Mackinac Island Staycation!

While vacations are absolutely amazing, sometimes a staycation is really what you need!

What's a staycation you may ask?

A vacation where you are staying close to home, yet it feels like you've traveled far!

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My suggestion?

Mackinac Island.

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Even though it's still a part of Michigan, it feels like you've stepped into another country. Cars are replaced with horse drawn carriages, bikes, and a healthy dose of walking! Fudge and ice cream are essential parts of your diet, and if you leave without a printed "Mackinac Island" tee you might as well not have gone at all!

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Last time I had been, I was the giddy 12 year old who wanted nothing but to pet the horses, eat all the traditional chocolate fudge, and get a lime green hoodie with yellow ducks and "Mackinac Island" printed across the front (yikes).

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This time was a very different experience. We happened to go the first weekend that the island was open to tourism, so we were able to see EVERYTHING without the crowds! 

It was the absolute perfect staycation.

Want to have a trip as terrific as we did?

Here's a little advice ;)

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Stay at the Pontiac Lodge.

No, it's not The Grand Hotel, but IT IS cozy, qaint, quiet, comfortable, and reasonably priced. The rooms are spacious, with kitchen space, free WiFi, and beds you can just sink into. If you're lucky enough, you can snag the room with the waterfront view like we had ;)

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Hike it rather than bike It.

Hiking is free, where biking is an hourly fee. Not only that, but with hiking you're able to get to things you can't on bike. Like the tippy top of Arch Rock, the overlook of Sugar Loaf, the highest point on Mackinac at Fort Holmes, or the view from inside Fort Mackinac! It's worth the uphill battle ;)

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Stop at every shop.

It only takes a few hours to hit every shop on the strip, so why not hit them all? I personally just wove in and out of shops for half a day. While some are your typical tee shirt stop, others are uniquely themed little boutiques! So shop till you drop ;) 

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Grab ice cream at The Grand Hotel.

You don't have to stay there to have ice cream at Sadie's Parlor! They have a huge array of flavors, and the size of their scoops are grand ;)

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Don't forget to grab some fudge.

While there are endless options for fudge, Ryba's was my personal fave! I went against the traditional fudge and got cashew turtles. Let's just say they were gone a lot faster than I anticipated. "Well fudge!" ;)

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So consider chucking a vacation for a staycation, and make Mackinac Island a must!

I promise it will bring out your inner child ;) 

Brome Modern Eatery Detroit!

I love accidentally stepping into somewhere I've never been before, and having one of those jaw-dropping "Wow" moments. That's exactly how we felt when we discovered Brome Modern Eatery in downtown Dearborn. It was located on Michigan Avenue, surrounded by shops, bars, and eateries, with an adorable outdoor patio that lead to the nearby park. Inside, were entire walls covered in live cascading plants, and floor-to ceiling windows that brought an overwhelming fresh feeling to the space. On the walls hung stunning paintings by local artists not only on display, but to be sold! 

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Their healthy menu with 100 percent organic, grass-fed beef burgers, cold-pressed fresh juices, and hand-spun shakes, instantly grabbed our attention. Much of their menu was organic, locally sourced, with vegetarian options, and their beef and chicken used was raised with care by local Amish farmers. Our first reaction was to get our hands on one of their Balence Bar cold-pressed juices and smoothies made from scratch using whole fruits and vegetables.

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Cue the jaw-dropping "Ahh" moment.

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When we were offered the chance to be the very first to see their new Detroit location, we enthusiastically took the opportunity! 

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The Detroit location of Brome Modern Eatery resides in the historic ‘The 607’ building at the corner of Shelby and Congress, sitting pretty between Campus Martius and Cobo Center. We toured the initial stages of construction, and were given an overview of what was to be expected of the space. While it didn't look like much to most, we could see the breathtaking vision of what it could be. We looked at each other and just knew that this would be exactly what Detroit needed; a beautiful, fresh, open space to meet with friends, and a menu filled with delicious and health conscious options. We then made our way up to the Balence Bar. Most stairs lead to a second floor, right?

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Wrong. 

Their Balence Juice Bar was a SKYWALK BAR, with a spectacular view of downtown Detroit. That was the moment we knew we would be finding any excuse to grab fresh juice there once a week.

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Two months later, and we were back to see the finishing touches on Brome Detroit's construction. It was everything that we pictured it could be, and more! It was a true testament to what we stand for: Michigan made. Everything from it's upholstery, lighting, neon signs, tabletops, chairs, plants, paintings, murals, and more were made in Michigan. Along with the same mouth-watering menu, live walls, and good vibes!

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Join us at their Detroit Location Grand Opening on Saturday May 12th, open to the public from 6-8!

We’d love to see your jaws drop in "Awe" ;)

 Find out more about Brome Modern Eatery online, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on Twitter.

Photos: Emily Joanne Photography

The Mazda CX5!

When this gorgeous Mazda CX-5 in Soul Red Crystal Metallic pulled into our drive, we nearly fainted from excitement. Why?

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Because...

Bose 10 speaker sound system,

built in navigation system,

full color touchscreen display, 

auto Bluetooth connection,

advanced blind spot monitoring,

active driving display,

heated front seats,

power rear liftgate,

31 MPG highway, 

and let's not forget that new car smell.

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As you can see it wasn't only easy on the eyes, it was also packed with powerful technology and capability!

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We had an immensely busy week, filled with photoshoots, fashion shows, brunches, and plenty of trips to the gym to counteract the brunches! While we had plenty on our plates, our Mazda CX-5 made it a smooth ride ;)

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How?

Well usually, we get lost often.

Yes, I admittedly have no sense of direction!

The Mazda navigation system helped us successfully travel all over, from Troy to Farmington Hills, to Rochester to Birmingham!

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We stuff the car to the max.

Well obviously you need 3-4 outfits per day, right? 

The power rear liftgate helped us easily load heaps of bags into the back.

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We love our jam sessions.

Yes, we sing as terribly as we can at the top of our lungs for fun!

The Bose 10 speaker sound system provided tunes that were crisp, clear, and loud enough to drown us out.

Plus, the CX-5 automatically connects your phone to Bluetooth and picks the song back up exactly where you left off, so we never missed a beat!

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We drive A LOT.

Blogging means traveling, and sometimes we have to drive quite far for a blog job!

With 31 MPG highway, we only had to fuel up once the entire week!

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We like to arrive in style.

Being bloggers, models, and all-around fashionistas, we love to stay on trend.

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I caught Emily petting the car and muttering "I love this interior" under her breath a few times.

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With it's sleek style, red hot color, and white leather interior we stepped out to the shows and shoots in confidence. 

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If you're looking for comfort, convenience, capability, safety, and style then this is the SUV for you. We aren't sure how we survived this long without it ;) 

Thanks Mazda for reminding us how lovely the luxury of a brand new car is!

Photos: Emily Joanne Photography & I