What We've Done in CLE Lately

Hello, June!

Yes, I know that that this middle of the month. But, I'm finally starting to catch my breath from the last two months! And, where the heck is the sunshine Cleveland?!

I mentioned in my last post that I've been dealing with a lot of changes. Some big and have messed with me and little ones that just annoy me. There have been several wonderful changes too.

My baby brother's baby girl is turning one soon and my family was together to celebrate a wedding.

There was a time that it didn't seem that these moments would be possible. Having family separated by distance and sorrow is challenging. But, what a blessing when everything falls into place.

In the fall, my son will be going into high school, at my alma mater no less. I never thought kids and marriage were for me and now I have a teenager and a nine-year-old. I always knew it would be difficult. But, I wasn't prepared for how amazing it continues to be having these humans in our lives.

They are funny and smart. Kind and often exasperating, so full of endless love.

Here's a recap of the last two months thanks to the randomness of my Instagram posts.

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#ThisisCLE! I mean technically, Avon but we're all #Clevelanders at heart. #visitmeincle #DuckTapeFestival #clevelandkid #inthe216 #familytime #summergram ##eatplaylivecle

A post shared by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jun 14, 2019 at 6:31pm PDT

9 Quotes About Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I've been overwhelmed by the usual changes of life. 

You know, the ones that are inevitable. The changes you can't stop like time.

Taking on more responsibility at my day job drained me for several months. I started a new anxiety medication that knocked me on my ass with nausea. My weight has gone down and up. I started working out again to stop because of car issues and not enough sleep. I sound like I am complaining, but these are not necessarily bad things. Just life.

End of the school year and the seeming-endless to-dos is wrapped up. And, now I have a kid about to enter high school. High. School.

I'm so thankful for social media memories. I hope Facebook is around 30 years from now so my kids can see what we did in memories!

I took on a new role within the PTA. Actually, two new roles. I knew I was going to take over events for my daughter's elementary school, but on a whim, I signed up for the Reflections program for citywide PTA council. I am excited and stressed about this one. I could totally f*ck this up. Fingers crossed.

More changes are coming and I'm not ready.

While waiting for changes, here are some of my favorite quotes. Happy Pinning! 

Date Night! El Tango Grill in Lakewood, Ohio

I love Mexican and Latin food. I adore Cajun food, too but there really is nowhere to get it in Ohio. That's not the case in when it comes to Mexican. My husband, on the other hand, can take it or leave it. Since it's not something he enjoys, I don't push going out unless I am sure he would like the food. Like BOMBA and Paladar. I took a friend the first time and brought him back for our anniversary.

Monday he wanted to get a drink at a neighboorhood restaurant. But, it was closed. Since we were hungry and walking we decided to keep walking until we found something else. It took looking across the street. Our neighborhood has several options, but El Tango was one that wasn't even on the radar until he said, "let's get a taco!"

I have a vague memory of going to El Tango many years ago. The only thing that sticks out was the vanilla lemonade. It was delicious but we never went back.

We were greeted by the owner and chef who took our order. We had the place to ourselves as we waited for our drinks to arrive.

What I Learned Giving up (most) Social Media for Lent

On a whim, I decided to give up Instagram for Lent along with Twitter and blogging. 

I also reduced my use of Facebook. That was harder only because I use it to communicate with a few groups I belong to. I also love seeing memories! So, I posted occasional photos just so I can see them years from now and reminisce.

For the record, this is my first time admitting that I was giving up social media for Lent.

While I missed Instagram, it was fairly easy to stay off without having to delete it from my phone. Twitter wasn't missed. And, blogging, while the hardest on my ego, probably the easiest. I've been so busy with work that when I get home, I'm out! Without making a conscious effort to write at night, I did probably spend more time with my kids when they weren't doing their own thing. The hubs and I make a lot of effort to hang out. Plus, he is a photographer. He gets my need to capture moments.

What did I learn after 50 days without most of my social media outlets?

5 Podcasts That Could be Your New Favorite

My working days look like this, drive kids to school, drive to work, work, drive home, family stuff, write, sleep. While listening to music does play a part in my day, podcasts have taken over.

While I make lunches, I listed to Alexa's Flash Briefing, in the car - anything that makes me cry, and at work mostly news but also indulgent podcasts.

My indulgent podcasts include Doctor Who recaps and discussions as well as the Good Place and The Wiccan Read-Along. Listens that have a narrow-ish fan base. The podcasts that I am sharing not so specific - sort of. And, they are all presented by women! I didn't plan that but since we are heading into Women's March weekend, bonus!

5 Podcasts You Should Hear

in particular order...

Stop Apologizing! 8 Things to Think About Before Saying, "I'm Sorry"

You know that friend who is always apologizing for something?

We all have that friend who has you questioning your ability to forgive because there is nothing to forgive. They just can't stop apologizing.

I'm not that person. I mean, I could be but I've been working very hard not to be that person. It's a slippery slope to go down when you start apologizing for just existing.

I became hyper-aware of this phenomenon when I found myself getting annoyed with a coworker when she apologized for apologizing. This was not a one-off occurrence, either. After several rounds of reassurance, I started brainstorming things to say instead of, "I'm sorry," when I'm not really sorry.

We say sorry way too often. It's not good for our self-esteem nor does it make us sound competent. And, if you really are still on the fence about eliminating sorry from your vocabulary - consider who is listening to you. Besides your boss, what example are you setting for your daughter, niece or any girls who look up to you?

8 things to consider before saying, "I'm Sorry."

What We Did This Week: Margaritaville Cleveland

The first full week back to work and I am tired!

Monday was rough! Office manager sometimes is confused with a personal assistant that can be ignored as needed. But, I'm not sharing about this week! I am sharing a brilliant holiday party my company had at Margaritaville CLE!

Organizing the holiday party is one of my favorite things to do! Honestly, anything that allows me to plan and execute an event is a favorite thing to do. My days are usually spent responding or reacting to problems and data entry.

Margaritaville Cleveland made pulling off our annual get together super simple!

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It's a 5 o'clock somewhere @cisionglobal @prnewswire CLE holiday kinda party! #thisiscle #margaritaville #visitmeincle #5oclocksomewhere #holidaytraditions #holidayparty #happyincle #workingfortheweekend #dietstartsmonday

A post shared by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jan 4, 2019 at 4:01pm PST

My company celebrates the first Friday in January. It only sucks when it falls on Orthodox Christmas and I have to decide on attending or going to my sister's house for Christmas. There was a year that I skipped to go to Disney on Ice but that was a no brainer. Elsa. Anna. Icecapades. Who wouldn't skip the company shenanigans to do Disney with their small child?

Give CLE Moms the Gift of Time with Cardinal Maids + Coupon Codes to Save $$

We received an entire home cleaning in exchange for this conversation. Opinions are my own.

I hate cleaning house. This is no secret. I'm also really bad at housekeeping. Besides working two jobs and wanting to spend time with my kids, house cleaning always takes a backseat.

Cardinal Maids came to my rescue!

When my kids catch me cleaning, they know company is coming over. 

And, I usually take a day off work to clean when there is no one around.

Part of the reason I host a cookie party during the holidays is to get my ass in gear to clean the house.

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What happens at the annual cookie party, stays at the annual cookie party... #christmastime #cookieparty #christmasparty #clevelandkid #cookiedecorating #feelslikeholiday #holidaytraditions

A post shared by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 15, 2018 at 7:07pm PST

This year was going to be no different. I took off Friday to bake cookies and clean in time for the party on Saturday. However, this year was different, I was offered two-hours with two house cleaners from Cardinal Maids and I said, "Can you come on Friday?"

I've never used a cleaning service. 

I think about it every time I invite people over, but I've chickened out.

The cost is always a big factor. And this crazy idea I would need to clean first so it would not be so bad when the people who are professionals come over to clean. Or, I would need to go buy better cleaning supplies for some reason.

I overthink it so much, it's too late and I'm cleaning my house until two in the morning.

Cardinal Maids

Booking the appointment with Cardinal Maids was so easy! With just a few clicks and basic information, I had scheduled a team to come to my house and clean.

And, Today, I Smell Like Coffee

Some Monday mornings start with a trip to the gym, a snuggle with the kids before they get up, and off to work with everything going smoothly. Lunches made, coffee drank, and everyone off to school on time.

Other Mondays start with at least a trip to the gym. And, home to a disappointed kid who thought there wasn't going to be time for cuddles so the tears started flowing. I was out of patience and we were out of bread. 

Thankfully, the Husband came to the rescue with coffee and bread. And, Rowan stopped crying. The rest of the morning was looking up. 

Until I got to work.

And, I spilled my coffee all down the front of me while getting out of my car. 

I still smell of coffee. 

I like coffee, a lot, so this isn't a bad thing per say.

Taylor Swift, First Concert, and Making HERstory

My daughter and I attended her first concert this past summer. Well, as I often remind her, the first concert she remembers.

Her first concert was Lilith Fair when she was three months old. And, Lilith Fair is the type of concert I had expected to take her to again. I was not expecting to take her to see Taylor Swift. When I was offered the tickets, I think I sprained my eyeballs. I knew she wanted to go and they were free tickets from a friend.

In my head, I was going to surprise her. The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame was doing a pre-party so I told her we could go and maybe we would get to hear the concert.

Her dad totally let it slip out that she was going. She played along until I pulled out the tickets. So annoying! But, she didn't hide her excitement as well as she thought she was doing.

Taylor Swift's concert was in Cleveland Brown's stadium. Our seats were so far up, I swear we could have touched the sun. It's very humbling to look out on to this sea of people coming together with the sun setting over the lake.

Ingenuity Weekend in Cleveland

Ingenuity Fest weekend just passed and once again, we were inspired and dazzled by the imagination of those who work so hard to put on an amazing event.

My oldest was two or three when we first attend the Ingenuity Festival about ten years ago. It was held under the Detroit Superior Bridge which connects Detroit Avenue from the west to Downtown’s Superior Avenue going east over the Cuyahoga River. And, by Detroit-Superior bridge I mean the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The bridge was renamed almost 30-years-ago. I don't know anyone my age that calls the bridge Veterans Memorial.

Besides a unique view of Cleveland, under the bridge is what’s left of the former streetcar line, a subway station, dark tunnels and pieces of old tracks.

Now, Ingenuity Fest has a permanent home as the co-founder of the Hamilton Collaborative located at the former Osborn Manufacturing Company in the Saint Clair Superior neighborhood. IngenuityLabs at the Hamilton Collaborative partnered with several businesses and created a community of entrepreneurs.

As it happened, this year the husband was off. It's the first time in many years that he has been able to attend with us. My son was excited to show him around especially the architecture firm. And, they remembered my kid from the year before when he stopped in and asked a lot of questions.

May You Never Out Grow Bubbles...

No one can be unhappy when they are blowing bubbles! 

Iridescent rainbows captured in a fragile state of liquid and gas.

I think of bubbles on the days that everything seems overwhelming. When I can't keep up with day-to-day demands and nothing is going right. Or, when I feel as fragile as a bubble. 

On days like this, I want to float away. 

Imagine the earth getting smaller and worries getting lighter. 

Oh, to be able to float away. 

Adulting is hard. 

I wish I listened closer to my mom when she tried to tell me. Not that it would have made a difference. I mean, who listens to adults anyway? 

Joann Fabrics and Amber Making It on Public Square

Have you ever heard of finger knitting?

So, I have but not in the expected I-worked-at-a-craft-store-in-high-school kind of way.

I knew it was a thing because - my dad was a sailor and he made a lot of knots. In turn, he figured out how to crochet without a hook. I'm guessing boredom on a ship would do that to a guy in WWII. He showed my brother and me when we were kids, but I could barely crochet with a needle. Maybe that's why he tried to show me. Connecting in a way that he was comfortable doing.

Crocheting wasn't my thing, but maybe finger knitting could be my thing?



So, I dragged the kids through downtown Cleveland on an overcast day to go to the world’s largest finger knitting event! Why would I do this when I never even considered finger knitting? 

Hello, Again! Let's Play 20 Questions

Illness, end of summer, work, work, work.

End of the summer brings on a rush to do things. A rush to check off things we haven't done. A rush to get school supplies. A rush to get all the details in place.

It's exhausting. And, I got sick.

I mean knocked on my ass, morning emergency room visit, down and out for a few weeks. Nothing too terrible, but it snuck up on me.

How is it our motherly instincts are so honed on our children's well being, but when it comes to our own health we are lacking?

All of my energy went into just getting out of bed, caring for my family, and getting to work. I took time off from writing, sharing, and as little as possible on social media. It's sort of refreshing.

Now that I feel more like myself, I thought I would take a moment to re-introduce myself and my family. A sort of, "Hello, world!"

20 Questions (and answers) About Me

8 Photos That Capture Our Cleveland Summer

I am so not ready for school to start. And, today they headed back to school.

I didn't cry. I swear.

Instead, I planned our annual pub crawl - in November.

And, I looked through my Instagram.

These two are heading off to eighth grade and third grade! #lastdayofschool #meritroll #mathgeek #mixedkids #clevelandkid #busymom #eatplaylivecle #clefood #siblings #siblinglove #eatlocal #216 #summergram #icecream

A post shared by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on May 31, 2018 at 12:40pm PDT

Parade the Circle Photos, a Baby Shower, and Late Nights

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What a weekend! It took me two days to recover!

Our weekends are pretty laid back. Rarely are we on a tight schedule. But, here comes summer!

The best part of summer is all of the (mostly) free fun to be had in a short period of time! This past weekend was no different, except we split up. Seems like only yesterday that the kids didn't have an opinion on what or where they wanted to go. Now, they do. And, my daughter picked movies with her dad and my son and I headed east to see a parade.

I learned that my daughter hates parades. I actually don't believe her. I think she doesn't like parades that don't throw out candy. Especially if there is rain in the forecast. So, she went with the hubs to see the new Star Wars movie.

Parade the Circle for two, please.

Communion, Siblings, and Milestones

I've been thinking about milestones a lot lately. When kids were little, milestones were monthly if not weekly events. As they get a little older, they don't seem as obvious or as celebrated.

Sure, there are first and last days of school, birthdays, and lost teeth. But celebrating them aren't as exciting. There are also some milestones that aren't fun to celebrate - the first time one of them says, "I HATE YOU!" or the day it's obvious that they need to use deodorant.

As a Catholic, celebrating sacraments is a big milestone in their lives. The preparation for it marks an important time in their lives, too. I loved and hated searching for the right dress and veil for my daughter this year.

It was more challenging than I expected to find a dress in her size that she like and within our budget. I also worried about getting the dress too soon. My son had a growth spurt the year he made his first communion right after we bought the suit. He still wore the suit. We took pictures before the growth spurt.

I bought a veil on Amazon but it wasn't going to arrive in time for her photos. The day before her pictures, I found myself at the local craft store planning to make it myself. I thought it would be cute if she wore the headpiece I wore when I got married.

6 Podcast to Start Right Now

I am obsessed with podcasts.

It started while watching Alex, Inc. on Hulu. I forgot how much I enjoyed the variety and selection of what's offered. And, having an Amazon Echo has certainly made it easier to listen to Sticher by just asking for I want to hear.

Needless to say, I have a few favorites and I'd be remiss not share these with you. I would also love to know what you are listening to as well!

source: Here's the Thing

I love Alec Baldwin so much and discovering Here's the Thing was like a birthday present. I find him more attractive now that when he was younger. But, this is is a podcast, what he looks like does not really matter.

So it was with pure joy that his voice matches his good looks. He doesn't just talk to the person he is interviewing (and he's interviewing e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e) he's letting us listen in on his conversation. His voice is so smooth and sexy.

Alec Baldwin even makes trash, sewage, and recycling sexy.

source: Facebook

Molly Brandenburg and Richard Rossner present Gone from Parcast. They explore famous things that have been lost starting with D.B. Cooper to the latest episode of Oliver Cromwell's missing head.

I quite enjoy how the announcers will tag team the storytelling. Their voices compliment each other perfectly and draw you into the mystery.

source: Facebook

Caliphate has just started, as in there is currently just one chapter in this series. I'm counting the days to hear the next episode from reporter Rukmini Callimachi. She is documenting her journey to comprehend the Islamic State and the fall of Mosul.

Rukmini Callimachi is warm and funny at times. She is also resourceful in how she is trying to piece together the people and ideas behind ISIS to share. It's not an easy task. And, I feel genuine fear for her at times. But, thankful to be able to follow as her story unfolds.

source: Facebook

Diane Guerrero (you know - from Orange Is The New Black) hosts How it is from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine media company.

I discovered this one on iTunes and was hooked when I heard the trailer. Reese Witherspoon's voice just spreads sunshine even when discussing uncomfortable issues. Diane Guerrero is a brilliant choice as a moderator. The little old lady in me rolls my eyes at her youthful enthusiasm and slang, but I need to hear it. To be reminded of youthful joy even when sharing truths.

These strong, amazing ladies are tackling the hard conversations and offering valuable information and insight.

source: Facebook

Just when I decided that I would stop following the news and especially any news on 45, this and the next podcast demanded my attention.

The 45th podcast is hosted by Rabia Chaudry and Susan Simpson as they discuss White House news that deserves a second look.

They are also lawyers and have the uncanny ability to break down some of the more confusing legal points to be understood. At least understood enough that I can follow along with the news or at the bar and contribute to the conversation.

They also don't overly bash 45 at least not without having sound reasoning.

source: Facebook

Our president was/is a shady businessman, but what is his business? WNYC Studios and ProPublica join forces in Trump, Inc. to find out what the hell is happening with 45's business and how it relates to the White House.

Okay, friends, what's on your podcast playlist right now?

Grilled Cheese, Spring, and Game Night

By day, I am office manager of a pretty amazing office. And, my boss lets us do some really fun things, especially when trying to raise money for a cause.

Currently, we are raising money for a family who suffered a loss. To shake things up and to celebrate America's best sandwich - I made grilled cheese.  Actually, I made over 57 grilled cheese sandwiches.

I prepped the bread with butter the night before while baking cookies to go with the lunch.

Hey, it's Okay... My List of Things That are Okay with Me

Hey, it's okay...

that I'm linking up with Airing my Laundry and sharing a list of things that I'm okay with this week.

Ladies afternoon. She knows she's looking savage. #herwordsexactly #busymom #eatplaylivecle #targetstyle #springish #clevelandkid #momanddaughtertime

A post shared by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Apr 8, 2018 at 1:21pm PDT

Hey, it's okay...