Winning with Orville Redenbacher and SmartPop!

To continue with my partnership with the fine folks at Orville Redenbacher let's talk some more smart snacking and (spoiler alert!) if you stick with me there's a prize at the end.

Oh snacking, snacking smart, smart snacking, however you want to say it - let's just do it.

It's a SmartPop! collage taken last weekend with my smart models Allison and JV - fun with popcorn you guys, fun with popcorn.

I also recorded a video of Allison and JV throwing popcorn at each other and trying to catch it with their mouths but I deemed it inappropriate... for now.

Moving on... so did you know that popcorn is a whole grain? I personally had no clue, I suppose the fluffy white appearance threw me off, but in all reality eating just three cups of Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! provides a full serving of whole grain. Who knew?!?

SmartPop! is also low in fat, a good source of fiber and zero trans fats - all important factors if you're trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Do you know what else helps to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle? An awesome prize package including the following...

- A $75 Lululemon Gift Card for fitness apparel
- CamelBak 1 liter water bottle
- Resistance band
- Moleskin wellness journal
- Garmin heart rate monitor
- Two (2) boxes of Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! Pop Up Bowl Butter

This prize package, worth over $150, can be yours by entering one or all of the ways listed below.

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite healthy snack
2. Tweet the following about the contest, "I want to win a smart snacking prize pack from @clevelandsaplum and #orville SmartPop! http://bit.ly/wX5NC0" and leave a comment on this post telling me you did so - you can tweet this message daily for multiple entries
3. Share a link (http://bit.ly/wX5NC0) to this contest on Facebook leaving a comment on this post telling me you did so

You have until 11:59pm on Wednesday, February 1st to enter the contest and don't forget to leave me your contact information in the comment if I don't already know how to get a hold of you.

I'll be announcing the winner a week from today on Thursday, February 2nd so good luck to all who enter!

[Disclosure: As previously mentioned I'm working with Orville Redenbacher to help me snack smarter through their SmartPop! popcorn. While I am being compensated for my time and blog energy, these opinion are my own.]

Jump Back Ball + This City on CSF Radio

I have a couple of fabulously unrelated and random updates for you today.

First being PlayhouseSquare's 21st Annual Jumpback Ball taking place Saturday, February 25th. My loyal readers know how much I love this event as I try to attend every year that I can (here's my 2010 recap, 2011 recap). This year will be my 5th year attending and if you've ever been to Jump Back Ball you know why I keep going back year after year - the dressing up, the dancing, the drinks, the food, the State Theater!

The tickets to the event literally always sell out and this year is guaranteed to be no different as as of today there are approximately 60 tickets left so if you're on the fence about going stop that right now and buy your ticket to the event of the year. Another reason to buy today is that on Wednesday the tickets prices go up - so don't delay!



The second update for the day is that tonight Allison and I will be on the radio! The internet radio to be specific, the "This City" show on CSF Radio to be even more specific. We'll be live on air and in studio at 9:30pm tonight and you can bet your life we'll have had a cocktail or two in us for preparations sake.

I hope you tune in to hear us talk about all things Cleveland and perhaps all things inappropriate as I'm not 100% sure how it's going to go yet...

Click here to listen to This City live every Tuesday from 9 to 11pm.

Happy Tuesday, kids!

Adult slumber party + Allison's birthday party

So yeah, I was a little quiet on the blog front last week, don't worry, I was just busy making one if the biggest life decisions I've had to make in years - no big deal.

But more on that later...

Let's chat about this past weekend shall we?

Thursday night CK and I dined in my neighborhood at Luxe Kitchen & Lounge and then headed to tremont to meet up with the Verdova's and Pagezell (<--- new nickname alert which equals AJP + Harzell) at Flying Monkey. It was a much need hangout and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Friday night brought lots of snow and an unexpected "adult slumber party" with my house guests Allison and JV. We talked about work, life, loves, etc all while eating Noodlecat and ice cream sundaes from Sweet Moses.

JV just slidin', Allison just plankin' and playing in my kitchen and our sundaes, mmmmm.

We essentially acted like children all night and then Seanski came over and it got worse. Allison and I headed to bed early and then Seanski and JV decided to take video and pics of us sleeping - very 7th grade sleepover right? The next morning we headed to Latitude 41N for breakfast because we obviously need to hangout with each other a little more.

Saturday afternoon an ungodly amount of money was spent on the most random items at Target and I took in a viewing of Beauty and the Beast in 3D - it's better on the big screen, you guys.

Saturday night though was party time for Allison's 29th birthday at Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City - lots of friends were in attendance as well as lots of non-friends, aka the bar was PACKED. Allison is lucky I like her because me and some of the OHC establishments on Saturday nights just don't get along - Sunday thru Thursday? I love um - weekends? Not so much. Great for the neighborhood but not good for old farts like me.

I should probably back up though because before Allison's party me, Seanski and Matt had dinner at the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood's newest dining establishment Spice Kitchen + Bar (where I had my #holladays party if you remember). The place was GREAT, it was good to see the full space all put together and if you do one thing when you go there just listen to me and order the mushroom beignets - TRUST ME.

My sparkly nails for the evening clutching my bubbles and our delicious/tasty/creative food for our wonderful meal.

Some shots from Allison's party - lots of friends, lipgloss application with my malbec tongue and Lzone in a beard sandwich - she says ew, I say love.

After a walk through at Speakeasy (after we left MKT Garden) was deemed way too much for me, Seanski and Matt we headed to XYZ the Tavern for a late night slice and night cap - the perfect way to end a fun night out.

Sunday the draw to Latitude 41n for breakfast was strong (again) so MOB and I talked wedding stuff and then I headed home to well, just be home - it was just what the doctor ordered.

Happy Monday, kids!

Smart snacking with Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop!

Smart snacking.

Is that even a possibility?

Historically speaking "smart snacking" hasn't been the highest priority on my snack list as I'd rather stick my spoon in a pint of ice cream rather than munch on celery sticks.

Historically speaking (x2) I've also always been the opposite of skinny so perhaps "smart snacking" needs to become a part of my lifestyle, especially if I want to drop some serious lbs in time for a trip to the beach in May.

It's time to get serious, kids.

Step one, controlling what goes into my mouth (insert dirty joke here).

That's where my new blog partnership with Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! popcorn comes in. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be sharing with you all some tips and tricks for snacking smarter with into the new year and if you follow along I promise there will be some prizes.

I mean, I even have a reality TV star getting involved!

BERNIE! (before and after)

For all you Biggest Loser fans out there I know you're familiar with Season 5 at home winner Bernie Salazar who has partnered the wonderful folks at Orville Redenbacher to preach on about being healthy, snacking smart, staying fit and keeping those New Year's resolutions.

This is where you come in, dear readers.

Have any burning healthy eating, fitness, diet questions? Any desire to find out smart snacking tips from a bona fide health and fitness nut? Curious to know what really goes on on the Biggest Loser ranch?

Well Bernie is your man.

Simply leave a comment on this post with your questions for Bernie and he will record a custom video response just for my readers answering your questions that I'll be posting at a later date. You have until the end of this week to get your questions submitted to Bernie so don't delay.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some SmartPop! to eat.

[Disclosure: I'm working with Orville Redenbacher to help me snack smarter through their line of SmartPop! popcorn. While I am being compensated for my time and blog energy, these opinions are all my own.]

Drinking wine in Bay Village and yacht rockin' for Seanski's 30th

Hello snow, how ya doin'? How ya been?

Can't say I missed ya but if you only stick around for the next 7 weeks tops I won't hate you - you're presence this weekend sure did make everything a little prettier though. So for now, for now, we're friends, welcome back.

This past snowy weekend in Cleveland was a good one with a stereotypical "girl's night out" over wine with some of my oldest friends (not newest, right poo poo?).

Muffin, poo poo, Beaver, Jill and I headed to a new (to me) restaurant/bar in Bay Village called Vento La Trattoria and Wine Bar. This restaurant, essentially across the street from Huntington Beach, was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. You walk in the space and it screams date night. The mood lighting, dark wood and general coziness just makes you want to pop open a bottle of malbec.

And we may or may not have opened about 4 bottles of malbec.

We all got together to celebrate our friend poo poo's birthday who was home visiting from Chicago and with poo poo being one of my favorite people EVER anytime we all get to hangout (blizzard or not) makes me happy.

My gorgeous friends poo poo and Muffin.

Saturday brought lots of errands and shopping on the east side of Cleveland with CK including a lunch stop at Michael Symon's B Spot Burgers and a visit to my cousin Peter's store Pat O'Brien's Fine Wines for some wine and bubbles stock up.

Saturday also brought Seanski's 30th Birthday bash at the Harbor Inn. The party was yacht themed based on Seanski's love of boating, the location of Harbor Inn and the irony of dressing up like one is on a boat in the middle of January. It was a party and a half filled with lots of friends, fun and most importantly DANCING. Seanski wouldn't have the #seanski30 party any other way.

Ahoy Matey! That's Captain Paul and Captain Bob to you.

Nick, CK, Shibani and Allison being adorable - Moe posing in her yacht-wear and winter boots, naturally - and of course we had rotating video screens for the party with the #seanski30 hashtag and all.

My favorite costume of the night came from Ms. Lzone herself - shark attack!! The side shot may be my favorite due to an inappropriately placed fin...

When one is about to be eaten by a shark I'm told this the look they make - pure terror. I'm quite the actress - Dear Hollywood, call me.

Lots of friends, including the birthday boy himself, um, eating a pearl necklace?

Oh, Seanski how you crack me up. I hope you had as much fun at your 30th birthday party as I and the rest of your guests did. The snow could never keep us way!

Happy Monday, kids.