Tastes of Tremont!

   Annually the small town of Tremont outside of Cleveland is bombarded with foodies for the most delicious smelling festival of the summer.It was a wonderful day exploring the town with friends... I had so much fun I forgot to take many pictures. There were a few interesting sites around town I did capture though and even the marionettes sat on their balconies for some people watching. We ended a wonderful day at a gorgeous Italian restaurant called Dante's having mimosas.

Creating a Glass Masterpiece!

  So on one of the hottest days so far of the summer with 100% humidity my friend convinced me to do a glass blowing class with her at Ohio City Glass in the Ohio City historic district of Cleveland. I guess I wasn't expecting a class to be a garage down an alley with no air.... silly me!

   Once inside it looked like some mad scientist lab too. Who knew!  Who also knew I could possibly sweat that much.... but turns out I can!

 

    Now don't get me wrong here though.... once I got over all of that, I loved it! Had a complete blast and would definitely go again, granted not in the summer.  Daniel was a wonderful instructor and very patient as well as informative. He let us be very hands on as well.... the silly man even let me play with a blow torch! Can you imagine?

Top by Simply Southern, shorts by JCrew Factory, and shoes by Sperry.

Summer Festival of the Arts

   It's a big deal in town but this year was the first year I had ever attended the YSU Festival of the Arts. I know! I know! 20th year and running and I never went. This year I finally went because my cousin had a booth there though and I realized I was sorry I had never attended in previous years.... I was so enthralled with all of the art and ethnic food and revelry that I didn't even get many pictures taken....

   My Cousin's booth of course was by far my favorite though.... Joey Catanzarite Studios.

Recycling an Old Hose

   One morning flipping through Pintrest as I normally do on a daily basis, I saw a spring wreath made from an old garden hose. At first I wasn't sure.... it was odd to me... then I saw one in person for sale at Pat Catan's (a local craft near me) and I was even less sure about this odd decoration. The ones in the store didn't hold their shape well and looked a lot to me just like trying to throw some flowers in the hose hanging on my outdoor faucet... I was not impressed to say the least. And they were charging like $60!!!! Not to knock Pat Catan's at all! I shop there alot! I just wasn't understanding this new attraction...

     Then though my grandmother, who had seen the same thing at the store and did love it.... cleaned out her garage..and sent me her old hose asking I make her a wreath from it....

    What of course is any good granddaughter to do than give it a whirl? So that I did... determined I would not create something that held no shape though, I headed to my local Dollar Tree to find a wreath form to attach the hose to. The results changed my mind!!!!! I think my wreath came out wonderfully and grandma has gotten many compliments on it!

   The wonders of adding a few springs of flowers, a cheap pair of garden gloves, and butterfly to a hose with a leak were phenomenal... but I still had another half of a hose.... so when it came time to need a thank you gift for a lady who loved fall.... I made another!

   Only problem is... now I don't have my own hose wreath 😟.....

   Someone else who saw them as well said they were good enough for the local fair competition to enter.... ladies watch out! I may be borrowing my wreaths back.... because enter I may!

A Bar in A Church?!?!?!

  Anyone who knows me well knows that despite not attending church every Sunday.... there is nothing more I love than old churches and cemeteries... can't explain it! So when I heard Youngstown opened a brewery in an old church I was dying to see it. Took me awhile to get there but the charm was worth the wait!

    The Noble Creature Cask House took over an old church in the Smoky Hollow neighborhood originally built in 1923 that would've otherwise went to ruins. Located right near YSU, they have a very laid back atmosphere and wonderful local craft brews on draft. The building was wonderfully preserved using old church pews as booth seats and keeping the stained glass windows....

 I haven't figured out why the organ was in a parking lot down the hill though.... but it sure did make a cute photo op!

My top was online from Venus, chinos from JCrew, and sandals from Jack Rogers.

Dante Turns One!

Yes I am that dog person who threw her dog a semi-first birthday party!

Granted I think I may have raised the quintessential Italian Momma's Boy too.....  We try the dog park, we try company all the time.... but he is still a bit anti-social.... reason why only one doggie friend, his "girlfriend" Zoey, attended the BASH!

He's quite a handsome fellow though.... although I am sure I am partial.

I got him a Birthday Boy bandana and these Birthday cake treats he just loved!

Someone else has to be as crazy spoiling their dog (or more!) than I am right?

Throwing a Derby Party!

So this year I wasn't lucky enough to make it all the way to Louisville but I was lucky enough to throw a party surrounded by friends and family for the race. All food was provided by Tastefully Simple and was absolutely delicious. I also made punch versions of the famous Pink Lillies and Mint Juleps.

I used chalkboard place mats from the local party store to list the types of food that were on the buffet. My pulled pork was in the kitchen and a highly recommended recipe, paired deliciously with the Tastefully Simple Smokey Bacon BBQ Sauce.

To make my pulled pork recipe, buy a good cut of pork shoulder (the kind with the rope on it), then take the ingredients below to make a rub, leave roast with rub overnight in the fridge before roasting in crock-pot for 8hrs the next day....

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup paprika
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Once done the pork will just fall apart.

No Derby party would be complete without the post times, the horses and the odds. 

 

 Decor around the house was from items previously stored away but configured in wonderfully to the theme of the weekend.

My dress was a fit and flare lace dress found online, my hat was a Liz Claiborne borrowed from mom's closet, and my wedge sandals were a NY&Co purchase last summer. (similar here)

And while my horse didn't win either (I bet on Lone Sailor and Vino Rosso).... it still was a fabulous day for a Kentucky Derby Party!