Spilling the Beans- What I have been up to

During the Dare to Share party the other day, I mentioned that I was doing something exciting.  I misspoke and said that night, I was actually doing something all week and I was posting the party while on vacation.  

It was my first vacation in a very long time, and it was amazing! I am lucky to live in a very beautiful state especially in the summer.  We started the trip in Holland, Mi which is right on Lake Michigan.  I lived in Holland Michigan many years ago, so it was nice to go  back and visit.  From there we traveled up the west coast of Michigan all the way to Mackinaw City to visit Mackinaw Island.  After visiting the island (for the first time!) we visited several places in the Upper Peninsula and then went on to Wisconsin and Chicago.  I was posting the party from the Wisconsin Dells toward the end of our trip.    

Along the way we saw 17 lighthouses. Each one unique in it's own way, and all beautiful.  They were closed on the inside due to social distancing, but that just means we will need to go back again someday.   I will be sharing a post on the lighthouses, and I have already begun sharing them and other vacation photos on my Instagram

We saw stunning sunsets over Lake Michigan more than once.  The best one of the trip was in Traverse City.  

We drove by the mushroom houses in Charlevoix.  They had a tour but we got there too late go on it.  

We crossed Mackinac Bridge into the UP.  It was my first time as an adult.  I lived in the UP for a very short time as a baby, but I was way too young to remember anything about it. 

On Mackinaw Island we saw the Grand Hotel and so many beautiful buildings.  This hotel was the setting of the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves.  

We found amazing gorgeous rocks on Lake Superior. They are a must see in person. The pictures don't really show all the colors. 

We saw Tahquamenon Falls in Paradise, both the upper and lower 

After a stop in the Wisconsin Dells, we visited the Navy Pier in Chicago before heading home.  It was definitely a trip that I will never forget and will be sharing with you in the upcoming days. 

Another thing I did on our trip was stop at 9 Dollar Trees in different cities on our route.  Some of them were amazing, others not as great, but I found so many cute and fun fall, Halloween and other items that I want to share. Hopefully you will be able to find some of these items at your Dollar Tree. 

Another update,  I am supposed to go back to work real soon. As of right now my district will be opening up for 4 days a week with one day for remote learning. Opening day was pushed back a couple of weeks. Our governor has said she may make the decision for all schools to do remote learning at least at the beginning of school year, but that decision has not been made yet.  

So be watching for new posts, and check out my vacation pictures on Instagram.