He's the man

A couple weeks ago, I dropped Matthew off at overnight camp. This is how he was before I dropped him off....
And here he is after I picked him up!
Since camp I have had the following requests from him

1. He would like an e-mail account so he can talk with all his friends from camp

2. He would like an e-mail account to keep in touch with his new girlfriend, who lives in Michigan.

3. He would like to grow his hair long so he can "flip it"

4. He would like 6 pack (I swear those are his exact words) abs

5. He would like to get a job where he can make lots of money so he can buy his girlfriend a Gucci purse (nice)

6. He thinks he is old enough to start saying the word crap.

He actually sat me down with his list of requests, I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. What the hell kind of camp did I send him too? I am so not ready for this stage. I think I like it much better when they throw a fit when Dora is over or when we are out of apple juice. Lord help me!!

Last Days of Summer

Our official last week of Summer begins today. School starts Monday August 23. My plan is to just have fun with the kids before we start the rat race of sports, homework, and more homework!!

Best Face Forward

Every summer while in Holland Michigan for family week, my sisters in law and I have a spa day at a little boutique spa called Smooch. We go to lunch then head over to Smooch for facials. At smooch you can also get make-overs and buy many products, it is like a mini Sephora. Last week I discovered a new product from Stila, "one step correct" this is a moisturizer, corrector, primer, and brightener all in one extremely cute package. I also bought some dry shampoo. I am a big fan of dry shampoo. I have long, thick hair so every time I wash, I have to blow dry my hair until it is completely dry or else I have swampy, stringy hair. This start to finish process can take up to an hour and a half, seriously who has that kind of time. Stila to the rescue, sprinkle some of the sweet smelling powder right on your roots, give your hair a toss, then head out the door.

Michigan, weeks 2 and 3

Kids swimming in my sister's lake
Matt caught the big one! (with a little help from Uncle Ben)
So happy when this man showed up!
Dinner, our first night in Holland overlooking the beautiful Lake Michigan.
Scarlett on Lake Michigan's beach.
Matt is learning how to kayak.
All 3 of my kids playing on the beach.....heaven!!

To wrap up my tour of Michigan, after Mackinac I went back to Holland to grab Matthew from camp then headed cross state to Detroit to spend the week at my sister's house. My sister lives on a lake so we spent our days tubing, wake boarding and fishing. She is lucky enough to live about 5 miles from an incredible mall with everything from Barneys to Tory Burch so I definitely got in a little "me time". Towards the end of the week my husband flew up to Detroit then drove back to Holland with me where we spent another week at his parent's place. I got to spend some time with both of my sisters in law (and their hubbies) and the kids got to play with their cousins. It was a great vacation and the big bonus was that I got 3 weeks away from this God awful STL heat. It is so hot I can't even attempt to dress cute, right now the focus is not melt! Come on Fall!!

Michigan, week 1

Getting on the Mackinac Island ferry
Playing around in Lake Huron

Libby at the playground
Mackinac Island
Our hotel
Our hotel again

Horse and carriage on Main Street in front of a fudge shop
A stop at the butterfly house

My favorite restaurant on the island
bike riding
next time I am flying to the island
A rainbow for our last night
The 5 mile Mackinac bridge the connects Michigan to the Upper Peninsula

Our Michigan tour began in Holland. I dropped my son and his friend off at camp for the week then took my girls and headed up to Mackinac Island. One of my sisters live in Detroit so she went to Mackinac with us. It has been 20 years since I have been to Mackinac and it is just as fun as I remembered. You leave your car on the main land then take the ferry to the Island. It really is a picturesque place. We swam in Lake Huron, took a horse and carriage ride, rode bikes around the island and of coarse the #1 thing to do on the island... bought fudge. I think the entire state of Michigan has a thing for fudge. There are 17 fudge shops on Mackinac Island, this is an 8 mile island and 80% of it is an undeveloped state park, that a lot of fudge! It was a great week and I am so glad we decided to head "Up North"

Gaga-fest

The lovely pool at the Chase Park Plaza, simply divine!!



The night before I left for my Michigan vacation I was the proud owner of a "little monster package" for the Lady Gaga concert. My friends and I headed downtown, checked into a hotel and lounged and drank pool side all day. I decided that day that I am a big fan of day drinking . We were front row, and let me tell you it was quite the show. Miss Gaga sure knows how to entertain!

There's no place like home!

3 weeks and 2399 miles later I am finally back home!! We had a great trip, I can't wait to catch up on all my daily blogs. Now I am just waiting for the laundry fairy to arrive.