Smitten in the Mitten Pt. 1

Hi, all.

Author's note: I'm just going to briefly preface this post with saying that I ruptured my Achilles tendon which is why I am riding the super-stylin-scooter in many pictures seen below. Dear friends/family, stop laughing. ;)

I’m sitting here in my freezing cold bedroom, feeling particularly average.

These are my favorite moments to reminisce on times when I felt particularly special. And unique. And fun. 

This process has led me to think of this summer. I was invited for the 2^nd time, on the annual Magee family cruise. It takes place on my Uncle’s fishing boat/yacht. It lasts 1-2 weeks. It calls for limited cell phone usage and no makeup, whatsoever. The crystal clear waters of Lake Michigan demand to be seen and the small town ports subtly call your name.

I hope you hear the Pure Michigan commercials chiming in. Thank you for your services, Tim Allen. Love, your proud supporter and believer.

Michigan is my place. Michigan is the home of the cutest small town ice cream parlors, the cute girls wearing high waisted bathing suits and knee length skirts, lighthouses, nautical flags on sailboats, perfect sunsets, ideal little marinas, weekly craft fairs, beautiful star-filled nights every night, beach houses, and live music on the rooftops of most restaurants. It’s hard to explain how every port in Michigan is so similar to this description, yet completely unique in its own way.

Basically, if you ever get the chance to visit Michigan, take it. I will gladly be your personal tour guide.

Anyways, onto the vacation. For future notice, my uncle’s boat is called “Blue Fairways.”

Here are my favorite memories from last years trip.

Randy's farmers tan gets me every time. Ps, this was the most refreshing thing I've ever done in my whole life. (Let me know if you are interested in reading a whole awesome english composition paper on this specific plunge into Canadian waters?!?!) *instantly receives 12323480 texts begging for a copy, asap* I know, right.

A minuscule hike to this cute little waterfall in Canada. 

Our loyal dinghy. "Putt Putt." Almost capsized a few times in rougher waters, but we made it out okay.  Thank you Captain Morgan, for the added courage to such insane adventures. 

Last year, we stopped by 3 different ports and anchored out twice. This year, we only stopped by 3 ports and were not able to anchor out due to the weather. (sad face). So not as adventurous but similar on the amazing scale. I'm sure the family members who went on the trip will always remember the night I woke them up at 1am to come out onto the bow of the boat and look up at the stars. It was brilliant. You could see every single little sparkle. It was like a giant bowl of glitter above us. I live for the moments when you don't think to take a picture of it until later, and realize that it wouldn't have done it justice anyways. 

Our first stop was in Mackinac Island. A very well known area to typical Michigan visitors. If you are new to this island, I’ll give you some pointers.

• No cars are allowed. Only horses and bikes. So yeah the whole island reeks of horse dung and you have to be careful where the wheels of your bike are going, because that literal s*** is literally huge.

• Mackinac is known for having spectacular fudge!! …I just realized I left all of my fudge at home in my freezer…. And my family probably ate it already…and I paid for it...

Pre-fudge-buying selfie

•   I’m actually still really sad about my previous point

• You gotta check out the Grand Hotel, because a movie was filmed there and I guess that's really neato.

•  You MUST bike around the island, at least twice, while visiting. The first time is just so that you can buy a t-shirt that says “biked it, liked it, damn near killed me.” The second time is so that you can actually take in all your surroundings. Just simply appreciate your where-abouts. Who regrets working out? No one. Who regrets working out with a kick-a** view? NO ONE!

Okay, so I didn't actually bike it. Reid pulled me in this cute little baby stroller. My uncle somehow convinced the people that I was 12 and under 100 lbs. A little offended?! But at least I didn't miss out, eh?! The condescending stares were totally worth it, especially because I got to control music and take some pretty amazing pictures. The fear of getting horse crap flung in my face every 10 yards wasn't so spectacular.

Evidence of "pretty amazing picture" (Mackinac Island Bridge)

My lovely view <3

How cute is this dockside cafe?

And here you have it, folks! My scoot-a-lot in all its glory. 

It's MI. All things nautical, no exceptions. 

ports on ports on ports

Again, thank God for Captain Cokes. 

This is where one of the ferries drops off its passengers. I just love how all the seagulls chill out on the roof all day long. Look at those clouds!

I suppose that's enough nonsense of the unseen routes of Mackinac. The rest of this trip is coming soon, for anyone who was bummed with this Pure Michigan cliffhanger (no one). 

If you're looking for the secrets that only cobble stones hold, stay tuned. 

Stay. Tuned. Friends. 

A Bliggity Beginning

When I told my sister I wanted to start doing this she literally squealed and said, "you're starting a bliggity blawg!!" So yeah, here I am, in all my bored glory. My little bliggity.

Maybe I'll start by answering a couple really really important questions that everyone wants to know the answer to.  

1. What song am I listening to right now: So Much to Say (Live from Worcester) by Dave Matthews Band.  Dear world, it is very much possible to love DMB and not be a pothead nor a flower child nor a super annoying wannabe hippy. Am I being too aggressive in my passivity? (My little sister sent me this song via Spotify).

2. Who is my little sister: She is called my sister best friend for many many a reason. Her name is Slim Thug. Her second name is Meghan. 

Our mutual characteristics:

• Guys, we literally have the same mind. 
• Fear of being like the rest
• Not wanting people to feel unappreciated and awkward and lame...because we are awkward and lame and we know how that feels/sucks... this effort usually makes things more awkward and lame
• Our eyes get really red when we cry, which isn't so often. 
• I really can't emphasize the same mind thing enough.
• Random thought: One time, during a really long family road trip, we challenged each other to pick our top 5 favorite movies. Believe this or not, we literally had the same 5 movies picked. IT WAS SERIOUSLY SO FREAKY!!! (1. 500 Days of Summer 2. Garden State 3. Perks of Being a Wallflower 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Silver Lining's Playbook. If there could be a 6 it would be 10 Things I Hate About You or Pocahontas).

Our differences:

• She is my second mom sometimes. Constantly helping me do petty tasks. Constantly, telling me when I'm being stupidly reckless and stupidly saying things I shouldn't. Constantly my advice lady. 
• She somehow manages, like, a 4.3 GPA. Like hi are you human. 
• She is the worst driver I have ever met. Too soon, Meg?

The Most Important Thing About Us:

• We have the same taste in music. 

(If you ever asked Meghan and I what the best song in the world is, we wouldn't even look at each other. Just respond in sync "Sweet Disposition." The Temper Trap. Check it.)

Thinking about it now, it's probably one of the strongest things that pulls us together. Can you think about all the times you totally bonded with someone, driving in your car, with all the windows down, both knowing every single word to a song, and belting it out at the top of your lungs? Okay so doing this twice a day with someone you really love and songs that are really unique and amazing and no one else knows them, is probably that feeling on steroids. 

We also have an ongoing spotify message that pretty much gets updated daily, and thank God. I know you want in the loop. 

A Little Game Meg and I Play: "Airplane"

• In the horrible Midwestern winter, on our way to any fun event (usually St. Joe High basketball games), we roll down the windows, and we stick our arms out (like airplane wings) for the entirety of the song and, obviously, scream the lyrics the whole way through. If you can't bear the cold and bring your arm back in the vehicle (Moo Cow) you lose and you get screamed at the rest of the way. "You literally suck." And then throughout the whole basketball game, we make eye contact and instantly bond about how our hands are still frozen. 

I'm not going to tell you what a tunnel song is. Some secrets are just for us. Just humbly know, it exists. 

So there. Not to leave out the rest of my 5 siblings or anything....at least you have that to look forward to!!

So there II: My first bliggity blawg, dedicated to my one and only, and my little lovey, and my slim thuggy. 

I'll love you forever, and I'm loving you now.