best of ohio's home slice.

columbus. the capital of all things o-h [i-o!], a.k.a. 6-1-4 fabulousness. i had the lovely opportunity of spending a weekend with my bestie (and some fam) in the big ol' round-on-the-sides-"hi"-in-the-middle buckeye capital. from a lax friday evening dinner at one of cameron mitchell's finest to a jeni's ice cream hit-n-run en route to the airport, i was finally "home" and my heart was ever so content.

dinner. cap city fine diner. before you go, do note that this is not your average 1950s reenactment. this is a modern day, streamline, contemporary fix on the old-school version that we picture in poodle skirts and saddle shoes with jukeboxes all the way in the back by the restrooms. i got the salmon, but my girlfriend got their housemade meatloaf...buttermilk-chive mashed potatoes, wild mushrooms, broccoli, chili onion rings and BBQ gravy. oh. my. gosh. definitely not what i was expecting. i mean, who likes meatloaf anyway? just the sound of its name is unappetizing. but once you close your eyes, your taste buds find this ironically similar rendition of something you tasted when you were little, (and usually served by an older female relative threatening your unborn children if you refused to eat it) tastes out-of-this-world delish. weird coincidence or maybe déja vü? but definitely worth a try.

cap city fine diner. 1299 olentangy river road. columbus, oh 43212. 614.291.3663.

snack. jeni's ice creams. move over coldstone, pinkberry, and yes, you too, maggie moo. if you haven't experienced the pure gloriousness of jeni's [splendid] ice creams, you are surely missing out on one of the top 3 joys in life. (i have not yet figured out what my other 2 joys in life are thus far; all i know is that being in the top 3 is die-hard and damn good.) artfully flavored with fresh ingredients found only in ohio (yay!) countrysides, jeni's ice creams are made with tlc galore. i immensely enjoyed one fine scoop of the bananas & honey: a contemporary riff on one of the vintage ice cream flavors - banana. perfectly ripened bananas, ohio honey (double yay!), a touch of vanilla bean. i also added a single scoop of the pistachio & honey: pure and true pistachio flavor; very lightly sweetened for a savory finish. yum. if you're not into housemade sugar cones (who are you?!) they also have a variety of macaroons. and if you're one of those crazy people like me and have this uncanny ability to never make up your mind, they offer samples of whatever your little heart desires! extra snaps for the chalkboard wall, lighting that resembles vintage glass milk bottles, and their stellar ice cream delivery whippersnapper.

jeni's ice cream. 4247 north high st. clintonville, oh 43214. 614.447.0500. and if you're lucky - at a grocer near you.

handmade pom pom draped decor

glass milk bottle lighting

macaroons with splendid ice cream fill

chalkboard wall

jeni's ice cream delivery whippersnapper

shopsies. the swanky abode. this place is like walking into your grandparents 21st century newly renovated basement filled with all of their old stuff from back in the day. ranging from a room filled with old lamp stands with missing shades, old cameras and movie projectors, cross-country license plates, vases and glassware, mason jars, to much furniture galore - this store-found urban boutique is a preservation of all lifestyles from various eras once endured with the hope of being part of many joyful environments in the future that lies before them. this place is one-of-a-kind original, and an icon for those to come. my personal fave is the roy-g-biv wall of colorful spray paints and the beautiful mural that perfectly exemplifies their artistic flare. anyone ages 25 to 125, or those that exist outside of this age generalization but have impeccable taste, will walk into this store and feel like they are inside of a time machine that is transporting them chronologically throughout their past and introducing them to present day style.

the swanky abode. easton towne center. 4230 the strand. columbus, ooh 43219.

murano glass vases

cardboard lettering

old junk food tins

antiquated china

cross-country license plates

old signage lettering

spray paint, various colors

vintage lamp stands

brunch. northstar café. holy smokes, you will never experience something so amazing. this contemporary new american cuisine with an organic (pun totally intended) feel is a breath of fresh air, fresh food, and fresh service all in one. their imaginative and extensive menu, all lovingly made with a healthful emphasis, will leave your tummy feeling full and your taste buds pleased. we had the prosciutto and poached eggs: green field farm eggs and prosciutto di parma on toasted rosemary focaccia with parmesan for $11, yes e-l-e-v-e-n! dollars. we also split one single ricotta (with banana topping) pancake for $4.50. independently, i enjoyed a fresh-squeezed oj while my pal had their house-made ginger ale, and her finacé - their legendary "richest organic coffee in town."

northstar cafe. 42441 north high street. columbus, oh 43214. 614.784.2233.

prosciutto & poached eggs

single ricotta pancake

and just for kicks (and because he is so, so handsome)...

my goddog, rufus.

kiss me. i'm irish.

i was born with green blood. in my family, st. patrick's day is more spiritedly celebrated than christmas, easter, and the 4th of july. my late maternal grandmother (god rest her soul) believed that she was 100% irish, solely based on the fact that she was born on march 17th. despite what her heritage actually proved to be true (she was actually very czech) - she decked herself out from head to toe in green jewels, scarves, sweater and slacks, socks, and even shoes. on the contrary, it was her husband who was the real (sorry, nana!) irish one. his family reigned from county cork - the heart and soul of ireland. though i have not yet visited ireland, it sits and waits patiently on my bucket list (along with 1,000 other things such as going skydiving and witnessing the spectacular northern lights). while i work on crossing a few bullet points off my infinite list, i continue to partake in my annual kelleher tradition of consuming corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and redskin potatoes with the most complimentary beverage anyone lucky enough to be born and bred of irish decent could have - green beer (and lots of it). i have spent my feast days in various ways over the years - dining at nearby hometown restaurants, visiting my cousins in chicago to watch the little men in kayaks dye the river green, venturing to los angeles (before i actually lived here) to bring my jewish boyfriend (of course forcing him to wear green) to his first irish dinner at an irish bar just to do a few irish car bombs and drink a few not-so-irish, (though we would like to take credit for its existence) green beers. but this year, we decided to make our very first corned beef and cabbage dinner. with the help of allrecipes.com's video tutorial. it turned out splendidly - reminiscently comforting and filled with deliciousness. we even took the time to dye our brew green! hey, it's good to be festive. as i prepare to takeoff for the big o-h-i-o on my heritage feast day tomorrow, my tummy is full. my tastebuds are pleased. and i sit here drinking just one more green beer.

little pretty.

Oversized Silk BlouseClassic Flap Bag

Genuine Freshwater Pearl Earring

Wildflower Pearl Collar Necklace

Kiwi

sometimes (let's be honest - all of the time) i wish i could live a little bit more outside of my means. societal trends, along with the copious number of magazine subscriptions i receive on a monthly basis, definitely do not contribute positively to my tendency to want, want, want. as i recently purchased my j.crew petite silk taffeta blakely bridesmaid dress in caspian blue for my best friend's wedding this coming may, i started to peruse the net in search of some accessories to coordinate with my new pretty dress for the big day. this spare time activity inevitably led to my interest in everything spring, everything frilly, flowery, and just plain pretty (of course none of these items had anything to do with the wedding). instead of sittin', waitin', wishin'(thanks, jack) for my dreams to magically come true, my lovely beau assisted in turning a teeny tiny one into reality by surprising me with the wildflower pearl collar necklace for the recent anniversary of my birth. oh my! i am SO in love not only with how well he knows my taste, but also this amazingly delicious, vintage-inspired string of glass pearls with metal and brass flower accents - the perfect compliment to any ensemble that will leave you looking a 1940s shabby-chic. meanwhile (and with regard and utmost sincerity to my other desired delicacies), considering my bank account does not justify the need for the vast array of fanciful delights, i decided to post them on 21femme instead (giving a sweet little shout to my charming new gem). in the interim, my beautiful blakely will just have to be patient and sit tight for some friends to join her, as we count down the next 2 months (60 days) until the wedding fête. for now, i will continue to be my frugal, smart, and savvy self while continuing to envision myself living in luxury.

carry on.

i am a worry wort. at some point during the occupancy in my mother's womb, i mysteriously contracted some sort of worry potion that has stuck with me throughout my 27 years of life, thus far. either that had to be the case, or else my mother is jewish, unbeknownst to me. what i do know is that when i'm not 100% in control of a situation and its entirety, i am an anxious mess. moving not once, but two times in the last year hasn't really helped my "syndrome". since i packed up the apartment i inhabited for three lovely years last april, all of my belongings have been packed away in storage. i literally have been living out of a suitcase (or five) for almost an entire year! now let's be honest, i am a girly girl and girly girls tend to have a lot of things - shoes, clothes, jewels, sharpies, my jonathan adler porcelain elephant, the magic bullet - there is a horrible feeling of discomfort and extreme uneasiness that results from being without any of these items on a daily basis. quite honestly, as i look back at the number of changes i've endured these past 11 months , it's no surprise to anyone who knows me that i have come a loooooooooong way in the reduce, reuse, and simplify department. bertrand russell said it best - "to be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness." almost one year later, all of the posessions i have compiled over the years (including my memory foam pillow and lemon-yellow hand painted lamp with watercolor floral shade - crazy, right?) still remain tucked away in storage, but i must say...i may be without some of my most favorite things in this sweet sweet life, but i am calm. i am alive. and, i am happy to be carrying on.

teatime.

Glass Teacup with Saucer

Stainless Steel Espresso Cup with Saucer

Blue Cuckoo Teacup and Saucer

Rosa Teacup by Royal Albert

Mystic Plumes Teacup

there is a quaint little place in my hometown of chardon, oh called rosepointe cottage tea room. restored from an old historic century home, the cottage now houses a lunch service and afternoon tea. going there is the coziest of experiences; you're seated in large, giant-like cherry dining room chairs similar to the ones your grandparents once had when you were little (they probably seemed even more humungous then). the best part is the cups; your tea of choice is served in your very own teapot accompanied by an antique teacup and (most often mismatched, but ever so appropriate) saucer. in addition, there are NO sugar packets - only white and brown little sugar cubes. i personally take mine with just one cube per cup with a droplet of milk, and thoroughly enjoy observing how long the three-dimesional sugar square takes to dissolve in my tiny cup of heaven. teatime has always been one of my favorite pastimes. there is such a comfort in taking tea as it's often shared with someone you love on a chilly day. there is also such an art in finding old, colorful, variously designed teacups and saucers at local vintage fairs, antique stores, or flea markets. each design though seemingly similar is actually quite different than the next. it seems even more exciting to select those that are not only pretty and serve purpose, but perhaps also once sipped by kings, queens, and their court...or possibly an ancestor from hundreds of years before. (hey, one can dream!)

cleve...land that i love.

i am a loyal ohio girl. a native of the cleve, i stand proud and tall (well, to the best of my ability as i am only 5 feet high) representing my city [comma] state wherever i go. living in los angeles is kind of funny; everyone here is a transplant. it's rare that i am out and about and meet someone actually born and raised in this ginormous metropolis. my ears are permanently perked, readily listening for the term "ohio," and when i hear it, i pounce on whomever projects it from across the room. i even beep my horn at random drivers who honorarily operate an ohio license plate vehicle. i then wave (though, everyone is so p-o-ed at all the crazies on the road here that it's usually not taken very well) and smile! moving makes you appreciate your roots. my roots are 100% heartland, filled with midwestern lovin' from head to toes. there are so many things i miss frequenting in my city; the beautiful museums, playhouse square (the second largest theater complex in the country next to nyc - i heard shrek was amazing!), my favorite mouth-watering restaurants (l'albatros, lopez, lolita, chinato, just to name a few) that even the sound of them makes me swoon, my lovely c-town blogs iheartcleveland and design sponge city guide, cute boutiques like room service made in the 216 and stash style, and of course jeni's ice cream (actually a columbus origin, but still sold at cleveland grocers). cleveland IS the land that i love - sweet, little, unique, warm (lovingly, not temperature unfortunately) traffic-free cleveland - filled with everything that leads to my heart...welp, except for the snow. cleveland, heart of it all, how i miss you so.

the path to love

historically, the labyrinth holds several meanings and interpretations. some cultures reserved this "pattern" for royal burial sites or tombs, while some practiced worship of particular gods and goddesses. the labyrinth has even been used as a form of art decor in pottery, jewelry, cave walls, and even churches. contemporary times have proven that these designs have been personified as symbolic forms of pilgrimage, as those who cannot afford to embark on actual pilgrimages have used the labyrinth as a means of achieving enlightenment. upon my normal routine of daily exercise and exploration in los angeles, i recently discovered a new version of this "antiquated path to salvation" in a well-known park located at the eastern-most end of the santa monica mountains. runyon canyon is known for its hiking (as there are numerous paths leading everywhere one can imagine), liberal canine policy (dogs are permitted to be unleashed when accompanied by an "adult"), and common celebrity sitings, due to the canyon's close proximity to the hollywood hills (a popular celebrity residential area). this labyrinth consists of manmade rocks, branches, sticks, and mulch - all strategically and artfully arranged to create spirals leading to the term "LOVE". Regardless of past, present, or future use - a maze to the unknown or unforeseen will always have its visitors wondering...