Tag: lifestyle

Monday Mash-Up!

Happy wonderful Monday after a spectacular weekend! The weather in Michigan has been great- sunny, not too warm, with scattered showers…not bad for July.  We are approaching crunch time here for the wedding with the festivities right around the corner.  This weekend Olivia came home for her final doctors appointments and some last minute wedding/honeymoon shopping. I was so pleased that she wanted me to go with her, I eat up every moment I can get with her right now.  I am a little melancholy when I think that my little girl is going to be someones’ wife.  I am not ready to let go, or at least that’s what Dave says.  He’s probably right, I just feel I need more time and now that both girls will be married, I feel like I need a new role in life besides mom.  Oh well, I’ll get there, be patient with me.  

This is the breakfast of champions that I have been enjoying daily in prep for the wedding. It’s very satisfying and keeps me full for 1/2 the day!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of taking KJ, Lauren, and Olivia to the Saginaw Zoo, a very child friendly zoo with a small train that KJ just couldn’t get enough of.  

Beyond these very large flower pots is Detroit.

I have to take pictures of libraries when I see them 🙂 Sunday was spent shopping with Olivia and picking up some last minute items.  She needed earnings  and needed to borrow something.   She settled on a beautiful earring with a drop pearl and she borrowed my pearl and diamond ring that my mother gave me as a gift when I graduated from college for my Master’s Degree in Library Science.  I am so happy that Olivia with be carrying something from her grandmother on her wedding day. I just wish my parents (both have passed) could be here to witness their beautiful granddaughter getting married.   They would be so pleased with the young lady she has become and they would love the young gentleman she is about to marry. Have a wonderful week friends!

Monday Mash-Up!

Such a good coffee and conversation spot

Dustin- one of our favorite bar masters!

Hello Friends!  Had another beautiful weekend here in Michigan.  Dave had Friday off so we started our day with a relaxing coffee before we headed off to the health spa to get a good workout in.  We had doctors appointments and bank matters to take care of in the afternoon, but in the evening we were able to have fun and meet up with our friends, Jim and Sandy.  We ended up meeting them for dinner and drinks at one of our favorites- The Rochester Mills Brewery.  We love their craft beer and we are never disappointed with their seasonal selections.  We both enjoyed the Porter and also loved their salmon with seasonal veggies!



We ended up on our back patio with candles lit and the patio lights on.  Talked and laughed for quite awhile 🙂

On Saturday, Dave ran a local 5k race along the Clinton-River Trail.  We were suppose to meet up on the trail but I was late leaving the house and by the time he found me he had run 5.5 miles. He wasn’t too happy with me, but he got over it quickly. I ended up logging only 4.2 miles.  We spent the rest of the afternoon pulling weeds and reading our books on the back patio.

In the evening, Anne and Dave met us for dinner at the Black Finn at Partridge Creek.  We really are fortunate to have a nice group of friends that are always looking to go out and have fun.  I ended up ordering the California Veggie Burger with a Founders Rubias.  Very nice together.  Dave ordered the Mediterranean Roasted Chicken salad with a Perrin Brown.  He had no complaints 🙂  I forgot to take pictures-sorry 🙁

On Sunday, we ran another 3 miles, read, and Dave visited his dad to celebrate Father’s Day.  Since my father has passed, I went to my brothers house where a few of us siblings visited, ate, and talked.  It was still a nice Father’s Day even though my dad is not with us.  I guess just hanging with the family makes it all better.

I hope you had loved ones to celebrate yesterday with.  What did you do the rest of your weekend?

Running log: 21 miles, biking log: 0

Monday Mash-Up!

We are experiencing a heat wave here in Michigan- temps up in the 90’s.  I ran early today just to get it done before the heat started to rise.

This is what we were up to this weekend- 

On Friday, Dave brought home a pizza from this new place called MOD Pizza.  After working all week it was so nice just to relax, eat pizza, and have a glass of wine.  The concept of this new pizzeria is interesting.  They offer you 30 topping choices for your salad or pizza, all at the same price. Yup, no more cost if you get a plain ham pizza or a total decked out Hawaiian pizza.  The sauce was amazing and they had the best crust I have ever eaten on a pizza before.  I highly suggest you give them a try.  We ordered carry out, but next time we will have to enjoy the pizza in the dining space-they even have craft beer!  We had a race in the morning so we watched an episode of House of Cards and turned in early. 

Saturday morning found us heading towards Detroit for the Riverfront Run. I ran the 10k while Dave ran the 5k. It was a beautiful run except for the heat. By 9:00 am we were sweating something awful, but we both placed and were happy with our results. The run included a few miles of the Dequindre Cut, a paved walk way from the Riverfront to the Eastern Market, and a few miles along the Riverfront. Detroit is really making a awesome comeback!
 

The rest of Saturday was spent (in the heat) planting flowers and pulling weeds. We were on a mission to get the yard work done!  I’ll post some photos of the backyard another day .  
Saturday night we watched another episode of House of Cards– we are limiting ourselves to one or two at a time so they last.  

Sunday rode our bikes early to beat the heat and logged in another 20 miles.  Swimming sounded like a good idea and we headed to our local health club and used their pool.  All in all, another great weekend! 

Running miles this week 20, biking 30.

How was your weekend?

Another wonderful weekend!

Hi All!!  Just got back from Grand Rapids!  We left on Saturday morning so we could get to Olivia’s bridal shower by noon.  I had to be dressed and ready to go and on time!  I am always late, Dave made sure I got there on time 🙂  The shower was wonderful!  Zach’s aunts put on the shower and provided all of the homemade food.  

We had so much fun with Zach’s family!!  KJ did his part and helped Olivia open her gifts. He then proceeded to take off his shirt- he was adorable.

Then he decided that being in a box was more fun than the striptease and opening up the gifts 🙂

The rest of Saturday Dave and I hung out in Grand Rapids looking for good beer stops!

We had dinner at Brewery Vivant and enjoyed Dave’s “best burger”in Grand Rapids while I enjoyed a scrumptious salad.  To wash it all down we had the Undertaker, and the Oat Stout and to finish off the meal we split a Red Coq.  We always leave Brewery Vivant happy and full!

We found East/West Brewing Company in Eastown and felt it lacked a good beer.  We tasted a few samples and left disappointed.

 
On Sunday we headed out to Cedar Rapids, a 34 mile bike ride on the White Pine Trail.  Our favorite stop on this trail is the Cedar Rapids Brewing Company.

We ordered a blackened salmon wrap with German potato salad and grilled brussel sprouts-YUMMY!!  Our beer of choice for lunch included a Dark Stout.

Ended up at Founders in the evening for some wonderful jazz music and a dark stout- Backwoods Bastard.  A great scotch, oak bourbon, sweet caramel with roasted malt, and a hint of spice .  At a whopping 11.2% you can really only enjoy one and then switch to the Dirty Bastard.  It was a wonderful night.  We walked back to the JW Marriott and enjoyed the night sounds of Grand Rapids.  

Woke Sunday and decided to run a 4 mile loop on the Waterfront.  Always an enjoyable run.

Headed home to a patio full of very dry flowers, I forgot to ask the neighbor to water for me.
Biked  33 ran 16 this week.

How is your summer going?