Runway on Wealthy Event

{image via}

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a fashion show, hosted by Lee & Birch, held at the Gardens on Wealthy in Eastown. I learned about the event from Tieka and immediately texted Emily to be my date. Lee & Birch is newer to the Eastown area (moved from downtown GR in 2014) and is a West Michigan based boutique chain (another location in Grand Haven), specializing in new and trendy, but classic, pieces to showcase in their boutiques.

The food (Donkey Taqueria & Erb Thai) and drinks (Art of the Table & Elk Brewing), provided by local Wealthy Street businesses, was delicious and local fashion bloggers, artists, and socialites (of Grand Rapids) made the event lively and memorable. Also, a portion of ticket sales went to Kids Food Basket. All attendees were requested to bring food for kids lunches and decorate brown paper bags with positive messages and cutesy artwork.

The entire night was inspiring.

I love getting out and about in my town…  

{image via}

{image via}

Friday Five!

{wine club #16 - Malbec... favorite night of the month!}

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This week was one of those weeks… one of those weeks where every day there is something fun waiting for you when you get home. Whether that be a date with the couch or a FaceTime date, a get together with girlfriends, yoga… you name it! It made the week zip by in a blink. And I liked it.

Well guys, it's officially Fall. And while I'm not ready to bust out the coats I am ready for the Fall season and everything it represents. What better way to ring in the season than to entertain an old college buddy over Captain & Cider and Michigan State football lingering in the background?! Cheers!

Friday Forte:

(Yes… Ryan Adams covered Taylor Swift’s 1989 album… and it’s fabulous) 

{completely adore this scarf C/O Lee & Birch}

{locket love}

{Fall}

{pretty knick-knacks here }

Biking around Versailles

Day 4

Our last day in Paris was quite the memorable day. We took a day trip to Versailles. We took a cab to the bike shop bright and early to meet our tour guide (and group) and take not one, but two trains to Versailles. Once we arrived, the next hour was spent shopping for our picnic and exploring the actual city of Versailles before entering the property of the Chateau. Emer, our Irish tour guide, was fantastic. Her knowledge of not only Versailles, but French history was incredible and her enthusiasm was inspiring. There was not one dull moment the entire day!!

The first stop on the grounds of the Chateau was the home Louis XVI built for Marie Antoinette in 1783, Hameau de la Reine. On the grounds of this home (actually there were more like 10 homes on this property), the boisterous roosters, lively cattle and dirty roads made it easy to be transported back to the 1700’s. It was spectacular and the history behind it even more so. After visiting a couple more of the “small” homes on the property it was off to our picnic location. We biked a good mile around the grounds before Emer decided we had a the perfect view of water and the massive palace from the back of the Palace. It was so surreal sitting there. Pictures don’t do our picnic view justice, and they never will.

After skipping the line into the Palace of Versailles, we were off exploring. The architecture, detail in the décor, paintings, and pure royalty of it all was overwhelming. I can’t believe people actually lived/live like this in the world. It’s unfathomable. The mirror room was by far my favorite inside. Outside, the entire garden, overlooking the man-made body of water (which simply lead to the King’s “party house”) was breathtaking. It was all breathtaking.

I can’t stress enough how much I loved this day. It was definitely a highlight of the entire European trip. This little taste of French history has made me want to rent, read and study all things French history! If you ever have the opportunity, I absolutely recommend this day. One for the books!!

{hotel selfie before hopping in the cab to meet our tour group}