Buff City Soap

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Oh my goodness. Bridget and I had the best time last night over at Buff City Soap! If you aren’t familiar with who/what they are it’s all about the fresh soap made in store and the bath bombs (also made in store)!

Last night I was invited to come and check them out and make bath bombs! I went over to their newest and in my opinion greatest store the Newport, KY location. Living downtown anything with easy parking is a huge plus for me and this is a stand-alone location where you park in front and just walk right in!

When I first got there I did have a moment of overwhelmingness. However it passed in a second when I started smelling all their wonderful scents! I started with their local scents that the store designs themselves! Spoiler alert: they were wonderful and I left with a soap!

Then I moved over onto the fall scents and of course the pumpkin spice soap came home with me! I also checked out their laundry detergent. Recently I wanted to switch it up to something that is more environmentally friendly and they have soaps and dryer balls that are scented! I actually grabbed a set of both and will report back.

For the main event of the eve we actually made our own bath bombs. If you haven’t done this before it is an experience you have to check out! They have all the ingredients right there and have a recipe book to make sure they are perfect. Plus we mixed everything up in a stand mixer. I felt like such a pro!

After mixing you then roll the dough into the molds to make the actual bath bomb. It’s harder than it looks. You can’t twist you have to smash! Once you have that mastered it’s super easy to make! (Bridget who routinely bakes was able to handle the molds much more quickly than me🤣). Once we had them molded we were able to decorate the tops! Mine is beautiful if I do say so myself.

Did I mention you can also make your own scented soap? No? Well you can! Plus they have space available for parties where you can all make your own scents and have customizable soaps!

Overall I loved this and I hope it was a lot of great things to smell. They have a huge space so it isn’t overpowering at all! Now for the best part the pricing is great! The huge bars of soap and bath bombs are around $7! When we were there they were doing specials where you could get 4 bars of soap for $20. Trust me if you haven’t been yet you are missing out. Take this as your initiative to go and explore. The store was great and the staff were perfect!

Hey Sweet Cincy Review

September 2, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

I had the most amazing date night with Grant! I booked a romantic picnic with Hey Sweet Cincy for the two of us to help familiarize him with some of the amazing parks around my apartment. Grant and I had the picnic over at Eden Park at the overlook. When we got to the picnic Julie had set up the most amazing picnic layout I have ever seen! Like really though, if you don’t believe me take a look at the pictures below. It was the most beautiful turnout I’ve ever seen.

In addition to the picnic layout, we booked a photoshoot with Julie the picnic organizer (also the boss babe behind the brand!) As many of you know Grant is a lot more introverted than I am so getting him to warm up for pictures could be tough but Julie was able to get him to open up and take the most beautiful photos. At one point to get a better smile (an authentic one too) she had us telling each other jokes. Mind you I had no jokes come to mind except for one the Bushman kids loved when they were little (Guess what? Chicken Butt. Guess how? Chicken pow!) I know it’s the lamest joke you have ever heard but it’s all I could think of at the time.

Then have I mentioned the food? If you think these pictures are a work of art and talented then you clearly haven’t had her food yet! The white chocolate covered rice crispy treats to the chocolate covered cherries, everything was exceptional! There was no detail overlooked. We even had craft sodas in cute glasses.

Plus, if you are looking into booking one for a first date, she has a speaker included with small board games to make sure to break the ice. These parties are also great for proposals or girls’ night. They are literally the perfect date night idea. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the food, the setup, the professionalism like literally I could go on and on for hours raving about the picnics.

When we took the pictures, I did have to wait (as expected when using a professional) to see the final results and oh my! The pictures turned out perfect I am absolutely in love with how they turned out and I am already looking to book a fall (okay all four seasons) photo shoot with more picnics!

Lifestyle

The Taste of Fitness

August 29, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Oh my goodness! I have to tell y’all about the event I went to yesterday, it was the taste of fitness. So they had four different fitness classes and a pop up market. Plus it was at a brewery. (Sonder Brewery)

So I’m not the most likely to exercise and I won’t lie. I was really nervous going to a taste of fitness where you’re working out in front of a big group of people who are actually in shape. I talked to the host Paige and OMG I couldn’t love her more. She told me there was something for everyone from a less intensive yoga, to meditation, with body alive, vinyasa yoga and dance fitness! There was 💯 something for everyone. I didn’t feel out of place at all and I really enjoyed the clarity and stretch from morning yoga.

Then if you were not wanting to try a set class you could shop their market. They had different fitness class options and really interesting products. (Side note. I love going to these events since you can get the most unique gifts for people while shopping local.)

Then after you’ve gotten a great workout you had a ticket for a beer at Sonder. Heck yes! I wanted a lemon lime hard seltzer after yoga. It was the perfect amount of refreshing after working out!

Overall I’d give this a 10/10. if you get the chance to check out one of their upcoming events you should! I’ll paste the link below. Better yet comment below and we can go together!

https://thebeautyboost.squarespace.com/cincinnati

Food · Lifestyle

Thirsty Thursday: Habanero Blood Orange Vodka

August 19, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Happy Thirsty Thursday. It’s hot outside and we needed a little spicy to accommodate the heat so tonight we’re making a habanero blood orange vodka!

The recipe below is for one drink with two shots if you want more adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:
◦ Habanero Vodka
◦ Blood Orange Juice
◦ Lime Juice
◦ Ice

Recipe:
◦ Grab your shaker.
◦ Add ice.
◦ Pour 2 shots of the habanero vodka.
◦ Add 1 cup of blood orange juice.
◦ Add 2 ounces of lime juice.
◦ Shake your drink to perfection.
◦ Enjoy!

It’s super simple as evidenced by our guest bar tender Sarah! The drink is a bit on the spicier side. If spicy isn’t your thing you can use regular vodka to make the drink less spicy.

Food · Lifestyle

Thirsty Thursday: Frosé

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Happy Thirsty Thursday. It’s August and therefore still summer! So for this summer occasion I made my own rose slushy! This is the perfect summer drink as it’s not a heavy drink and yet it’s cool and refreshing.

The recipe below is for two cups of wine. If you want more adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:
◦ Rose
◦ Frozen sliced strawberries
◦ Agave

Recipe:
◦ Grab your blender.
◦ Pour 2 cups of Rosé into your blender.
◦ Add 2 tablespoons of agave to the blender.
◦ Add 2 cups of frozen sliced strawberries into the blender.
◦ Blend your drink to perfection.
◦ Enjoy!

I know! It really is that simple! Plus it’s much much cheaper than grabbing a frosé at a restaurant and allows you to enjoy your drink at all the last minute summer parties.

Lifestyle · Ohio

Newport on the Levee

June 27, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

I can’t wait to reintroduce you guys to one of my favorite places in High School. This is where Grant and I spent the majority of our dates. Where I saw more movies than I can count and bought more books than I can remember.

About ten or so years ago this was the coolest place to go. It had a bookstore, movie theater, Game Works, tons of stores and just a great place to hang out. I’m thrilled to share that while a lot has changed it’s still the cool and exciting place I remember with different stores and places to hang.

Bridget and I went over to spend Friday night and while Gameworks and AMC is still there (okay even they have updated and become better than ever!) everything else feels refreshed. When we got there we parked in the garage and went up to explore.

When we first got to the Levee we saw this green space and maybe ten or so food trucks, pop up venues and built restaurant stands. We decided to go in the main building to start our exploration and saw a great local market with tons of artisan shops, a new brewery going in, a great grab and go restaurant and a cafe!

To say there were too many choices is an understatement! But the Tiffany blue walls sold me on the cafe (The Little Spoon Bakery and Cafe) so we had to go in there first! The had bakery items, cupcakes, dog bones and coffee. The cupcakes were phenomenal!

Bridget and I took our cupcakes and headed back outside to enjoy our desserts. We grabbed great adirondack chairs and sat down to snack. Much to our delight the cupcakes were huge and needed a fork to eat… So we decided to grab dinner instead then eat dessert.

For dinner we grabbed crepes from the food truck (The Crepe Guys) right next to the green space. I had a pepperoni pizza crepe and Bridget had a chicken salad croissant. They were both fresh and delicious plus buttery! The perfect mix to just enjoy with sitting in the sun.

After dinner we did chomp down on those cupcakes. They were fantastic; like mouth watering. I would happily go back and get another cupcake any day of the week. I grabbed the salted Carmel cupcake and Bridget got a chocolate raspberry cupcake. Both tasted as good as they looked.

After we had dessert we walked around the Levee and checked out all the bars. We decided on Kon Tiki for fun tropical drinks to sip on and people watch. The drinks weren’t too pricey and tasted really good. We changed seats and sat closer to the bars. The seats were still great and we really enjoyed all the seating options they had available.

After we finished our tropical drinks we walked around a little more and decided to grab another drink I went to Bee Line on the Levee and grabbed one of their house cocktails. We sipped our drinks on a bench overlooking the river and all the wonderful views of Cincinnati. The best part of our seats was we were able to enjoy our cocktails and watch the fireworks from the Reds game.

After the fireworks we headed back to the car and headed home. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with how our night turned out. We had a blast! The food was great, the drinks were delicious and the atmosphere was right on point. Plus every single bar had fun nonalcoholic options for people who prefer not to drink and kids. I did see a lot of little ones playing and really enjoying the views and open spaces to play. This lived up to every expectation I had for the place I spent so many nights at as a teenager.

Also the Levee is dog friendly so while a pup named Dex didn’t get to go with us this time he will be going with us next time. If you are in the area and looking for something to do this summer with friends or the family I highly recommend it.

Lifestyle

Cincinnati Drive Through Christmas Lights

January 1, 2021 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

So I think I’ve been to all the drive through Christmas displays this year and I have a review of all of them below. They do include the prices and pros/cons so you know what to expect when you get there. I really liked all of the three but I think some were better than others this year.

Pyramid On The Hill 6/10

So this one is great if you are looking for something closer and not wanting to shell out a small fortune. It costs 25 per car load and you can bring your own hot coco. The lines weren’t too bad and constantly moving so it helped keep us filtering through. They don’t have their own Christmas music but the way the lights work you could easily throw on Spotify Christmas music and rock out to the jams. The artists behind BLINK took over pyramid and created Journey Borealis. It was really impressive; however, this show loses serious points. It’s a great light show but it doesn’t compare to their designs of the past. It’s not a holiday theme. For me that was a serious deal breaker. I’m not sure I saw a single Santa. They did have the swan lake which is my favorite but most of this display was just underwhelming. I’ve been coming every year since I was younger and seeing the lack of their traditional holiday display was just disappointing. However, since it’s after Christmas it could still be really fun for the the family.

Coney Island Christmas Nights of Lights 8/10

This one is a bit pricey it’s charged per person but it’s $7 a person and children under three are free. If you have a smaller family or are going on a romantic date night it’s perfect. They have Christmas music that will play over the radio and you can see all the animations playing out over the lights. The trees change and every thing comes alive. (Be warned if you are at risk of a seizure this is not the option for you. The only downside to this show is the lines can be a bit long. They do have bathrooms along the line so it’s great for parents with kids. The line does move quickly and it doesn’t disappoint even if you’ve been in a prior year.

Lights Under Louisville 9/10

Okay so this one is a serious trek for my Cincy followers. It costs 29.99 (they do not accept cash) plus gas money since it’s almost two hours from us. We decided to give this a try and because it’s underground you can go anytime which I highly recommend. We arrived around 3pm and were able to drive right in even on a Sunday. It was really cool to see the lights lighting up a cave. They had modern Christmas traditions like the grinch and the classic to a nativity scene. The best part though is that it encompasses all holidays which is something the other two could have done better. It’s the farthest away and could possibly be the most expensive but I recommend this the most.

Overall you can’t go wrong with any of the three and they are a great way to extend the Christmas spirit a few extra days while still keeping safe from Covid. If you go be sure to tag me in your photos. I can’t wait to see the joy it brings you and your families.

Lifestyle

Educate Yourself and Go Vote

June 30, 2020 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Hi guys. I just wanna hop on here and talk for a minute. I’m going to try to not get upset but I can’t make any promises.

I don’t typically use my platform for political agendas. It’s not my style. I’ll encourage you to be informed and vote absolutely but I’ll love you and respect you no matter how you vote.

For some of my newer followers you guys might not know this about me but before I became a lawyer I worked on political campaigns. Heck, I even helped run campaigns. I loved the job mostly because I stood behind candidates I respected and looked up too. I know this probably seems overly wordy but earlier this year I lost my mentor.

He was a Commissioner back home and I can still hear his voice in my head telling me to stand up for those who need a voice, to respect everyone and to listen patiently to everyone before making my own opinion. I took that knowledge into law school and used it to help me become a better person.

It helped me work in a public defenders office because I could listen to our clients and respect them despite what they’ve done.

I’d give anything to call Todd Portune up and ask him what his thoughts are about what is going on. I would love to get his insights on how we could fix our world; how we could heal our country and bring ourselves back together. But he is not here to ask so it’s time to bring forth his advice and for us to be the best we can be.

I guess this is my long winded way of asking you guys are you happy right now with how our world feels? Could you listen more and talk less to understand the perspective of someone else? Could you do more that would make you feel more complete? Would it help someone else? We’re at a cross road and if we don’t do something to make this world better we might regret it for our entire lives. I’d also like to point out we’re showing the next generation how to act.

If you aren’t sure what to do i would like to make one suggestion; educate yourself. Pick leaders who truly represent your beliefs and ideologies. I honestly believe we can fix our world if we step back, become better educated and let compassion lead.

Lifestyle · Weekly Round Up

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Happy almost Father’s Day! Instead of doing my traditional weekly sales I gathered up so great gift ideas for Father’s Day! I did test these gifts by asking my Dad what he thought of these gifts and he gave the dad approval. (Funny thing he actually informed me he has a few of these and that he wants a new pair of dad shoes.) My list might be a little smaller but I honestly just wanted to recommend products we use and really like. That we’ve used and tested because I can’t think of anything worse than giving a gift that doesn’t perform.

I’m a big fan of the Tile Key Finders. Dex debated getting these for Grant since we get asked have you seen my keys once a day! The ones below are a great starter pack. They come with two stickers, a keychain and a card sized finder. The best part is it works with Alexa so you can simply ask Alexa to find your keys! If you just want one to try I’ll link that below.

One thing I know my dad loves, I got one for Grant and he loves it, is a pressure washer! This one is amazing. It cleaned years of dirt and grime off our back patio. Plus it was a great bag for your buck. I’d highly recommend it.

Another one of the favorites I’ve seen is a grilling kit. They put all of your grilling essentials in one easy place to find. It has a spatula, tongs, skewers, corn holders and a cleaning brush. It’s perfect for the dad who has everything but could use more a few more tools for his grill.

Another favorite at our house is a great portable charger! The one I’ve linked below has been Grant tested it has all the cables you need to charge any phone and the battery lasts for multiple full charges to make sure your phone is fully charged. Best of all it can be easily plugged into the wall and charge your device.

I’m sure you have one of these by now but if not, omg, this literally makes my life so much easier. It’s the Amazon Alexa. She is my right hand in the kitchen and I know she makes life easier for Grant as he uses her as much as I do. If you are looking for a way to video call with your loved ones then I would go with the Echo Show. I’ll link both for you guys.

One thing that seems so small but has become such a big part of our lives is the coffee machine. It has so much versatility that anyone uses it. Grant loves ours because it makes the best Snapple’s for him whereas my dad loves his because it’s super easy for him to be able to brew a cup of coffee without having to do a lot of work. My family loves their Keurig so that’s what I’ve linked below but the Nespresso has been a hit. (If you want more info about that one check out my comparison between the two.)

I think my last recommendation would be a great coffee tumbler to go. Now a days we’re always on the go and no one, I repeat no one, wants chilly hot coffee. We love our insulated metal coffee tumblers. Now I’m going to be honest. We have both a Yeti and an Rtic plus an Ozark Trail. I think my dad prefers his Ozark Trail. (That being said the Rtics were put to the test on the beach and they came through like a champ.) There is absolutely no difference that I’ve seen in quality between them. Plus they are all dishwasher safe. If you want the name brand go for the Yeti it’s a great tumbler and won’t let you down. However if you are looking for a more budget friendly option so you can do more with your dollar then I honestly recommend the Rtic or Ozark Trail over the Yeti. I’ll link both for you below. My Dad loves his forest green color for the record.

Hopefully these help and since they are all Amazon they should get to you in the nick of time for Dad!

Lifestyle

Books: Real or E-Book

May 20, 2020 TherealellewoodzLeave a comment

Alright, I want your opinions. Do you prefer a paper book or an E-Book? I am 100% a paper book kinda girl. I love the weight in my hands, the way the page feels when I flip it and even the smell of books! (Yes, books have a smell and if I could get that in a candle I would without a doubt.) However, I respect that online reading has a place. When we were going to Hilton Head for a few weeks I packed my kindle (its an original one so it doesn’t have apps, it has a standard look of a book) and with space being limited I wanted to maximize my book abilities while packing the least amount of things.

I’m okay with my kindle because it isn’t a tablet. I can read in the sun and it won’t make it miserable to try to read or have to watch out for the glare. Don’t get me wrong, I am a dedicated iPad fan (I’m actually working on this post from my iPad) but you can’t read very well in the sun with it. I know you can switch the screen to black and the writing in white but it still is just miserable to read on for me. I need the original devices to make sure that I can actually read and not spend the entire time squinting at my screen.

As I mentioned previously my Kindle is a first generation Amazon Kindle. This is actually my second, I stole mine from Grant who never used it and I’ve had his since maybe 2014. He never used it and I needed one. It was a match made in heaven, his kindle got use and I got a new to me book reader. That book reader has been to Canada, Indiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. I still preferred paper books but when I traveled this was my go to packing strategy.

However, the unthinkable happened… I was lounging out by the pool when I went to turn my kindle off it looked kinda funky. I thought, oh well, I’m sure its nothing. I’ll charge it and reset it when I get back inside. I went in to charge it, reset it and put Grant to work on fixing it. About thirty minutes later he gave me the news…. It was dead. I honestly was really torn since we are away we couldn’t hit up the library and everything is closed still. I could read on my iPad but I hate doing that; it just doesn’t work as well.

This left me with the next decision. What do I do now… I went on Amazon and read review after review for different book readers. I was torn between two, getting a new Kindle or the Kindle Paperwhite. They both have the screens I like (e-ink) that makes it look like real paper so your can read in the sun and it won’t make you need to squint. The Kindle itself is cheaper (coming in at 89.99) which is always nice, it has 4GB of storage which is plenty but it felt really small to me. I decided to go with the Paperwhite instead. It has 8GB of storage, a slightly larger screen and the best part it is waterproof and considering I’m primarily reading at the beach/pool the waterproof is a big win. It is slightly more expensive (this one costs 129.99) but not having to worry about it getting wet and replacing is really nice! The Paperwhite also is completely flush on the screen so if you get sand on it you can just wipe it off instead of having to be careful to not cram more sand into the device.

I have had my Paperwhite for about a week now and I can honestly say I really like it. I do miss the included 3G built into the device to download books directly from the reader but with WiFi pretty much everywhere its not a big deal.

Overall, I still recommend a real book first but if you don’t want to carry multiple books then I highly recommend the newer Kindles. Both the Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite. I think the Paperwhite works best for me but both are great options.

If you want to get the Kindle Paper Weight click Kindle Paperwhite below, by clicking this link and buying through my Amazon Storefront I will receive a commission. Kindle Paperwhite

If you want to get the Kindle Paper Weight click Kindle below, by clicking this link and buying through my Amazon Storefront I will receive a commission. Kindle