Showing posts with label Kayaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kayaking. Show all posts

FALL UP NORTH...A LEAF PEEPING TRIP & MORE

Fall and the color changing leaves in northern Michigan is something to behold! For some reason, everything just seems more vibrant in upper Michigan. This has been a good year for leaf peeping! Every year, Mr. Nine and I go up to our home away from home in northern Michigan to see the leaves but the majority of the time it is always super windy, super cold and very rainy. We got completely lucky this time and had beautiful sunshiny weather in the 60s. It was so perfect for everything “FALL” we wanted to do. Here’s a little Fall trip recap. Might be the most photos I've had in a post, lol.



The "Oranges" and Reds were amazing!!

THURSDAY

I love when we take our sweet time getting to destinations and stopping off at fun little places. I really wanted a coffee that wasn’t Starbucks, lol we found the neatest little coffee shop in Holland Michigan and of course had to go in a couple of downtown stores. This town is very charming And we’re going to go up more often. 


We also have never been to a tiny little hole in the wall Tavern about 20 minutes south of our town in all these years. It’s called the Blue Slipper and who wouldn’t want to go to someplace with a title like that. Can I say that we were extremely impressed. The couple that bought it and took over this place rich in history (dating back to the 1880’s) are the sweetest and you can tell this place is the loved by locals and tourists alike. The drink I had was actually called the blue slipper.


Then it was just a simple dinner at the place we always go to our first night in town, strolling around seeing things like the giant pumpkin and then a gorgeous sunset for our first night.





 

FRIDAY

We had such a fun day. It started out at another hole in the wall breakfast spot that was delicious, in fact I devoured it so fast, I forgot to get a picture of my pumpkin pancakes, lol. Mr. Nine and I are working with the fabulous clothing company flag and anthem so we found a great fall spot to make a video and get some pictures. Bless his heart!


The leaf viewing was incredible everyday.

Of course we have to get in lots of hikes when we are up there so we did a fun one that took us right to the shores of Lake Michigan. Now this day it was very windy on the shore but it didn’t even matter with that warmth.

 

Next up, was the outdoor in the woods brewery we found last year in Suttons Bay called Hop Lot! Oh my goodness we had so much fun sitting around the fire. This place is truly phenomenal and I even roasted marshmallow as they sell cute little s’mores kits.



Once again on the way back we decided to fly by the seat of our pants and ended up at a winery called Rove! I had the most delicious warm fall cider and the grounds with the trees and the vineyards was truly amazing up on the hill.

 

Then we decided to go to a little town at a restaurant we have been to before called the Lucky Dog and boy am I glad I did because I got what was called a Reese-Tini that tasted just like a Reese's peanut butter cup.

 

We went back and I went for a quick walk thru town to do a little walk and talk and then we curled up and watched the movie Lou on Netflix with Allison Janney if you have not seen it, it is so good!


Saturday

This was the big adventure day. We planned on having breakfast at our favorite tavern in the town we were going to hike and called Jose friendly Tavern but it didn’t open till 11 so actually we were really glad we got our hike in first. The Empire Bluff Trail is one of our favorite up there because the views are spectacular.



Can I just say I had a cocktail at 11 AM and I’m not mad about it because it was one of the most delicious I’ve ever had! It was called a poison apple and it had a black sugar rim filled with apple cider, fireball and cranberry juice! Oh my was it ever delicious. and I got the Fall special which was butternut squash bisque and sharp white cheddar and honeycrisp apple grilled on oat bread.
 

Then it was kayaking down the Platte river and what a perfect day for him. There was hardly anybody else doing it the weather was spectacular and we marveled at God‘s beauty all the way down the two hour trek.




We stopped off at Frankz and had Michigan’s best french fries!! 


Then got ready for dinner and what we thought was the football game. 

Dinner was at a new restaurant in town called the old town grill and we split one of the best pulled pork sandwiches ever. Really cool aesthetic in there.

 

We had decided we were going to go to the football game in town because the team was so good, we had an acquaintance there whose son played, and it was the perfect football weather. However, maxpreps had stated that the game was on Saturday night which is not unusual for Michigan high school football but when we got there the only person who’s the guy in town who picks up cans, lol! I went back and looked at the website and it had been on Friday night even though we had double checked six times I think they had made a mistake and we were kind of bummed.

But another great sunset in the neighboring town made a smile and we went back and played some rummy and started watching the Dahmer series on Netflix. Gosh that’s disturbing but very interesting to watch.

 

SUNDAY

The next morning, or last day Mr. Nine chilled with some coffee while I went on a brisk fall morning walk again marveling at all the beautiful leaves in town.

 

We stopped off at to farm market stands for apples and squash and then on the way back decided to stop in Holland again and eat at the new Holland brewing company and it was absolutely delicious!


It was kind of funny, when we returned home, we stated that the leaves in our area just seem to be more muted in color. I guess that’s one of the things that makes our trips up north more special, I was so in awe of the leaves and their changing beauty, Fall just makes me giddy! Bu then look athlete color we got back home the next morning.


Happy to get home and see our girl Miss Stella who had had a wonderful time with grandma. Already thinking about next Fall and hoping we get lucky with the weather again.


LINKING-UP with What's Up Wednesday // Style on the Daily // Metamorphosis Monday // Thursday Fashion Files // Love your Creativity  //Fancy Friday 

xoxo 



 

 

 

 

FRIDAY FAVORITES....HEY JUNE

Happy, yes HAPPY Friday my beautiful babes! So glad we made it through this week, but I have to say hey hey June, slow down, let’s not let summer go too fast. Indiana is set for a beautiful stretch of weather, not overly hot and I’m going to soak up every last second of it! Hope it’s going to be a good weekend for you all! Let’s get to Friday favorites and to enjoying this summer weekend ahead!


1. Outside Time
This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous but strangely, I was in a really weird depressed funk! Mr. Nine to the rescue with his suggestion that we finally, after two years of living in our new house, kayak the river that runs behind us! It was the perfect day to kayak, the river was flowing swiftly, and we saw so much gorgeous scenery. Now, we did ditch early because we got out at the wrong park and I did run into a set of logs while trying to turn around, but my man pulled me out and our son came to pick us up to load up the kayaks! We Will be kayaking all Summer long.

Then it was a little pool time and some evening fishing! None of us caught anything except for Mr. Nine and his catches kept getting bigger, LOL!

2. The YETI Bartender 
"PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE MARTINI"
With that posting last Friday, I have two YETI Bartender videos to share and they are my best yet! I hope you will check both of them out. This first one is a Pineapple Upside Down Martini that I first had on a family vacation. I knew I would want to replicate it but it’s been several years now and I finally did it and oh am I happy with the results! It is definitely my prettiest cocktail!




"KEY LIME MARTINI"
The second one is my favorite martini of all time! The Key Lime Martini! I made this extra special by making it in a giant martini glass. This is the same glass that my mom handed me a Key Lime Martini in at my 40th birthday party many moons ago! I have been waiting to make this one for so many years and it turned out divine!




3. Week's Attire
I did a lil Amazon Haul on Insta this week 
and here are the CA---UTE winners. 
 Ruffle Skirt HERE
Tank Top HERE // Sandals on Major Sale HERE

 Dress HERE
Earrings HERE // Sandals HERE


White Joggers HERE

4. Tassels & Stripes from Mint Julep
What do Fridays and tassels make me feel? TOTALLY FESTIVE! Mint Julep Boutique does it again! I just took these pictures yesterday and wore this top to 2 stores and I got three compliments including the mail bagger at the grocery store! It feels so good on, fits great and it’s going on beach vacation with me!


BUY TOP HERE // WHITE JEANS HERE // NECKLACE (Kendra Scott ON SALE) HERE // Similar SANDALS HERE // EARRINGS HERE

More Inspo


5. Misc. Fun
POSTS OF THE WEEK

SOCIETY SOCKS
My love for Society Socks just got even bigger! I received these gorgeous socks in the mail this week I was overjoyed that it included the striped pair for women! Even has my favorite pink. And you know I may need these Pineapple Socks! What I love about this Society Socks is their commitment to community and giving back! For every pair of socks your purchase, they donate a pair to those in need! Their Monthly Subscription, where you receive two pairs of socks each month, is so much fun! And then, just like that, 2 additional pairs are donated! Their custom designs are absolutely darling and my boys and Mr. Nine love the quality and comfort of their socks and the no slip cuffs are a huge winner! Just look how cute the men’s pair is with the little astronauts on them! Perfect timing for our launch of American astronauts back into space! Check them out HERE


TRADER JOES TRIP
As you may have seen in my Instagram stories, I made the trip up to Trader Joe’s for the first time this year and I have to say I was so impressed! I was probably only one of about a dozen people in there! They didn’t have everything I was looking for, but I certainly was happy with what I came home with! Here are a few things that are new to me and I can already tell you that the little coconut wafers and coconut cashews are out of this world delicious and will be on my repeat list!

so good!

MEMES







RED, WHITE, BLUE AND YOU LINK-UP ANNOUNCEMENT
As I mentioned Monday, the patriotic and fun red white and blue and you link-up is back on Monday, June 29 with my five best girls! You do not want to miss this link-up and sharing all your Americana and Festive Fun!

Be Kind, Do the Right Thing and 
Have a Beautiful Weekend! 

xoxo

BLOG DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS