I grew up going to Northern Michigan in the summer, and so has my husband. Now, my kids have ‘inherited’ these precious weeks that we spend up north with our families. We spent one week on Lake Michigan; another on Big Glen. Each time we were surrounded by family. Neither week went “according to plan,” but I’ve realized they rarely do any more, especially with so many kids under one roof. With … [Read more...]
How to Throw a Disney-Themed Backyard Picnic
We may not be able to travel to Disney World right now, but we can bring the magical world of Disney to our backyard. Hopefully it will also help cast a spell on meal time too. Because, I don't know about you, but I am tired of answering the question: what's for dinner? That's one reason that I'm moving as many meals as I can from the dining room table to the backyard for a picnic. (This is a … [Read more...]
8 Tips for Taking a Road Trip with Kids
My family and I recently got back from a two-week vacation up in northern Michigan - my happy place! It’s a trip we make often since my family owns a rental home there. While we always have a wonderful time, it’s not a quick road trip by any means: we’re looking at a minimum of 4.5 hours, and that’s if there’s no traffic… or tantrums from the kids along the way. Over the years, I've … [Read more...]
Michigan Vacations Have Turned Into Trips… But That’s Okay
My family and I have been coming up to northern Michigan for as long as I can remember… when I think of summer, I think of the sandy beaches, skipping rocks on the water, kayaking down the nearby river, jumping waves and “body” surfing, bonfires and looking at the sky fill with stars. Growing up, every year we’d only go for a week, sometimes two. But every year I looked forward to it more than … [Read more...]
My Happy Place: Northern Michigan
Home is where the heart is. While I love living in Chicago, there is absolutely no place I'd rather be than Northern Michigan. Lucky for me, I married into a family that feels much the same way; this part of the world isn't just my 'happy place.' I've been coming up to the area as long as I can remember. Back then, there were hardly any tourists. I spent hours on the beach reading books (oh so … [Read more...]
