bluemercury and all of the luxury beauty products a girl could want

Have you entered to win four tickets to the 12/5 #KeyLegLamp Cavs game yet? What are you waiting for? Do it.

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I've been on a big skincare kick recently. Is it because I'm 32 years old? Probably. Is it because I'm noticing my "fine lines" getting less "fine" and more "medium"? 100%, yes.

In my world moisturizers, serums, balms, and toners are your friend. A hydrated body is a healthy body, water is nature's medicine. But water alone isn't going to keep your skin beautious in these harsh Cleveland winters. 

Enter swanky beauty lines and products, of course.

Bluemercury, a luxury beauty retailer and spa chain that recently opened a location in Eaton Chagrin Boulevard, is a beauty junkie's mecca. 

Full of makeup lines such as Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, NARS and Trish McEvoy. Skincare lines such as M-61, SkinCeuticals, Revive and Bliss. Haircare like Oribe and Bumble and Bumble, plus candle brands like LAFCO - I really could go on and on and on here - there are just so many amazing lines to choose from!

The gorgeous store interior and product highlights + my pre-sale haul, glorious.

On top of the shopping and consulting line of expertise there's also a Bluemercury Spa where a wide variety of treatments are available. I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary "You Glow Girl" facial during my visit which features products from the M-61 skincare line created by the Bluemercury co-founder. I got was masked, power pro-peeled, exfoliated, vitamin c moisturized and oxygen treated. It was awesome just like the ever helpful and experience staff - hi, Jane!

I also shopped, because well, I can't help myself. Plus, the Bluemercury holiday shopping party pre-sale was in full effect - meaning I got an extra percentage off my purchase - AND YOU CAN TOO!

Head over to Bluemercury Friday, November 30 from 2 to 8pm and receive some serious discounts detailed below:

Now, if you'll excuse me I have luxury beauty products to apply thanks to Bluemercury, now go out and get some of your own tomorrow. You can thank me later.

Happy Thursday, kids.


Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary facial from the Bluemercury Spa and couldn't have been happier with it. As always, opinions are my own. 

It's not a bobblehead, it's a bobbleLEG(Lamp)

Apparently this week for me on social media is all about the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a twitter ticket giveaway yesterday and (spoiler alert) another one today hosted here on the plum, it's all about the Cavs! So let us continue...

Bobblehead nights at professional sporting events are always a fan favorite, I mean, who doesn't enjoy free stuff we all get (aka, SWAG). People love bobbleheads, people collect um, people trade um and people display um. 

And I'm pretty sure I know quite a few people who would love to get their hands on the bobblehead, er bobbleLEG(Lamp), that is being given away to all attendees at the Cavs game Wednesday, December 5 at the Q.

It's a bobbleLEG(Lamp), GENIUS!

The 12/5 game will be full of the iconic holiday movie, A Christmas Story, themed surprises - all courtesy of game night sponsor, KeyBank.

Additionally, there is an amazing sweepstakes that KeyBank has put together around the evening, A Christmas Story House Night Out! The winner (and 15 of their friends) wins a private tour of the A Christmas Story house, a private suite for the Cavs-Hawks game on 12/28, a limo for the evening, dinner at Bac in Tremont and $500! There are lots of runner-up prizes too, like full-sized Leg Lamps and Cavs tickets. For more information and to enter this sweepstakes head over to KeyLegLamp.com.

Now though, let's talk about my "sweepstakes" - KeyBank has been kind enough to provide me with four tickets to the 12/5 Cavs game to giveaway! One lucky winner will be able to invite three friends to the game and get a bobbleLEG(Lamp) of their very own.

To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite holiday movie.
- Share this giveaway on twitter using #KeyLegLamp in your tweet, leaving an additional comment telling me you did so. You can do this daily for additional entries. Example: I just entered to win the #KeyLegLamp giveaway on @clevelandsaplum and you should too! http://bit.ly/V5Rf1F
- Subscribe to my Facebook page, leaving a comment telling me you did so. If we are already friends on Facebook you can just leave a comment telling me we are :)

You have until Sunday, December 2 at 5pm EST to enter to win the tickets and I'll be announcing the winner in a post on Monday, December 3. 

Good luck to all who enter and LET'S GO CAVS!


Disclosure: I was provided four tickets to host this giveaway as well as four tickets for myself to attend the game courtesy of KeyBank. As always, my opinions are my own.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2012 in NEO

If you're reading this Tuesday 11/26 head over to my Twitter account and RT your way to this Saturday's Cavs game to help celebrate the (216) turning 216! I'm giving away three pairs of tickets and announcing the winner today at 4pm EST - good luck!

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I would like every weekend to be a long holiday weekend. Is that too much to ask? 

I think not.

Wednesday night I headed to my hometown of Canton, Ohio to enjoy a night out on the town with some of my favorite North Canton cronies. First stop was checking out my friends Biscuit and Oakes' new home with a wine tour and our second and final stop was reliving our youth with a performance by New Wave Nation at Sadie Rene's. It was like 2004 North Canton all over again and I loved it.

It's not Christmastime in North Canton without Biscuit's reindeers a humpin' + Biscuit, Birdie and me at Sadie Rene's + Keter-O, Oakes and Gamble + the one and only New Wave Nation who haven't changed in ten years...

Thursday morning my sissy, Jason (sissy's boyfriend) and I had all intents of running the 5K at my old high school, Canton Central Catholic, but we forgot to register, oops.

Instead we headed to Monument Park where I after having only run one single mile in my entire life like 7 years ago tackled a 5K with ZERO TRAINING. I mean, I was slow as hell, completing it in 42 minutes - but with no literally running experience I'll consider it a win for even finishing.

Sissy, me and Jason prepping for our makeshift 5K in my Mom's kitchen - so official.

Did I catch the running bug? Not sure, but it's cool to know that I can complete 3 miles without dying, apparently all my personal training appointments at Fitness Edge Cleveland are starting to pay off.

The run was a great calorie burner to prep for all the calories we were about to intake during Thanksgiving dinner. With stops at my Thea Eros and Uncle Nick's house for appetizers and cocktails plus the full dinner at my cousin Cathi and Greg's I'm pretty positive we ate for about eight hours straight. I'm ok with that.

My Yiayia Lambo with two handsome gentlemen on her arms, CK and Jason of course + my Mom and Sissy with their festive headgear + The Eros partaking in drinking all of the bubbles, so delicious! 

Thanksgiving dinner at Cathi and Greg's is always awesome, especially when an apropos Twinkie turkey place card is involved + food and more food + the family dinner table + the family game table. I love it all.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is movie day for my family and this year we checked out Wreck it Ralph with all the kids and Skyfall 007 fun with all the adults. I love two-a-day movies, especially when they end with Thanksgiving leftovers and Home Alone at Cathi and Greg's.

The Wreck it Ralph crew with "nerd glasses" being made out of their used 3D frames + my Sissy's  Home Alone earrings she rocked all day. She takes Home Alone fandom to a whole new level, ha.

Saturday I headed back up to Cleveland for errands, shopping and celebrating with friends. Muffin and Jesse did get engaged after all!!! We started the night off with a small get together at my townhouse to toast to the holiday season and pre-game for Downtown Cleveland Alliance's Winter Wine and Ale Fest.

With cheese, bubbles and beer in our bellies we cabbed it Downtown to party in the lobby of my office building, 200 Public Square. With all local to Ohio wine and beer and Cleveland area restaurants represented amongst the holiday decorations and lights of Winterfest we felt like we officially kicked off the holiday season right.

Post Winter Wine and Ale Fest the girls headed to Horeseshoe Casino Cleveland to lose money (at least I did) and the boys headed to our new Downtown favorite spot the Ontario Street Cafe to wait for us to lose money and meet them. OSC is a TRUE Cleveland dive bar, the best around in my opinion. I mean, $3.95 long islands with a giant sandwich for $5.75? BOOM, no contest. 

Martha, Steph and Ginenne with a bubbles pre-game + Rossi's squared! + Sissy and her late night pastrami sandwich and long island + Muffin, CK and Jesse (please note Muffin already snuggling with CK with her fiance in the pic, ha) + Muffin STILL snuggling with CK, if she wasn't a best friend I'd slap a ho ;) - but what can I say, my man is HOT in orange pants!

So, like I said in the beginning, I'd like every weekend to be a long holiday weekend! 

Happy Tuesday, kids.

First Annual Column & Stripe Holiday Soiree!

It's Thanksgiving week, the holiday season is now officially upon us, and as you're penciling in shindigs, soirees and parties on your calendar I ask that you hold Thursday, December 13th for me.

Well, not for me personally, but for Column & Stripe, Cleveland Museum of Art's newest affiliate group, that I hold very dear to my heart.

We're a new, fun, and energetic group just trying to make our mark in the community and we'd love for you to join us in a toast to the holiday season during our First Annual Column & Stripe Holiday Soiree! 

Musée Grevine, Paris, Vogue (Detail), 1963. William Klein (American, b. 1928). Gelatin silver print; 27 x 34.4 cm. Gift of Museum members in 1989. 1989.444

Whether you're a current C&S member or interested in becoming one, we invite you to earn your stripes and join us on a festive field trip to Ohio City where C&S sponsor, Great Lakes Brewing Company, has graciously made their tasting room available for the soiree.

Potential C&S members will find out more about the group, receive a complimentary drink, enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, crafts, music and mingling. Existing C&S members get all this and two complimentary drinks. 

The event is FREE FOR ALL, but reservations are required and can be done by filling out the online RSVP form - but don't wait to respond as space is limited!

The details:
What: Column & Stripe's First Annual Holiday Soiree
When: Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 6-10pm, remarks at 7pm
Where: Great Lakes Brewing Company Tasting Room, located at W26th and Carroll Ave in Ohio City
Why: Learn about C&S, toast to the holidays, fill your belly with hors d'oeuvres, mingle with Cleveland's finest and have FUN doing it

So whether you're a passionate artist, culture vulture, or casual observer, Column & Stripe is your gateway to world class art and exclusive programming that's approachable, sociable and relevant to you.

I sincerely hope that you and your crew will join us on December 13 - just RSVP now - and I'll see you there!

Happy Tuesday, kids.

Karaoke + Spice Kitchen & Bar + PlayhouseSquare

I think this is a first in plum history that I'm writing about two weekends in one post.

I blame it on the sickness that kicked my arse last week.

Thankfully that's over, I'm feeling back to normal, and we're operating on a short work week. Thanksgiving happiness / excitement anyone?!? I personally can't wait.

But in the meantime of us all counting down the moments till we're stuffing ourselves with  turkey with all the fixings here's what I've been up to...

Hosting Karaoke at the Cat at Noodlecat was SO much fun, I can't wait to do it again sometime - stay tuned.

My friends sure can sing, or if they can't they sure put on a good show. I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time.

Because Karaoke at the Cat occurred during the Fabulous Food Show at the IX Center we got some famous chefs to karaoke including Chef Anne Burrell and Chef Jason Roberts - Lzone and Chef's Widow are always, naturally famous too.

The night after Karaoke at the Cat I was supposed to go see Madonna at the Q but wasn't feeling so hot, dinner my neighborhood favorite Spice Kitchen & Bar with CK was just what I needed. Too bad the fever sickness was just about to hit mid dinner. At least CK and I had fun with the mirror next to our table beforehand.

This weekend was spent with CK and his little one, we got pedicures, cooked chicken tacos in my new slow cooker and attended an awesome performance of Beauty and the Beast at PlayhouseSquare

Good weekend(s) and I can't wait to spend this next one with friends and family from near and far. I'm checking out the Winter Wine and Ale Fest in Downtown Cleveland this Saturday - anyone else going?

Have a nice short week, kids!

Jump Back Ball Kickoff Event... Be there!

Guys, the last few days have sucked for me because I've been down with one heck of a sickness. I won't go into the gory details with you because it wasn't pretty - but I'll just say that I'm finally seeing a light at the end of the gross sickness tunnel. I hope I at least lost a few pounds from it all... that would be the ONLY bright side.

First off, it's time to announce the winners (who were chosen via random.org) of the Saks Fifth Avenue Tour de Beauty experiences:

- Suzanne, the grand prize winner of Bond no 9 and Chanel experiences
- My Managed Chaos, who is taking home the Dior experience
- Krissie Means Business, who is taking home the La Mer experience 
- Crystal @ EatDrinkCLE, who is taking home the Le Metier de Beaute experience

Ladies, if you could email me your mailing addresses I'll get your certificates out to you ASAP - enjoy!

Secondly, it's that time of year again.... JUMP BACK BALL!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile know you know how excited I get for PlayhouseSquare's annual Jump Back Ball event year after year. It's one of my favorite events in Cleveland and it's simply not to be missed!

This year the 22nd Annual Jump Back Ball is happening on Saturday, February 23rd with an awesome board game theme of "Jump Back Two Spaces" - which is such a creative concept that I can't wait too see the costumes for this one!

As in years past the PlayhouseSquare Partners are hosting a Jump Back Ball Kickoff Event, the details:
- Thursday, November 15th from 5:30 - 7:30pm at Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City
- Purchase your Jump Back Ball tickets at the lowest price of the season, $110 for PlayhouseSquare Partners and $135 for the general public. The day after the kickoff event prices go up $20 + fees - Don't wait!
- Enjoy a happy hour with fellow JBB attendees with complimentary appetizers and drink specials
- Be guaranteed your ticket because this event ALWAYS sells out, you don't want to be left out in the cold while all your friends are drinking and dancing the night away

I hope to see you all at Market Garden Brewery on Thursday purchasing your PlayhouseSquare Jump Back Ball tickets, I know I'll be there because it's not only the fiscally responsible thing to do, but also a great night out with friends.

See you there!

Sunday night dinner + CLE Dinner Club .... mmmm, food.

Update #1: I hope I see all your pretty faces at Noodlecat tonight where I'll be hosting Karaoke at the Cat from 9pm to midnight.

Update #2: You have until Monday to enter to win some serious Tour de Beauty experiences from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beachwood Place Mall by commenting on this post. Good luck!

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While I'm still trying to eat Paleo 90% of the time, I'd say the remaining 10% of my diet I most definitely eat oh so very well.

This past Sunday I hosted an impromptu dinner party with CK and the Driggs'. There was lots of Layer Cake Malbec + spiced pecan, apple and gorgonzola cheese salad (which I totally forgot to take a picture of) + Pioneer Woman braised short ribs and goat cheese polenta + the easiest recipe for pots de creme with Grand Marnier ever.

'Twas a great night with great friends and my lips may or may not have been still a tinge purple when I woke up Monday morning. You'll have that.

Election night, I attended my first CLE Dinner Club event with CK and lots of my favorite social media friends at SOHO Kitchen & Bar where we enjoyed a five course gluten free meal for only $40 - such a steal and SO delicious. I've always been a fan of this southern cuisine restaurant in Ohio City and I'll continue to support them. Good stuff.

 

I mean, that's good food right there. The Camembert cheese wrapped in ham with pecans and bourbon glaze was to die for, as was the cornbread french toast dessert - holy crap it needs to be on the menu ASAP. Glorious.

So yeah, Paleo diet or no Paleo diet I'm still indulging every now and again... or... every weekend, whoops.

Happy Friday, kids. Enjoy your weekend.

Saks Fifth Avenue Tour de Beauty

On the day after arguably one of the most important Presidential elections of recent memory I think it's time, especially if you live in swing state Ohio, to make a perfectly self indulgent turn and discuss all things luxury beauty to give our brains a break.

Back in September I wrote a post about my feelings on wearing makeup at work, you also shared your thoughts and I oh so enjoyed reading the comments. Well, piggybacking off that post my friend Hallie, who just so happens to work for the ever fabulous brand that is Saks Fifth Avenue, contacted me about coming into the Saks in Beachwood Place for a "Tour de Beauty".

Sign. Me. Up.

I invited Lzone to attend with me based purely on our traditionally polar opposite makeup at work routines and because she's never had a proper facial... GASP.

Upon our arrival at Saks we were given a tour and I headed to the facial room and Lzone was spoiled with wine and hand massages, more on that later though.

My Tour de Beauty experience began with a La Mer facial. If you're not familiar with the brand you should be, their cremes and products are pure decadence, just like the facial.

The La Mer product set up for my facial. Pure relaxation, massage, cleansing and moisturizing skin spoiling happened in this room. 

Once my skin was prepped and primed thanks to La Mer I made my way to the 5th Avenue Club for some vino and a walk through of the Bond no. 9 New York line of fragrances. I've been a fan of Bond no. 9 for a very long time with their Nuits de Noho being one of my signature fragrances for years. It was great smelling some of their new perfumes with New York Amber 100% being my next Bond purchase.

Once Lzone was finished with her facial we reconvened for our makeup tutorial and product testing. I've never had my makeup done by a professional, which may surprise some of you, but I'm such a control freak I just like doing everything myself. Well, after my experience with the talented makeup artists at Saks, I'm hear to tell you I have a new appreciation for getting my makeup professionally done.

From the La Metier de Beaute base, the Chanel foundation, blush, eye shadow and lips, to the Dior lash magic we were spoiled rotten. I could get used to it.

Bond no. 9 is perfection when it comes to package design + Elle giving us the rundown on Dior + La Metier de Beaute display + all the Dior Diorshow mascara a girl could want + Chanel colors, glosses, shadows and more + Saks Cosmetics Manager Heidi and Marketing Director Hallie looking fabulous

Now be prepared for a lot of close-ups of my face.... ha.

Me post La Mer facial sans any makeup at all + Me mid Chanel beautifying + A selfie once I got home showing off my obsession with the day-to-night Chanel smoky eye + The makeup remnant post remover wipe, bye bye!

So yes, we were pampered, spoiled, indulged and had such a great time at Saks and we would have been happy with that being our evening but no, there was more. An INSANE goodie bag filled with swanky luxury products lines that now after using for the past few weeks am totally spoiled and want more. I mean, if it's good enough for J-Lo and Jennifer Aniston it's good enough for me.

Saks bag of fun + Bond no. 9 swag to the max + OMG MY NEW OBSESSION the entire La  Prairie Switzerland skincare line, talk about decadence, yowsa! + Le Metier de Beaute + Chanel + Dior, my love Dior

Just like Master P, I got the hook up, holla if you hear me uuuuuuhhhhhhh.

Well ladies, I'm ready to share this hook up with you because I have a fabulous beauty themed giveaway from Saks Fifth Avenue so you and your girlfriends can have a night or day out just like Lzone and I did.

The goods:
- Chanel: You and five friends will attend a cosmetics master class at Saks in Beachwood Place featuring Chanel products, wine and cheese.
- Dior: You and five friends will attend a cosmetics master class at Saks in Beachwood Place featuring Dior products, wine and cheese.
- Bond no. 9: You and five friends will attend a cosmetics fragrance journey at Saks in Beachwood Place featuring Bond products, wine and cheese.
- La Mer: You and five friends will attend a cosmetics skin care journey at Saks in Beachwood Place featuring La Mer products, wine and cheese.
- Le Metier de Beaute: You and five friends will attend a cosmetics master class at Saks in Beachwood Place featuring Le Metier de Beaute products, wine and cheese.

To enter:
- Simply leave a comment on this post telling me which brand experience you're most interest in trying out with your friends.
- Tweet the following " I want to get my own #TourdeBeauty like @clevelandsaplum from @Saks in Beachwood Place http://bitly.com/PDlnEj " - leaving a separate comment telling me you did so. You can do this daily for extra entries.
- Share this giveaway on Facebook, http://bitly.com/PDlnEj , leaving a separate comment telling me you did so.
- Follow @Saks on twitter, leaving a separate comment telling me you did so.

I'll be choosing one grand prize winner that will get the cosmetics line of their choice + Bond no. 9 and three additional winners for the rest. Great odds on this one, such an awesome girl's night out!

Many many many thanks to the fabulous beauty team at Saks including Cosmetics Manager Heidi Davis, Brittany Clark with Chanel, Jessica George with Le Metier de Beaute, Lisa Sloan and Thomas Stinson with Bond, Juli Elliott with La Mer, Elle Gemma with Dior and of course Hallie Bram for putting it all together.

You have until Monday November 12th at 5pm EST to enter the contest and I'll announce the winners the following day.

Good luck, kids!


[Disclosure: I was provided this fabulous evening of beauty and awesome product sample bag courtesy of Saks, no additional compensation was provided and as always opinions are my own.]

Snickers and sobbing because of Sandy

UPDATE: So last night (Thursday) CK got power back and now that we are finally getting caught up on the news and all the devastation that is happening on Staten Island, in NYC and on the Jersey Shore I will stop whining about the power still being out since Monday night. Things could be much, much, much worse. My thoughts and prayers to everyone suffering, to hose who lost everything, when I just lost the contents of my fridge. Puts things into perspective real quick.  

Guys, I haven't been able to blog this week because of Sandy, that bitch stole my electricity. 

I've been sans power since 8:30pm Monday night.... take note, I'm post this in the 4 o'clock pm hour of Thursday.

It sucks.

About an hour ago the ABC affiliate in Cleveland WEWS posted this letter from CEI First Energy giving estimated times for when electricity can be expected to be returned. Cleveland is Sunday morning.

I lost my shit. I've been kind of weepy all day and this put it over the top.

I walked into Lzone's office, which is next to mine and she handed me a snickers bar. Without thinking I opened it - can we say emotional eating?!?!? 

It did make me feel better....

Me, disheveled from no electricity, breaking my paleo diet and feeling sorry for myself at the thought of no power for almost a solid week. This is 100% the ugliest picture of me I've ever posted on the plum - ha.

The situation is 100% worse because CK, who doesn't even live by me, also doesn't have power - we are a bunch of vagabonds! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

At least all my friends and family are safe, very true, I'm still allowed to be a little crabby. RIGHT?

Anyways, if everyone out there can pray to the electricity gods that I (and everyone else affected) get power back soon that would be GREAT.