Well Hello

I really did not intend to basically take off the entire summer but I think the school age kids are on to something.  No work, no responabilities, not a care in the world, and you don't have to be accountable for anything for 3 months.  Unfortunatley,  all good things must come to an end.

I spent a good portion of my summer in the Hamptons of the mid west (Michigan)

Holland

Chicago is just a hop, skip, jump, and train ride away so we went to see Heather (and her hubby's insanely gorgeous and delicious restaurant)

Pearl's Southern Comfort

and Taylor

Swift, that is at Soldier Field

and ate like it was the end of the world

Little Goat

Lyfe Kitchen

Cupcake ATM (brilliant)

Summer House Santa Monica

Eataly

Dylan's Candy Bar


I swear we did other things besides eating

Kayak Chicago anyone??

and those Divvy Bikes were a god send!



I spent some time in Petosky, Michigan which I think feels like the top of the world

and a visit to Detroit to see my sister

After being gone for most of July it was time to come home

and now the countdown to fall begins, my days of doing this are numbered!!

boo hiss!!!

Between Time

I usually am not one to hem and haw over what to wear.  I make up my mind, get dressed, and don't think about it, but the summer can sometimes throw me for a loop.

After a day at the pool/beach you come home, shower, and while you are still in the shower, think about that glass of rose just waiting for you.  At this point I would love to get into my comfy p.j.'s and sit on my porch and people watch, but it is only 5pm so I have now become my mother.

Since becoming someone that puts on p.j.'s at dusk is not an option, its time to get dressed, and after a day in the hot sun I just want something flowy and comfy.

all from here

bonus, if the hubs comes home and is feeling a night out for dinner I would be ready to go in any of these options!!

Laid Back

Summer is all about forgetting schedules and flying by the seat of our pants, that is exactly what we have been up to.

We have been to the Hamptons of the Midwest aka Lake Michigan...

We tootled over to Chicago to see our girl Heather....

and a few other places

We hosted a baptism party weekend in our home for our niece...

and we took a quick jaunt down to Silver Dollar City..

Now we have 8 days in our city until we take off again for the Hamptons (Lake Michigan)

pack, unpack, laundry, repeat

The End of Summer

The summer of 2013 was a good one for us.  I am always a little sad when September rolls around and it is back to the grindstone.  But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

Hopefully these pictures from our summer of fun will keep me warm and happy in February.

another anniversary with the hubs

ice cream pretty much every night

just chillin with the kids

Michigan

And what I always miss most about summer

sitting outside, sipping champs, people watching

Last Week of Summer

These are our last days of summer before it's back to school.  Our last days to do what we do best, hang poolside.  I personally think some of the best pools in the city are those at nice hotels.  Most of these hotels will let you spend the day at their pool, even if you are not a guest, for a small fee.  That sounds fair to me.  Now to do this with no kids, poolside dining service and a cocktail waitress sounds heavenly!!

Here are a few hot spots I need to hit up before Labor Day

Chase Park Plaza (my favorite)

The Four Seasons

The cheshire

Friday is my annual "Back to School" lunch and day at the pool with my friends and no kids.  I can smell the suntan lotion and taste the champagne already!!

Home Sweet Home

I am back from Michigan but only for a week.

I have spent the last 2 weeks toddling all over Michigan and I loved every minute of it.

When we leave on a trip, we always start off with our obligatory shot of the arch, saying goodbye to the city...

then we headed up to my in-law's place in Michigan for 2 days

the sun typically sets between 9:30 and 10 pm around here!!

Then we were off again, I took my daughter to camp in Michigan...

she was at prime real estate on the lake.

Then I just zipped on down to South Bend to drop my son at golf camp for the week...

Then it was just me and Scarlett so off we went to my sister's house in Detroit...

After a week, it was time for the camp pick ups and then a few more days at my in-law's beach....

Then back home again!!

I cannot believe tomorrow is the 4th, that always marks summer as being half over for me.  My holiday will include unpacking, laundry, then repacking.  We are off again next Wednesday.