The 45th Parallel.

Well, I still haven't unpacked from vacation...I'm in "vacation is over" denial.

It was a magical week filled with blue skies and blue water.  I know a small contingent of blog readers do not live in Michigan, and even if you do, everyone's "up north" is different...so I'm gonna split this up over a few blogs and give you a look at my little slice of paradise.

We spent the week in an amazing open timber framed home on the sugar sand shores of Paradesia Cove, in Northport Michigan on the breathtaking Leelanua Peninsula.  We sipped our coffee on the deck overlooking the lake each morning, swam all day, and ate Joe's smores in sweatshirts around the fire pit each night.

The home we stayed in was built by a lovely family in 2009, but we were surrounded by a lovely community of log homes finished and sold off right before the stock market crash of 1929.  The home to our right was built for the Olds Family (Oldsmobile), and to our left a beautiful family home which was a favorite rental of Mario Batalli and his family.  Incidentally, he and his wife fell so in love with the sweet little town of Northport, that they planted roots, and were staying at their home a few miles from us all week.  (Joe did his best to have a "Mario Sighting"...lets just say there were binoculars involved a many accosted coffee shop girls given the third degree about Mario's routine in town, but no sightings ;).)

I should probably just get to the pictures.  But let me just say that Michigan is one of the most beautiful states, and furthermore, one of the most genuinely heart warming places on the planet.  If you can't be happy in Michigan, well, you probably just can't be happy.  I have no desire to truck my ass to a salty ocean when I can swim in Lake Michigan.  I could hike pine tree forests for days, because most of the glorious pathways will eventually lead me to the lake.  Hell, I would even do the dune climb again (a post in itself to come).  As one of my favorite blonds commented this week "F*#k Yeah Michigan!" (censored a little, but sometimes you can't contain yourself!).

Joe likes to keep an eye on what's going on in the cove.

Oh yeah, we stayed there.

I love Sadie Lou!!

Our sweet neighbor Brenda lent us her kayaks for the week to go exploring!  Even my dad went for a romp with Joe!

Mom sadly closing down her bedroom for the last time...there ain't know waves lapping gently on the shore at night outside your bedroom window in Toledo ;(.

One of the best things in the house was a queen size chez lounge bed thing overlooking the lake (occupied here by Becca and Sadie).  Many a night spent reading as the sun went down!  

Pottery Barn Love everywhere.

And, so it is said that all good things must come to an end.  Packed my bag and my fresh lavender from the morning farmers market, and said goodbye.  I am so truly grateful to have spent a week with my amazing family...Love you Toledo, Cincinatti, and St. Louis crews!!

Stay tuned for our day trips and outings!!

Joe Watchers.

I've been wanting to write this post for awhile, and as I pack a pile of vintage bathing suit for vacation, it seems appropriate.  I wear vintage bathing suits because they are cut really well for a curvy girl - fitted bust cups, little skirts that nestle the tops of your thighs...let me repeat that.  I am a curvy girl.  40-35-44 to be exact.


Let me start by saying that I do not have body image issues, I just never have.  I have been much thinner than I am right now, and I have been larger.  I love my curves, my husband loves my curves, and I know how to dress my curves.  I think it goes without saying that it doesn't matter how thin you are, how much money you have, how many "things" you have...this does not define who you are nor does it determine one's happiness.  Shout this to your pre-pubescent and teenage daughters!!

But, we all get in eating ruts, and sometimes we need a good smack on the ass to make some healthy lifestyle changes.  When I got a little local food movement obsessed this spring, I started talking crazy talk about joining Weight Watchers to shed a few pounds.  I say "crazy talk," because my adoring husband can not fathom the concept of paying someone to weigh you each week.  (Full Disclosure:  I have done weight watchers, I love weight watchers).  But Joe asked me to try something different this time, a serious family lifestyle change.

And so, I joined Joe Watchers.

It's no secret that Joe does most of the cooking.  He is a phenomenal chef, and has learned in some of the best kitchens in town.  He, like my friend Allison, just has a knack for making something out of nothing, for knowing how ingredients can make magic together.  So, on Joe Watchers, Joe makes the meals.

My first obstacle was to stop over-indulging.  I crave good food.  My friends are foodies and chefs.  There is never a shortage of decadent cheeses, cream sauces, or luscious desserts to be had.  I had to face the hard truth that Zingermann's Roadhouse is NOT one of the five food groups (I was just as shocked as you are ladies!).  I just had to reign it in folks, the good old 80/20 rule.  Eat what you should 80% of the time, and what you want 20%.  And that certainly hasn't been difficult this time of year.  Our sweet new forever friends down the road drop off succulent bags of organic greens, kale, swiss chard, and kohlrabi from their farm, the raspberries are dripping off of our bushes, and our egg yolks are a deep rich orange.

And, it has been working.  With some good old sweaty farm work thrown in for good measure, I have tightened my belt a few notches and am ready for a little vacay.  My parents, sister's family, and her in laws pulled into the farm today for a big family dinner before we all head up north for a week.  We had a perfect meal of bbq pork on the grill, freshly shelled sweet peas, a medley of swiss chard and kale sautéed in bacon grease (80/20 right?), sweet corn, and salad picked from the garden with homemade croutons and Joe's famous vinaigrette.  Followed in short order by freshly picked rhubarb raspberry crisp with fresh whipped cream.  Pancakes, fresh berries, and sausage from last fall's hog in the morning before we set out on our adventure.  We will all be camping out here for the week (ok, I use the word camping kind of loosely :)).

Bottom line?  Love your self and your body.  Put good local food into your body...so that you can go up north and eat fish and chips for a week and not feel guilty ;).

Mamma prepping for dinner.  Have I mentioned how I adore my kitchen?  I could, and do, stand at that counter for hours.

The men taking the requisite walk through of the farm, you know, just to check things out :).  Joe was having a "white jeans" kind of day.

The ladies lounging on Grandma Rosie's beautiful porch furniture after a successful reupholstering effort!

Did I mention we live at the end of the rainbow?

Signing off for the week.  My toes will be buried in the sugary sands of Lake Michigan...15% off anything in the shop whilst I'm gone, coupon code UPNORTH   ;).