Springtime Eastown Exploration

A couple weekends ago, my girl Emily ventured from the lake shore to explore Grand Rapids for the day. As I've said time and time again, I LOVE exploring Grand Rapids. So much newness and so little time! The places we visited weren't new to Grand Rapids, but new both of us (for the most part).

We started off with mimosas at my house to plan our agenda for the day and quickly decided that food was an immediate need. Since Emily had never been to Donkey, it was decided within seconds we would start our adventure there, and then walk to surrounding shops and bars. Once we were satisfied by margaritas & tostadas, we got our cardio in by SHOPPING! We visited Rock Paper Scissors thrift store, Peninsula Trading and the Mitten State (amount others).

By that point, we were definitely in the mood to fill our beer quota for the day, so Harmony (mmmm Grapefruit Moon!) was a must! While in the area, we noticed a few more shops and bars we had never been to, so we checked those out as well. Why not, right?! This was a Carpe Diem kinda day!!

All in all, I marked six places off my “explore Grand Rapids” bucket list (my favorite being Eastown Sports Bar & Grill!). I love days like this and can’t wait to share some of my finds with Max (who was off gallivanting up north at the time… he’s such a boy…). I’m already planning a future exploration attack on the city.

Next up: Comstock Park? (TBD)

{FINALLY macaron's are coming to Grand Rapids!!!}

{after a day like this, what else sounds like more fun than DANCING! unfortunately there was a private party being held in Club Eve of the BOB but oh well... we made the most out of our day. It was pretty epic...}

Instagram Life – April 2015

April brought on some much needed relief. April showers brought relaxing weeknights and great weekends close to home with friends and family! Even though April isn’t the prettiest month, at least we know that the best is yet to come here in Michigan

** Food Show life

** Creepy but delicious bunny cake

** New workout pants always inspire

** Celebrated the baby shower of my awesome cousin

** Radio Revival Tour!

** Visited Tilted Kilt before catching an Indians game in Cleveland

** Wine Club #11

** Eastown exploration

** Fun time at work!

So much to look forward to this coming month! The Fifth Third race, a bridal shower, Mother’s Day, a weekend business trip and birthdays are just the tip of the iceberg. Bring on the May flowers and bring on SUMMERTIME! 

Friday Five!

{plant shopping for a landscaping transformation!}

__________________________________________________________

How is it already Friday again?! This week went by F.A.S.T! Maybe it’s because I wasn't down in the dumps about the weather. Maybe it’s because I had activities each evening? Who knows. But I like it…. This weekend we’re attending a Kentucky Derby party with my parents! I've never attended one of these events, but I’m definitely looking forward to big hats, sunshine, mint juleps and apparently horse racing.

Cheers to a beautiful Spring weekend!

{Springtime stroll around Reeds Lake}

{much needed “Meg” day}

{trying out this whole Birchbox phenomenon}

{getting ready for Paris!}

52 Hand Lettered Project – April Recap

14/52

“Foreign Words”

Bio Chemistry

So, this is kind of an inside joke of sorts, but “it’s like bio chem” has been phrase I’ve used for years to describe something I don’t understand. It all started back in college when one of my roommates was taking a required biochemistry course. She would occasionally try to explain to me things she was studying and I would stare blankly at her and mutter “I just don’t get it”. End of story. Foreign words to me are like bio chem, I just don’t get it. Doesn't mean I don’t want to or try to…   

15/52 

“I love the smell of…”

breakfast

When I was little, on a Saturday morning, I remember being awakened by my dad mowing the lawn in the summertime. The awesome smell of freshly cut grass would waft through my open window in my room and force myself up to start the day. Once he came inside I would immediately bound downstairs cause I knew one thing for certain, my dad loves cooking breakfast. Sure enough, the moment I was in the kitchen he would offer to cook something up for us girls. The smell of bacon, sausage and eggs makes me remember those beautiful memories of childhood summer mornings!

16/52

“Something I heard today"

the birds chirping

Something I look forward to hearing as the days get lo

nger and the weather gets warmer here in Michigan. 

17/52 

“My signature style”

smiles + confidence

That’s all a girl needs to be sexy!

Greenhouse @ Fred Meijer Gardens

Last week Max and I had the opportunity to freely explore the Fred Meijer Gardens Springtime family event. Seeing as how viewing the “butterfly room” had been on both of our to-do lists since last Spring, we happily took advantage of the opportunity!

The greenhouse at Fred Meijer is unlike anything I've seen before (in Michigan). It’s absolutely incredible and magically transports anyone who enters to a paradise of butterfly hopes and tropical dreams. I can’t even begin to imagine how long it took to grow some of these trees and vines to be so luscious… but the word that comes to mind is decades!

This place was absolutely beautiful! You could feel the humidity in the room and you could smell the plants. These sensations made my heart ache for summertime and for Mexico (family vacation or honeymoon number 2 would do!).

It was a PERFECT way to spend a dreary Tuesday in Michigan. A Tuesday that was knocking on May’s door, yet still snowing… yeah I needed the humidity and tropical magic of that room J