore, project ideas, scrapbooking tools and tips, etc etc... My two favorites are this gift spreadsheet (so you can keep track of what you bought and who you bought it for, so you don't forget anyone or accidentally buy more than you need) and this meal planner (to help you plan what you'll be making for each meal, and all the ingredients - split into grocery categories - you'll need to shop for those meals). Brilliant! Enjoy! :)

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Jingle Bell 5k!
12/14/11

This past Saturday, the Jingle Bell 5k rang through Covington KY to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, and I had the privilege of being an Honored Chair of the event!

My husband Pete has Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I have always been very passionate about supporting the Foundation. They've been a huge support to Pete and our family when we need information, experts or advice, so I was thrilled to be involved!

While I was running I saw a Jingle Bell Run 5k sign that really inspired me. It said "We run for those who can't!" It kind of made me tear up because it's true. There's no way Pete could have run three miles. But the several hundred supporters who did run it raised thousands of valuable funds that will support research and development so that one day arthritis will be a disease of the past!

You can find more information about arthritis and learn how to get involved in the Foundation's other events coming up here! They always have a fun arthritis walk in the spring! Hope to see you there!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping me put this blog post together!

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EnterTRAINment Junction!
12/09/11

I just visited EnterTRAINment Junction with my co-host Storm and we had SUCH a great time! For those of you who don't know, EnterTRAINment Junction is the largest indoor train display in Cincinnati! It's the perfect place for all ages, and it's especially perfect if you're looking for something fun to do indoors when "the weather outside is frightful") :)

This holiday season, they have a special area called "Christmas at the Junction" going on through January 1. It features pictures with Santa, yummy cookies with Mrs. Claus, and falling snow (yes, indoors!). Storm and I got our picture taken with Santa - you get a print out of the pic and they can email it to you! The north pole sure got tech savvy since the last time I sat on Santa's lap!

You can buy tickets online or at the door (even the ticket windows look like a train station! So cool!). There's also a free area at the Junction called Main St. Holiday Trains that features several train displays. I don't know about you, but free is my favorite price! haha!

Also, if you still have holiday shopping to do, EnterTRAINment Junction is the place to be! They have a store where you can buy trains, toys, and dollhouses! It's the ultimate place for filling your Santa sleigh with great gifts!

Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping me put this blog post together!

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Jewels by Jules does New York!
12/06/11

I just had a New York experience right here in Montgomery! I went to a shoot with Jewels by Jules in Montgomery and they had an amazing line that I fell in love with! The designer of the line is Debbie Brooks and she is based out of New York. They do handbags, wallets, cuffs, iPad cases, iPhone cases, plus much more! What's really great is the handbags have a magnetic pendant that can be swapped out to match your outfit. This Wednesday and Thursday they're going to be having a Debbie Brooks trunk show, which gives you the perfect opportunity to stop by and check it out and maybe even treat yourself to a new bag! You can call them at 513-827-9305 or visit their website at Jewelbyjules.net! See you there!"Thanks to my intern Sara Elliott for helping me put this blog together!"

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Star64 Gone Wild
12/01/11

I had a wild time at my last Star64 shoot! It was at the Cincinnati Zoo! I did one of the segments with Thane Maynard, the zoo director. He let me hold Charlie the penguin, who was absolutely adorable! Charlie kept letting out happy feet "honks" in the middle of our segments and we'd have to reshoot! Too funny! Then I saw a peacock roaming around and tried to get a picture with it, but it was shy so I just admired it from afar. (He had no idea how fashionable he is - peacock feathers are very on trend right now! haha!) You can see these zoo segments in some upcoming Star64 promos, so make sure you stay tuned!

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Cincinnati Chili Recipe
11/23/11

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! It's one of my favorite holidays because it's all about taking time out of your busy life to be with the ones you love ... be thankful ... and be absolutely gluttonous. :)

Cooking is one of my specialties (and I'll be sharing lots of my recipes here on this blog!). So, to celebrate this foodie-friendly holiday, I'm going to share my chili recipe as a Thanksgiving gift to you!

I just made it the other night and made a slight variation to it (used ground venison - which my husband recently got at our family farm) and it was delish! So, I do recommend that variation, but here's the recipe I typically use:
- 1 lb of ground beef
- I packet of "Cincinnati Chili Mix" (Krogers carries it by the gravy mixture packets)
- 1 large onion diced
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 can of mushrooms (drain juices before adding)
- 2 cans of 14.5 oz stewed tomatoes (do NOT drain juices before adding)

Add it all into a crockpot, cook for 4 hours on high, serve over spaghetti noodles, and add sharp cheddar and onions to taste.

Enjoy!

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Big Fun at Big Tree Plantation
11/17/11

This week I visited Big Tree Plantation for a Star64 movies shoot and I was pleasantly surprised! I just thought it was a big tree plantation (yes, it's very appropriately named) where people go to get their Christmas trees.

But, I quickly learned that it's so much more! They have a winter wonderland for kids (crafts, face painting, meeting Santa, live reindeer, etc) and also an amazing gift shop. In the shop, which is actually in a shabby chic old barn, they had ornaments you can buy to decorate your tree in theme (beach, western, glitzy), and you can personalize the ornaments for free (like, if you want to give it to "mom" "grandpa" or put a year or family name on it). There's a kids shopping area for kids where all the shelves are kid height and there are gift items they can buy for their parents, siblings, grand parents or friends at school. Super cute!

My favorite find? Well, I'm a shoe-o-holic, so I of course fell in love with the shoe ornaments. So chic! I highly recommend visiting Big Tree Plantation - whether or not you need a tree...or shoe ornaments - to make some memories with your family this holiday season!

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