Fine in 09
Published in Widowism by chefswidowLet’s start ’09 off right. Shall we?
This past holiday season, which is now thankfully packed tightly away in boxes that live in my attic, I came across what would soon turn into my favorite local boutique. I (and my checkbook) discovered Room Service, a very sophistimicated and super smart shop in the Detroit Shoreway.
Say that three times.
At a book club meeting, the conversation drifted away from Vonnegut and this lovely lady ended up talking about her friend’s store in the shoreway. Book club ended early that day and I snuck out of the restaurant to take a peek. That peek turned into a month long obsession that still hasn’t quit.
Room Service reminds me of Paris. Especially the Ile St. Louis area. The store is welcoming, walking in from the shoreway. The eclectic array of items is…magnificent! Danielle also likes to focus on local producers something the Widow family certainly stands behind. I am personally now rocking Defend Cleveland fingerless winter gloves. And they rock.
Biggie Smalls rocks her new Christmas cap
As a token of my appreciation wonderment that anyone actually reads my little ‘ole blog I would like to give away a gift certificate to Room Service. This gift certificate, graciously donated to Chef’s Widow by Danielle, is good for in store purchase as well as online (for my peeps not in the Cleve). But if you are in the C.L.E you should definitely check out the store on the shore. Make a day of it. Get some coffee at Gypsy Bean, have a snack at Luxe, and then get yer shop on!
All you need to do to win is let me know what you DON’T want to change about yourself in ’09. ABSOLUTELY NO RESOLUTIONS!!!. Tell me what you like about yourself. NO, tell me what you absolutely LOVE about yourself. Don’t be shy. A little self love never killed anyone.
Winner will be announced a week from today, January 12th, 2009.
Bonne Chance.
***A super big mess of Potato kisses go out to Cleveland Magazine for naming Chef’s Widow a HOT BLOG!***
Clap
I love Room Service – what a fun place to browse and buy. My next trip there I’m totally getting the Alphabet Animal flash cards for my girl’s bedroom walls!
What not to change? Well I actually love feeling like a new Clevelander – I really like that I am still kind of in awe of living here, discovering new (to me) things, checking out new places, meeting new people. I hope to not settle into any kind of “been there done that” rut when it comes to my new hometown. It’s been a year and my list of things to see and places to visit just keeps getting longer (thanks, in part to you, Erika and other great Cleve bloggers!)
I’ve been to Luxe three times and always forget to get to her store before it closes! Damn it – I’ll have to make a Saturday out of it.
I would not like to change my lack of a filter or my deep blue eyes. One – because sometimes having no filter can be fun and two I can’t count on how many times I’ve been hit on by guys asking, “are your eyes real?”
i do not want to change the acceptance i’ve come to have for myself.
I will definitly be checking out Room Service in person this weekend, though there are a lot of great things on the website. The site with the ‘Defend Cleveland’ merch has a cle shirt I want but is all sorts of slow. Maybe because of everyone coming from your blog.
What I like best about me is how GD funny I am. Better ask somebody.
This has gotten so interconnected that we are going to have to start a Six Degrees of Separation from The Chefs Widow. Danielle is a friend of Michelle V. and has a door in her shop that came from Reincarnation.
oh i love stores like this! they always have the most fun “stuff”. and a girl needs “stuff”!
i would not change that even when times are tough … i still think that it’s best to splurge on something that makes you happy…
even if it means eating salads and mac and cheese for a week to pay for it!
I absolutely love that I’ve rediscovered FOOD- and my small but very contented belly. How did i live on egg whites and rice cakes? And really? WHY? Have you eaten some of this stuff out there
This year, I WON”T be changing the fact that remaining open to serendipity is of utmost importance to me. Planning and plotting is all fine and good and necessary, but I think the best things that have ever happened to me were ones I wasn’t expecting, hadn’t planned, maybe even hadn’t wanted. So nay sayers, stay away– Im living my life as it happens to me.
I think I get a catalog from there! Or some place with the same name with equally awesome stuff! It’s awesomeness!
I so wish I lived in Cleveland still sometimes!! I
Hmmm something I love about myself, I love that I am a good person, I love that I love my child,husband, parents, sisters too much sometimes!! I love that I am taking care of my mom in the way she wants to not the way other people want her to.
I love that despite my many flaws I still see the glass as half full:)
oh and btw, Congrat’s on the Nom, you sooo deserve it, I lurve your blog!!
In 2008 I actively became a locavore and mean for that to continue, both in terms of diet and beyond. Farmers market and CSA produce, dairy products from nearby farms, supporting local art, theater, music, retail. Add to that one day a week carpooling to work.
[I also have been actively trying to bring back the word “douchebag.” So, if you are hearing that more and more in casual conversation…you have me to thank!
I love and do NOT want to change my strong, muscular legs! I can’t wait to check out Room Service!
I would not change one single thing about how I raised my four children, ages 13, 20, 21, and 25. I made tons of mistakes as a young mom, but somehow they all turned out so unique, strong, and funny. I love them all so much! Happy New Year!
i would never ever change my laugh. it’s loud and at times generates looks but you know what? i luckily have a lot of things to be happy and laugh about in my life and that is something that i never want to be any different.
Love Danielle, love Room Service, love my Defend Cleveland half gloves that I have worn so much they have a hole in them.
What don’t I want to change about myself? That I love this city I chose to move to with Mrs. Epicure and the Epicurean dogs. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. The people, the places, the food, the drink, and the passion that is Cleveland Love.
I love Room Service too! What a great store that carries some kick ass Cleveland gear, I used to have to go to the East Side to find fun Cleveland stuff.
Oh, and I would never change going back to work and not being home with my daughter, I love every moment of being home with her and all the fun we have. No matter how much or how little money we have being home is the most important thing!
something i will NEVER change about me is my passion for local food and having a relationship with the amazing people that farm our food ….i feel sooooo lucky here in cleveland to have such an awesome farmers market network and access to so many fantastic ohio farms…..
it’s so sad the grief i get from some people about my ways….they think i’m a food snob…little do they know that eating local food is sooooo far from being a food snob….so all i can do is educate, educate, educate………
can’t wait for the green house tavern!!!!!!!
by the way, i LOVE r.s. and danielle is awesome!!!!!
happy new year!
We love Room Service…Xmas shopped our butts off there!
Change? I really honestly wouldn’t change a damn thing! Certainly nothing that truly and sincerely means anything (sure superficial things are fun to yap about, but they are that – superficial). Because changing anything on a deeper level would mean changing the person in me that has the many gifts I now have: a gorgeous, sexy, smart, funny, and ravenous wife of 17 1/2 years; and absolutely amazingly brilliant and talented daughter who reminds me way too much of the way too few good qualities I had when i was a teen, and who possesses the powerful and soulful femininity of her mother; a son who is as intelligent as he is polite, courteous, gentlemanly, and full of life, laughter, and love…an old soul of the most unusual and precious sort. Giving up, or changing who I am in and real, deep sense would insult the great gifts life has given me…and they are utterly priceless! So, no, I would never change anything that truly means anything about who I am…because I have THEM.
Can’t wait to check out Room Service…even though I will just be window shopping after a crazy Christmas. I think I will grab my girls and take a tour of all the cool shops this area has to offer.
Speaking of ‘my girls’, I love that many of the friendships I made during elementary school have continued to grow and develop. I have the best friends and I hope they feel the same way.
Thank you thank you widow for including my store ROOM SERVICE and thank you to all the readers with their lovely comments. I hope to see or meet you all so soon!
in 2009 i have absolutely no intention of changing my inability to complete one task before moving on to the next. each year i put this on the list of resolutions and each year i am disappointed by my miserably failed attempt and this year i am accepting that this is fundamentally who i am and really, is how i manage to (ultimately) get as much done as i do! so i shall from now on consider it a blessing and not a curse!
xoxo happy new year to all!
Thank you for reminding me that I need to get Jose a Defend Cleveland t-shirt already. . .he’s been asking for one (for Christmas, his B-day, V-day, etc.) throughout the last couple years. . .oops
Something that I’ve always loved about myself is my presence in a male dominated field. When asked what I do for a living, I am always curious what reaction I’ll receive when I say that I’m a Mechanical Engineer — the response is always positive yet expressed with surprise. Although it is nice breaking certain stigmas and stereotypes, I hope that in the not-so-distant future that women will equally share positions in several (if not all) male dominated fields — unsurprisingly*
I do not want to change my willingness to listen to other peoples opinions even if i don’t agree. You can really learn something from being open minded!
I’ve only been able to window shop Room Service, since like Allison, I’m always there after dinner at Luxe when it’s closed.
For 2009, I don’t want to change my optimistic outlook or alter my goal-oriented personality. Setting goals for myself is what keeps me engaged in my work and personal life, and it helps me to make sure I’m never settling.
That store is lovely! In 2009, I am going to spend more time with the people I love, doing fun things and enjoying myself, and I’m planning on spending a significantly less amount of time worrying about things I can’t change.
I won’t change how strong I’ve become. In the last year, I’ve learned to stand up for myself and not sit back and take any more crap. And I’m a better person for it. Plus, I went through 6 months of boot camp and while I used to be a complete wimp, I can now kick some serious ass. But I won’t, because I am still NICE, thankyouverymuch.
I had a perfect afternoon walking through all of the great stores on Detroit. My fav, of course, was Room Service.
I don’t intend to change my inability to say no to really great projects. I currently am juggling 5 exciting new different and engaging projects, but they all make me feel alive albeit slightly time crunched.
I don’t intend to change in 2009 the following:
1)my lack of self control shopping—hence, I am stimulating the economy
2)taking Noah, my 3 year old, to all the Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live shows, and all the kids shows that I would look udderly silly attending without a child by myself
3)drinking a good glass of wine on a semi regular basis…..life’s too short for bad wine!
This store looks so nice I think I could totally spend some $$$ there!!!!! There I am again, helping the economy!!!!
HAPPY TUESDAY!!!