The Lloyds go to the Cleveland Flea

I am finally home! For a little anyway. On Thursday I came home after my second year of college and I am happy to start the summer. As most of you who have read my other posts, I will be spending my summer in Columbus for an internship! But this weekend I got to spend some time with my family. This will be one of many "family fun days." For a background on those wanting to know my family, my grandparents on my mom's side had four daughters: Linda, Betsy (my mom), Vickie and Debbie. Their spouses are Joe, Jeff (my dad), Hiram and Eric. Their kids are as followed: Kyle, Abby, Emily, Maggie, Annie, Zack and Jess. And of course, the almighty, Jeanie: The Grandma. 

On Saturday, we started our day with a Hope Walk. This walk was put on by a cancer assistance center who was very helpful during a hard time for our family last year. It was a 2-mile walk and all the money went to cancer research. 

You would never know how much laughter could come from a short walk until you walked with us. My dad was sweating profusely and complaining about the little children who got to ride bikes or scooter. All while breathing heavy and pumping his arms like an elderly mall walker. Then we had grandma, right at the front and will not stop talking. Vick and Lin were focused on what was happening after the walk before it even started. I, with my fathers sweat glands, was sweating and irritated because I hate sweating and being hot. And walking in the heat. Or just like being active. In all honesty, I got to talk with almost everyone and it was a great time for a great cause. 

Next we went to Cleveland! I love Cleveland and can definitely write an entire post about it, which I probably will in the future. But this weekend was The Cleveland Flea. This is the sixth year of doing this event but my first time going. It is held once a month in Asiatown of Cleveland. I have been describing it as an upscale flea market because all the vendors are higher end boutiques and shops. The event has over a dozen food trucks as well. The weather was not so great today but we made the most out of it. 

“Vintage and salvage dealers set up shop next to jewelers, fine artists and bakers, furniture crafters and charcuterie makers. The Flea is at once a foodie feast and community gathering place, a weekend excursion in the city and a movement to back a brilliant creative class.”

“Stephanie Sheldon, founded the Cleveland Flea in 2013 as a way to support the makers, dreamers and creative small businesses that call Cleveland home. She wanted to build a means for them to make a living (and to keep making it in Cleveland), while serving up an experience shoppers couldn't get anyplace else.”

This was a must for anyone in Northeast Ohio. I honestly loved it even though the weather was cold and raining. It was about 10 degrees colder in Cleveland and not many of us accounted for this because we just finished a walk and were very hot. My dad wore a short-sleeved shirt and I have never seen a grown man more annoyed with the cold. He spent the entire time looking for a Cleveland blanket to wrap himself in. He ended up buying a popular Cleveland sweatshirt but it was a tad snug on him. He looked like Jonah Hill or Seth Rogen wearing a sweatshirt too small for him. But, he was warm. Kyle needed to get special vegan donuts for his girlfriend so he disappeared until the end. Zack didn't want to be there until he got a cool shirt and then he finally saw how cool the place was. I spent the time looking for a Mothers Day gift for my grandma because of course the Brock's didn't get anything yet! Lin was freezing and just kept looking at the sky waiting for the first drop of rain so we could leave! It was honestly such a fun time though. My family is a nut job but I wouldn't trade them for anything. We had a great time and it really doesn't matter what we are doing... we can always count on my dad for a good laugh. Oh, and we have a good time. 

I will definitely be going back for the June date. If you live in Cleveland and want something fun to do, check out the Cleveland Flea!