FRIDAY FAVORITES..VACAY PART 2...WITHOUT KIDS

Happy Friday friends! So today, I’m sharing our vacation recap after the kids left when it was just my sweet Mr. Nine and I! On Wednesday, I shared some more of my vacation outfits. I took some dressier things but truly it is just so laid-back. We were sad they left, but we definitely enjoyed our time together without any place to be footloose and fancy free, lol!

 

1. Carefree Day & Fireworks

On the day the kids left, we were Out and About.

We went for a walk to our traditional conundrum Café for a crème Brulé frappe for me and beer for Mr. Nine. We had the best french fries in the state of Michigan at Frankz hot dog place, had a ball talking to the owner Joe, Got silly in the Grocery Store, met Mike who is a big Instagram star and works for the Harbor Lights Resort up there while he was helping wrangle a snake that was in the water that wasn’t even a water snake, lol. ( I won't show you the photo of the snake)

My View when getting ready...

Like I mentioned last week, the fireworks got rained out on the 4th so Mr. Nine and I watched them from the deck of our place of the lake the following evening and I have to say, they were spectacular!

2. Sutton's Bay

Every year when we go on a vacation, we take a day trip somewhere! Up north Michigan is literally a plethora for fabulous little lake towns and Sutton’s Bay did not disappoint! It was so darling! We did a little shopping, had a little lunch, and found with us now our favorite brewery that’s far in our years of brewery hopping, lol….

3. Hop Lot

OK, whoever created this place north of Traverse City is absolutely genius! I just wanted to stay there and camp out, LOL! You can get Smore‘s kits for all the open fire pits, they have the most wonderful food that we didn’t know about so we just after for drinks but we will definitely be headed back up there sometime. It is just cooler that I can even note. I think all of you whether you like breweries or not would love this place there were a lot of kids there and they had cute little areas like this one that I got for the web for kids to play.

In fact, before we got the photo, a little boy told me that this was “his” restaurant, lol

4. Kayaking 

We literally have the most beautiful day for kayaking the two-hour truck down the Platte River! It was the perfect temperature, and we went early enough that it had not gotten too busy yet! Talk about true serenity!

Then we sat and had some snacks and found a neat little beach area that we had not known about. Our plan was to go back the next morning but unfortunately it rained. Next we were headed to...

5. Sleeping Bear Dunes Climb

We have not climbed the sand dune in years and in fact, it has been even longer for me because one year when the boys wanted to do it, I refused because it was 95° and the sand was scorching. Needless to say, they didn’t go very far but this time Mr. Nine and I made it up to the peak and what a view! Sleeping bear dunes has been noted as one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It is truly a sight to behold.

 Side-note, the kayaking, and dune climb were done in the same day and by the time we were done at the dunes I truly looked my absolute worst but Mr. Nine decided it would be nice to have an early bird dinner so we could chill in the condo the rest of the night. I had no make-up with me, but we went to our favorite hole in the wall called Joe’s Friendly Tavern and I didn’t even care, now that is relaxed and vacationing, lol!

 

Wrapping it up..

There wasn’t much to report on our last day, like I said we got rained out for our original plans in the morning, so we just had a nice little lunch at the storm cloud, sat on the beach for a couple hours, ate our traditional Friday Fish from the Port house in the park, ate ice cream and got to enjoy a Friday evening concert in the park as well! Then it was a beautiful sunset night and a running game of rummy on the porch.

Like Diamonds by Day...Fire at night!

....And on the Way home..last walk & view of our Lighthouse, then clouds part with Beauty in the Bay and a Stop at the Farmer's Market for flowers.

Truly our favorite place on Earth!

Happy Weekend!

Linking up with  Friday Favorites  // Metamorphosis Monday

xoxo

I LOVE VACATION.....A RE-CAP and LINK-UP

Oh Vacation how I love thee. Today, several of The Blended Blog ladies and myself are discussing our favorite vacations with a blog hop and Link-Up, which was perfect timing for me as we recently returned from our annual family vacation to our favorite town in the whole wide world on Lake Michigan. So excited to bring you a recap of what is my favorite week every year, where the 5 of us get to relax, eat, beach it, chill, laugh and make up for all the crazy business of life!!

Our first night out on the deck to watch the sunset. Even brought my favorite blankie!

I do not want these two to go back to college in a month.

We always try to find at least one new restaurant, one new thing to do and make it a priority to not be on a schedule and sleep in!!! What a luxury that this lady hardly ever gets. 
This year we tried a few new places. I had a hankering for a hot dog and considering I only eat hot dogs once or twice a year, I knew FrankZ would be the place to cure that craving. Plus their fries were voted the best in Northern Michigan and oh how they were!

One night we went to an awesome distillery out in the middle of nowhere. The entertainment were these two darling sisters. I knew I'd love them when the first song they belted out was "Jolene!" And hello Strawberry slushies with fresh strawberries and their homemade vodka...so good. Oh and the cherry on top..an Taco Truck!! Great night!!

July 4th is a big deal in this small beach town and the parade is like no other. People line the streets decked out in their best red, white and blue.

Still thinking about that hot dog....if you look close that's giant hot dog in the back of the truck behind me.

July 4th dinner night!


Beach time is of corse the BEST time!

Hello Beautiful Beach weather!!

It is a tradition to go out on the pier every year add get pictures by the lighthouse.
The boats were sending up some serious crashing waves which the boys loved.

Tenkara rod fishing but no luck. It's the experience, not the fish, lol

Now this was a fun time! My husband has a Ford Raptor and we were able to Baha a bit in the sand where most cars couldn't get too. Came out of the dunes with a little mud on the tires, just the way we like it!

A bench on this beach is how we found this town years ago. I will devote a whole post to the story sometime as it is precious...

.....Just like my precious family!

Mr. Nine and I get a little emotional when we have to leave as we love having us all together and we know this time may be fleeting when they have families of their own. We hope that with the families they start of their own someday, they will continue to come here with us year after year.

Adore this crew!

See other posts our trips to this favorite spot on lake Michigan where Summer's we go as a family and in the Fall, it is a little getaway after HS football season is over, just the two of us.....2015 HERE, Fall 2015 HERE, 2016 HERE and Fall 2016 HERE 

...and My ultimate favorite Beach vacation of all time Grand Cayman Spring Break

Now link-up your favorite vacations, 
new and old!
Head over to Sheila's Blog where she talks 
about her Vacation Love.

Linking up with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Inspire Me Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Share It // 

Creative Monday's // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // 
Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Tuesday Talk with Ashley and Erika // Ladies Who Link

xoxo

An InLinkz Link-up

Not Just FRIDAY FAVORITES....OF 2015...

Wow, where did 2015 go? As I've been reflecting this week, I started thinking about all my favorite things from the year, many of which I have mentioned in my Friday Favorites. Here are some of my Favorite favorites and wonderful memories from 2015. NINE categories, of course. ;-)

1. OUTFITS

Flared jeans were big item in 2015 and I found two pairs I loved!!

2. RECIPES

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps HERE // Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pie HERE 

// Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Pizzelles HERE // Red Velvet White Chocolate Trifle HERE

3. COCKTAILS

Buckeye Brownie Cookies and The Buckeye Cocktail HERE

S'Mores Martini HERE Blue Hawaiian HERE Party Punch HERE

4. SPRING BREAK in the CAYMAN ISLANDS

Vacation Recap HERE


5. COLE SWINDLE CONCERT & RETWEET

Learn about the Fair and Retweet HERE

6. PHOTOS

Waiting at the Airport with our "IPad" sign for our other son

Cotton Candy FAIR Love!

My favorite Summer meal

PROMPosals
More Ideas HERE

7. PRODUCTS

Favorite hands and feet Products HERE

Being a Maybelline Great Lash Girl (Pink and green forever baby), it's tough to find Mascaras I live but these two Rock
Drugstore Cover Girl Super Sizer
and a Higher End Make Up For Ever Smokey Extravagant HERE

My two Sonix Phone cases, love them 

Chilled and ready to go...what I'm drinking tonight!

8. RED HUNTERS

By far, favorite purchase of the year were my red Hunter Boots. 

9. LOVES OF MY LIFE

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, FUN AND SAFE NEW YEAR'S EVE
And GO IRISH!! Notre Dame needs the W over the yucky Buckeyes tomorrow!!

Linking up with Linking up with  Fab Favorites // Friday Favorites  // 2015 Favorites // Fashion Friday // Link Party Palooza // Inspiration Monday
// Creative Muster Party  // Wow Us Wednesdays  // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop 
xoxo