Createlive: up north

9.10.2014

On Changing Seasons

Summer, for us, has been a season of stay.

Stay in Michigan. Stay by the beach. Stay in our new state, our new house, our new everything. It has been a season of exploring this amazing hidden gem that is West-and-Northern Michigan, and the unreal, crispy clear water and white sand beaches it holds.

It. has. been. insane. <--in a goooooood way. I have become accustomed to gorgeous vistas, hot dune climbs, and the wavering bumps of riding in a boat. I've had a permanently packed beach bag for three months, and yeah, I've actually used it, sometimes many times in a week.

Can you blame me?

But, that season of sunny relaxation is waning, giving way to something also great but entirely different. Next up is fall (duh) and lades and gentleman of the jury, it is already here.

Fall is shaping up to be a season of go. Go to weddings. Jetset to Florida, Atlanta, Boston, and so on. Go tour wineries up north, go to the Florida keys, go to Chicago. Go, go, go.

And I'm okay with it. The leisurely summer has been a blast, but I am a fast paced girl, and I am more than ready to see what kind of crazy productivity this "go" pace brings with it.

Have some suggestions on fall "go" activities for me? Leave them in the comments below :)

Cheers to Fall!

WHAT'S ON YOUR DOCKET THIS SEASON?

What are your favorite fall activities?
Any locations you like to visit in the fall?
What fall foods are you most exited to make?

P.S. Like those pics? Follow me on instagram!

1.02.2014

Ski Hill Holiday

Shortly after Christmas, we left the great state of Illinois (and the great land of Chicago) to head to the Eastern Time Zone. Michigan, to be exact. We will be staying in Western Michigan for a while, but had a quick jaunt up to my in laws' ski resort in Northern Michigan.

I donned my 'ski diamonds' (read: wearing your main rock in a pair of huge gloves while skiing freaks me out - I don't trust myself!) for a day of skiing.

I have been skiing for almost twenty years, so I am very comfortable on skis, but I still don't take many risks (of all the places in life to take risks - and trust me, I take them - this is just not it for me...). Call me a wuss, but I played it pretty safe this time.

Don't worry, though. I consoled myself with a burger. With bacon. Look at me.

Fun fact: my grandparents met in the Windy City Ski Club (Chicago) many years ago. My mom's entire family has used that sweet anecdote as justification for our not-so-little ski addiction. Since I was away from them for this ski trip, I was photo-bragging the whole time. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Due to the aforementioned family ski addiction, I have been conditioned to require some sort of hot tub action post-ski hill. We finished up in the late afternoon, and I treated myself to a bubbly soak in the tub, complemented by some Royskopp Pandora. What can I say, the heart wants what it wants...

Some other successes of our ski hill holiday include...

(1) Time spent at the spa. Once you're in, you're free to 'move about the cabin,' so to speak. Meaning I indulged not only in plenty of treadmill miles and stretching sessions, but also in lots and lots of sauna and steam room time. Somehow, my skin survived.

(2) The Snowflake Lounge. This is a favorite late night hot spot for guests at Boyne Mountain, and I am making sure to accumulate good memories there. Maybe memories is the wrong word for it...

(3) Ski Hill New Years Eve. It is not the short dresses, stage makeup New Years Eve I remember from Chicago, but it has its own kind of magic.

(4) Lake Street Market. Two thumbs way, way up for delicious New Years Eve eats... Spinach/Artichoke dip (which later made it into my morning-after omelet), death-by-cheese-plate, and plenty of dessert. All made fresh at this local Boyne market.