Michigan

catching up

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  So I know you must have missed my posts!

We have a lot to catch up on.  But where to begin?

Michigan peonies

The last time I blogged was before the official start of Summer…. and now it’s August.  Insanity.

I’m not going to give you some lame-o reason why I have been so silent.  Like, “oh I was busy”.  We all are busy.  We all have commitments, families, responsibilities, unexpected life events – and we all have the same hours in the day as Beyonce.   It’s all how you prioritize and manage your time.  And it’s safe to say that I’ve sucked at that lately.  A lot of times I find it extremely hard for me to just write, draw, or do anything random that I enjoy in my free time.  But as with anything you love, you pick back up where you left off.  So here it goes.

June flew by. We made our yearly vacation back up to the Mitten.  We spent a week trekking across the state – hitting Chicago, Detroit and everywhere in between.

Chicago Riverfront

I swear, there is never a dull moment on these Michigan trips.  Every year I bring a book along with me and am lucky to crack it once. Sure, it’s a little ironic because you go on vacation to relax, and we do get some down time, but it’s more like relaxed chaos.  Everyday of our trip seems to get booked up with commitments as we try to cram a year’s worth of hangout time into 1 week.   It always seems to feel hectic when we go home.  You’d think being there for a whole week would be long enough to see everyone we know and love, but it’s amazing how each time I go up there are people we miss.  I guess it’s one of the hard things about having family and friends spread out.  And you know, deciding to live about 1,500 miles away from your hometown.  But really, there’s no other feeling like being back at the place you will always call home….that place that takes you back to your roots.

Pure Michigan - Hidden Lake Gardens

And by the way, I had the best freakin’ time in Detroit.  Being downtown was absolutely phenomenal.  There’s revival in the air and I’m proud to see it coming back.  I just had to shout that out to the world.

Oh and if you find yourself there, do yourself a favor and hit up Detroit Institute of Bagels.  I bought one… and then followed that up with a whole dozen for the road.

IMG_2486

Our summer in Texas has consisted of lots of river tubing and picking back up with what seems like the endless list of renovating and maintaining an old house.  Don’t get me wrong, I love our 1954 ranch and would not trade it for anything.  Okay, mayyyybbbeee an oceanfront home on 30A, but that’s about it.  I can’t wait to share some of the details and some other new things happening around here in some future posts.

It’s good to be back to blogging after my sabbatical.   Hope you are enjoying your summer too!

Texas Sunset

sweet summertime.

Hola!!

Random fact: This is actually the longest I’ve ever went without blogging since I started it back in October of 2011!  I took off most of May and all of June, but the good news is that I’m backkkkk!  I’ve realized my neglected blog needs some love too. 🙂

It seems entirely insane to me that already half the year is over.  I need to continually remind myself to just take some deep breaths, look around, and take in my favorite time of the year.  Temps in Texas have been a refreshing 95 degrees (ha!), but hey we’ll take anything under 100 this time of the year.

PS. There’s not too much news to report around here.  We traveled back to the Mitten in June to celebrate 2 awesome weddings (my friend Kaytee and Nate’s brother Matt), and also have had some visitors in Texas recently, too.  I haven’t taken many pics lately, but here are some from the trip to Michigan:

Ludington, Michigan

chalkboard wedding sign

Kaytee and I

lite brite!

(Yes that is a Lite Brite, and yes I took at least 3 pictures of it during the night because I was so freakin excited.)

State Theatre -  Traverse City, MI

putt putt

Crystal Lake, MI

kayaks on Crystal Lake

Matt & Lynn!

Lynn and Ethan dancing

bearded lover and I

sandy feet

Sunset over Lake Michigan

 

It seems like more and more lately, I’m reminded of how extremely lucky and blessed we are.  We have a home with tons of potential, a loving pup, good jobs, and been on some great trips this year already.  Reflecting on it all, life is good!

 

 

Pure Michigan

I’m backkkkkkk!   We returned from our trip to Michigan on Sunday and have been trying to play catch up ever since! As you probably know, Nate & I are from neighboring small towns in southern Michigan.   It was nice to go to the place that we’ll always call home.   I know a lot of people that have never been to Michigan assume that it sucks, but I’m determined to change your mind.  Summer in Michigan is absolutely gorgeous, and there is a lot of great things to see.  Our vaycay went by fast, and we didn’t get to experience all that our hearts’ coveted, but here’s some of my favorite pictures from the trip:

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Our 1st stop: East Lansing!

There’s me in front of my old dorm at Michigan State.

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Oh Sparty, I’ve missed you more than you know.

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Congrats to Colleen & Jesse – there’s me with the beautiful bride!

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Stop #2: Detroit

We don’t take no bull! (Kel & I in Wyandotte)

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Take me out to the ballpark! A summer trip home is not complete until we go to a Tiger’s game.

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Now you know where I get my eyes from!  (Aunt Ann & I)

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Stop #3: Kalamazoo

 Maci Muggles enjoying life

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Uncle Warren & Aunt Janet!

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Stop #4: Grand Haven

Reunited! Finally!!

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Love me some Lake Michigan

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Nate & Biff

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Stop #5: Irish Hills/Brooklyn/Napoleon

St. Joseph’s Shrine in Irish Hills.  Such a special place – not only because we got married at the Shrine 2 years ago, but also because my family’s history is rooted so deeply here.  My grandparents and other relatives are buried here too.

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Check back tomorrow because I’ll be putting up the pictures from Chicago! 🙂

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Until then…. xoxo!