here's what creativity means to me.

I had a teacher tell me one time that my creative writing must have been taken as a joke and that it wasn't art. It was something about Rocky Balboa being stranded in the middle of a field and digging his way to China to find people... I can't remember, but I know it was funny. And it was creative! I'm not bitter or anything (can you tell I hold a good grudge, sometimes?). 

Ok, so anyway... If you know me, then you know I'm married to a wickedly creative genius and even though he never, ever, under any circumstances means to be, he can be intimidating! If you sit in front of him and watch him draw, or paint, or create something, you become mesmerized. It's some kind of magic. And then, at least for me, I'll try to draw something and it's comparable to a mess that Frankie would make in a mud pit. What I'm trying to say, is that Frankie makes some really beautiful messes, ha! 

But here's the real thing... creativity can be anything! And if you feel confident in it, and you enjoy what you're doing then KEEP DOING IT! Don't compare it, don't criticize it too much, but just relish in the feeling that it gives you.

Here goes it - I love photography! I follow many photographers, I always click on photography links when browsing the web and I'm constantly seeing, or thinking of opportunities to photograph my every day life. I'm not a professional and I, by no means, provide, or sell the best thing you'll have ever seen. But I enjoy it so much that it's become a consistency in my life, which is saying something for this serial hobbyist. But, just like many others, I compare, and critique my own work so much that I convince myself it's not that good. So maybe the color doesn't pop the way I want it to, and maybe the lines aren't as sharp as they should... Maybe I photographed everything under the wrong setting and now the photos are grainy. (definitely been there, done that!) But when I look back at some of my favorite photograph's, after the fact, I'm proud of them! And I guess I really don't need a critic, or an audience to tell me otherwise. I'm really trying to worry less about how others might perceive something and just focus on how it makes me feel... So, with that being said, here are some of my personal favorite photographs that I've snapped. Whether I like it for the quality of the work, or the meaning... whatever it is; I'm putting it out there. And you should too! If you love it, and it makes you happy, then show the world! We want to see it. Few things make me happier then seeing other people happy. You'd be hard press to find an angry Renee in happy company. It's just not me. 

winter traditions.

Lake Erie near the Flats.

Hi there! 

I hope you're staying warm wherever you are. And I really mean wherever you are! Crazy, this weather has been!

Well, because of this weather, I feel like I've been trapped in the house more than usual which means I don't have too much to blog about. Whomp, whomp! As I was sitting here, crocheting a scarf and thinking about what I could still blog about I had an idea! Here's the thing, I crochet when it's cold because a.) the things I crochet are primarily used in the colder weather, and b.) I use whatever I'm crocheting as a tiny little blanket, ha! 

So there it is. That's my idea. Goodbye! Just kidding - it's my winter traditions! Here's what I tend to do in the winter, or do more than usual.

I drink tea all year around in the morning, but in the winter I find myself having much, much more! In the evenings I like to have my calming tea to not only get me ready for bed time, but also to warm me up. I'm sure I've talked about it enough, but my favorite brands are Traditional Medicinal and Paromi Tea.

Ahem. I mean... What else do you do in the middle of a blizzard when you're going crazy being stuck in the house? Check out those new Cleveland breweries, of course! Cade and I recently visited Bad Tom Smith and it did everything but disappoint. The crew was great, the beer was incredible and the decor was magnificent! It's like being in a modern day saloon.

I try extra hard when the weather is frigid to take care of my plants. I don't want them to be too cold, under watered or over watered... So it's a daily thing this time of year instead of weekly. I've already lost one plant.. SUCH A SAD DAY!

Spend time with family! A couple of Saturday's ago I went to my moms, in my jammies, plopped down on the recliner and enjoyed the whole day doing nothing with her, my sister and sweet Lilah. I've relived that day several times in my head since then! Nothing like being home...

Hehe, this is more of an obsession. I'm like Oprah with my candles - THE BATHROOM GETS A CANDLE! THE LIVING ROOM GETS A CANDLE, THE KITCHEN GETS A CANDLE, YOU'RE ALL GETTING CANDLES! I wish I were exaggerating. 

While I always try to have a book that I'm reading, I think I excel in the winter. I was recently looking at a website to get a new book and out of the five suggested readings, I had already read three of them. It felt like an accomplishment, but also kind of like "oh crap! what if there are no more books?!" (side note: I know that won't happen, but some drama is fun.)

Not pictured is crocheting! I thought for sure that I had a picture of that, but I do not. However, maybe eventually I will post some of the things I'm working on, or have finished. It's so relaxing to me, and I am one of those people who constantly need to be doing something with my hands so it certainly keeps me occupied.

OK, that's all for this one! Stay warm, and enjoy whatever you might be doing to get you through this winter. 

let's negotiate for longer weekends. [links]

Happy weekend! 

Don't mind me. I am just clinging on to the only memories that remain of warmer weather over here... It is currently five (yeah, like, as in, 1, 2, 3, 4, FIVE) degrees right now. But enough about the weather! 

Well, hear me out... One more thing about the weather and then I am done. The BOMB.

In my last post I opened up about my current obsession with Netflix's "The Crown" and then I saw this. Some of those are crazy accurate! Personally, my favorite character from the show is John Lithgow as Winston Churchill. Bravo! I thought he was tremendous. 

Here's a couple of my favorite things lately: 

FIRST, and most important of them all - Cade gave me the best, most exciting and thoughtful Christmas gift: 23 and me DNA Genetics testing. I already mailed it back and can't wait to get the results!

Last weekend I purchased this super affordable foot stool for our living room and ... it really ties the room together. (JK, kind of.. Get it, though?) Anyway, for $20 it's sturdy and does the job. Plus, it's pretty cute, too.

(!!) Current FAV cocktail alert (!!) Either a.) grapefruit juice (100% grapefruit juice.. nothing sugary) and vodka (with a smidge of salt) ... or ... cucumber vodka with soda water (la croix is an excellent choice!) and a splash of lime. 

Plain vodka is always Tito's and cucumber vodka is the flavored Effen

I know I've already mentioned it on here, but everything in this collection is a need. My personal collection is growing nicely already. Oh, and speaking of (!) - they're having another baby! I loved the news and was really bummed when I read some of the nasty comments that people were leaving... Leave them alone! 

One of my favorite friends gave me a very thoughtful basket for Christmas which included this brand of tea and I am obsessed now. As someone who primarily drinks tea over coffee, I have a difficult time finding a black tea that gives me the right amount of energy (not too jittery, not too dull) and Paromi hits the spot, perfectly! 

I'm still on the fence about my over-all opinion of The Last Jedi, but this article does a good job of explaining critics vs. audience scores. I really, really, really LOVED certain scenes from it, but there was also a bit that I wasn't pleased with. 

Speaking of movies; Cade and I are going to see Jumanji tonight! 

...and finally; if you're like me then you're always interested with who wins the big movie/tv awards this time of year. Here are some Golden Globe predictions which will be revealed at the end of this weekend (but who's rushing?!). (psst: best TV series - drama is seriously impossible to choose from. Wow!)

Ok, enjoy the weekend! I hope it moves slow and you enjoy it all. 

Much love! 

life lately (catching up!)

Oh boy, OK where do I even begin? Can you tell the holidays kept me busy? Not to worry though, my life is following the law at this four way intersection and it has come to a complete STOP. Good thing, too. Shall we explore random tidbits of the last month?

(Oh, and by the way... I still, regrettably, have not downloaded a single picture from my DSLR from over Christmas. I'm sorry, mom!)

Right-oh and back to it! 

Scout! We went to Cade's mom's house the week before Christmas and I finally got to meet this cute ball of preciousness. How sweet.. And also, what a show off. Right?!

...And how perfect is her tree? Perfectly perfect. I know.

  

        

(Look, I'm going to get right down to it here. I have never aligned pictures like that (^) before and I know they are lopsided... Just please be OK with it and let your OCD know that I did not mean for it to look like that, but I really can't do anything about it.)

Cade and I refurbished this little table into a perfect little home for our record player. Isn't it lovely?! I am really pleased with how it turned out.

Mr Franks has the winter blues. If he can't be outside running around like crazy then he MUST be inside cuddling with us. It's the only way for him to not suffer... I understand little dude.

See what I mean? A LOT of cuddling. Notice how he is under the blanket and on top of me... He climbed his way up. I love it but I also sometimes wouldn't hate to have a little breathing room. I manage though! 

Oh, while we're on the subject of down time... Anyone binge exciting shows over their holiday break? Here are the two winners for me: 

Goliath on Amazon Prime video 
The Crown on Netflix

Both are practically impossible to stop watching and the acting is phenomenal! 

It's totally fine... She loves me. Those are just tears of pure happiness because she is so excited to be near me. It's totally fine! JK, it's not fine. This little peanut gets very emotional when you have your phone out and it's NOT in her hands. You know that feeling? Poor thing. 

I already madly love Terrestrial Brewing but the fact that they kept their Christmas lights up (and so beautifully I might add) just made me love them that much more. If you are in the Cleveland area then I really can't stress how much you should come check this place out. Great staff and even better drinks! Don't just trust me though, let the four out of five stars on Yelp convince you.

As I type this I am trying so hard to not look at the perfect bowl of pasta above. Piada is, what I can only describe as, that meal where the first bite you take will change your life. It's essentially a Chipotle for pasta and everything about it deserves all the hype that Chipotle got when it became popular. 100% in love with this place. 

At any given time in the last week you could've asked "Right now (!), what is the weather like on the west side of Cleveland?" and I could easily, and without a doubt tell you it was snowing. Crazy! Just all the time, snow, snow, snow. And the single digit, frigid temps aren't helping. The snow is beautiful though. I definitely, more than anything else in my life, have a love/hate relationship with snow.

He kind of does too, but I think he might love it more than he hates it.

In case you didn't believe me about the constant, 100% of the time cuddles. 

Well, thanks for checking in! I have big plans for this blog in 2018 so here's to keeping them!! 

May the year ahead be the best one yet for us all! 

It's beginning! Christmas!

Tis the season, am I right?! 

I know it comes with this time of year, but dang have I been busy lately. If it's not going out to dinner with family and/or friends then it's running errands or a work function... The list goes on. I should really take advantage of this chaos, though, because we all know that by the middle of February I'm going to be questioning if I ever even had a social life to begin with.

OK, with all that being said, this past week has been incredible! Celebrating Cade and his birthday with family AND friends with love and gifts. What a beautiful thing to see someone you deeply love just gleam with happiness!  

 Here are some random Christmas photos that I had in my phone of our tree, some favorite ornaments and a few decorations around the house. 85% of me LOVES the Christmas decor this time of year, but the other 15% of me is like "is it time to go back to normal now?!".

Merry Christmas friends! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season <3 font="">

to cade.

The man of my dreams.

Sometimes I feel guilty that only I get him for the rest of my life because then that means that no one will ever know him on the level that I do.

I prayed and begged and fought for not only this love that we have, but specifically for this man. For Cade Jordan Buckus.

He is that fleeting feeling of falling in love. When there's nothing to grab onto to keep you still but you're not really reaching for anything anyway.

He's the quivering lips when you can't stop a smile from growing.

He's the memories I visit when I want to feel loved and he's my happily ever after.

Happy birthday sweet boy. I love you more than these words and I hope you know that forever.