Hello, friend! It feels like its been ages since we last caught up. I sort of thought life would slow down once summer hit but between sports, swimming, festivals, friends, and family, each day feels like it flies by faster than the one before.
One fun thing we did earlier this month was take a family vacation to Michigan. I’d only ever visited northern MI as a kid, and had been craving a beach-like setting for the past year, and so we booked a little lake-side cottage in Union Pier, MI about an hour east of Chicago, for a week. It was PERFECTION! Lake Michigan’s sand is super soft and, while the water was freezing, the kids didn’t mind and played and played all day long.
And so well, too. Sun, sand, and water – what a truly magical combo.
It was such a hit that we plan on making this an annual trip, choosing a different town and cottage each summer. You know I love a good tradition! Hit me up with your favorite Michigan lake towns – I’m working my way north to Torch Lake someday!
Other than that, we’ve been keeping busy, seeing friends and family as often as possible. We’re feeling grateful to have a “normal” summer compared to last year, that’s for sure! Do you have July 4th plans? I cannot believe we’re so close – where has the month gone?!
That said, today I want to share my favorite finds from the month of June in the latest installment of Favorite Finds. I hope you find something new to love!
Past Favorite Finds
64oz Insulated Water Bottle
I’ve been really focusing on hydration over the past couple of months, and was tired of constantly refilling my water bottle, so I ordered this Simple Modern 64oz Insulated Water Bottle and it’s been a game changer (and 1/3 of the price of its YETI doppelgänger!) I aim for a gallon of water a day, so I only need to refill this bad boy once to meet my goal. YES, it’s enormous. NO, it doesn’t fit in any cup holders. But, I love it. Bonus that it serves as a refilling station for the kids’ water bottles if we’re out and they drain theirs. I ordered this straw lid to go with. So good!
Caribou Gluten Free Spinach Artichoke Provolone Sandwich
Caribou Coffee’s Gluten Free Spinach, Artichoke, Egg & Provolone breakfast sandwich has actually been a favorite find of mine for MONTHS! I am slightly addicted to it – my wallet is not happy. Each sandwich comes pre-packaged, so there’s no cross contamination, and it just feels good to be able to order a hot breakfast sandwich – that’s incredibly delicious – on the go. Highly recommend. By the way Ben, who is a breakfast sandwich snob, said their Sausage Egg and Cheddar Biscuit (non GF) is one of the best breakfast sandwiches he’s ever had. YUM.
Swim Suit Trio
Between my brother/SIL having a pool, a friend having one, and the pool pass we purchased this summer, Mama was in need of some new swim suits this summer. I’d found a killer one last year but, well, it doesn’t fit anymore. Onward to these gorgeous suits I recently found that are practical (no obnoxious ruffles, ties, etc.) yet comfortable (not overly tight, strappy, etc):
Althleta Maldives One Piece Suit
I audibly whispered “YES!” when I found this Maldives One Piece Suit at Athleta – its exactly what I’d been looking for in a swim suit! High neck, so I’m comfortable when playing around with the kids, but a cut out in the back sets it apart from a standard racing suit. Nice, thick lining too. Obsessed.
Aqua Green Ring Back Suit
I love the color splash on this Aqua Green Ring Back Suit, plus it has ruching on the stomach area which I appreciate. The back DOES have a ring, but I don’t find it to be fussy. This is a fun and pretty yet practical suit.
Waist Detail Suit
This Waist Detail Suit is a little low cut to be playing with the kids, but I find it to be very comfortable and the ribbing detail on the torso is super pretty too. The high back is also nice so you’re not showing too much skin overall.
Good Foods Cilantro Dip
I randomly picked up a tub of Good Foods Cilantro Dip at the store recently, and ate the entire thing in less than 24 hours. Holy Moses, it is DELICIOUS! I love cilantro and didn’t think this was too in-your-face cilantro-y – very subtle, creamy, and just so darn good. Plant based/vegan too. Great with Simple Mills Everything Crackers.
Daily Ritual Jeans
I recently had drinks out with a friend (how great is it that we can do that now?!) and immediately noticed her cute, sleek jeans. I had to ask where she got them – turns out, they were $15 Amazon brand jeans! I ordered a pair and was shocked – slightly stretchy, great color, true to size, and totally comparable to the Good American Jeans I caved and bought a week before meeting up with her, at a fraction of the price. 2 thumbs up!
Lume Natural Deodorant
I saw an ad for Lume on Facebook a few weeks ago and purchased it after reading some of the comments praising the product. I’ve been cycling through natural deodorants for the past 5+ years and this one is blowing my mind because it actually WORKS. There is no smell. I run, garden, swim, bike – NOTHING! I use the unscented deodorant, FYI. Just a teeny little drop is all you need.
Ring Ice Pop Popsicles
If your kids are anything like mine, they are obsessed with popsicles in the summertime. Mine also happen to be obsessed with Ring Pops (where they picked up this fascination, I have no idea,) and so they were so thrilled when I found these Ring Pop Popsicle molds – they are so cute! I like how they’re smaller than traditional popsicles so less sugar for your little little ones.
La Crema Rosé
I’ve been on a personal quest to find the best Rosé this summer (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it…) and La Crema’s 2019 Monterey Rosé is near the top of my list. It is deliciously smooth. Perfect for sharing with a friend on the patio, sipping poolside, or pairing with a grilled dinner. At $15-16 bucks, it’s also a great value (especially compared to the price of a glass of wine at a restaurant or bar – did NOT miss that while staying home over the past year!) La Crema is easily found in most wine/liquor stores too – give it a try!
What are some of your recent favorite finds?
You must come to the Leelanau Peninsula- Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland, Northport, and Suttons Bay! Just a warning though that you won’t want to leave. We came here on vacation with our kids and then a year and a half ago we moved our little family (also two boys and a girl) from Cedar Rapids to Leland and we never looked back!! It is magical here!!!
I highly recommend Harbor Springs and Petoskey.
Thanks Elise!
We live in nw Ohio and go up to northern MI often! Petoskey state park has the prettiest beach! It’s gorgeous! And we even lived in Mount Pleasant, SC for a year. Nothing beats northern MI for me! Also, you HAVE to take your kids to sleeping bear dunes when they’re older. Google pics. I bet you won’t believe your eyes! It was also rated number one for prettiest place in America.
Love it!! Thank you so much for your recommendations! I’ve heard of Sleeping Bear Dunes – can’t wait to see it for myself some day. :) :)
Ordered the jeans and they are great! They were more than $15 but still a great price for a good fit. Now I am off to buy the rose. I have been buying up a variety for the summer and haven’t hit on one I love yet.
So glad you like them!! It stinks the price varies slightly based on the color/size, but still – SUCH a great value.
If you can find it, Underwood Sparkling Rose in cans is also so, so good! I’ve found it at Costco and Super Target!
Where did you find the cilantro dip? That sounds amazing!
Aldi’s makes a Street Corn dip that I found with no gluten containing ingredients and I gave it a shot. It was amazing and I need to go back for some more. But like you, I snarfed almost the entire container in one sitting. Ao on second thought, maybe I should wait to go back. :)
HyVee! Though I think it’s also sold at Super Target and Whole Foods. :) OMG, the street corn dip would be a hard no for me – I KNOW I’d eat the entire thing in one sitting! ????
Lume is AMAZING!! The only thing that I have found that does not make me break out in an itchy rash! And it lasts until your next shower no matter what you do, incredibly NO BO. Total game changer!! May seem pricey but the tube lasts a real long time so actually cheaper in the long run since you don’t have to keep re-applying.
Co-sign this entire comment – it is truly a wonder product!
We just got back this evening from our second Lake Michigan trip. We were a little closer to Iowa— New Buffalo MI two years ago and Michigan City IN this time, just a few miles apart. They are the cutest little towns, with amazing Sandy beaches, not far from where you stayed by the looks of it. Great food, fun atmosphere, a cute little zoo in Michigan City. Amazing family time!!
Yes!! We originally started exploring the area because my husband went to New Buffalo for a bachelor party (????) several years ago and just loved the town. We spent a couple afternoons walking around New Buffalo – so cute – and walked their huge beach too. Was so impressed by how soft and clean the sands are! Friends of ours stayed in Michigan City a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it too. Where has Michigan been all our lives?! ????
Is there anything better than a beach and a Bomb Pop?! It looks like you had a great vacation! Thank your for the swim suit recs! I have been on a desperate search. Happy Birthday next week!
Not when you’re 7, 4, and 2 – that’s for sure!! Thanks girl!! :D
We started this same MI tradition last year! Last year we stayed in South Haven and this year in Douglas. Unfortunately it rained every day of our trip this year. But by luck we stopped in St Joseph on the way home for lunch and the sun came out for a bit so we threw the toddler into her swimsuit and played for an hour so we could still say we went to the beach on our beach vacation. Ha! I’m trying to find a weekend to head back (we live in Central IL so it’s not too far) for a do-ver.
Oh shoot!! So nice that you live close to do a do-over though!
anywhere in Door County, WI! Also Sheboygan/Kohler has beautiful state parks and coastlines. Door County is truly wonderful though in summer through fall.
I’ve heard Door County is goooorgeous! On the list!
Came here to recommend door county too!! I’m a new englander but we’ve been going there with my midwest-based extended family my whole life and it’s one of my favorite places in the world. We’re personally biased to Sister Bay and Ephraim but anywhere is great!
I just put that exact wine in our fridge!! Can’t wait to try!! We are La Crema wine members???? thanks for all you great posts and recipes!
Oooh, how fun!! I need to look into that! Cheers – enjoy!!
My husband and I had rented a cottage in Union Pier for September and then decided we wanted to stay further north. We’ve rented the lower half of a huge house that is just mere steps from Lake Michigan in a small town called Norton Shores, which is just a bit south of Muskegon. We look forward to checking out the Indiana sand dunes and all the little towns along the shore on our way to Norton Shores.
That sounds heavenly!! Enjoy your trip, Terri!
I third the votes for Saugatauck, Holland, and Grand Haven. We are spending our 6th summer vacation in GH this year.
Glad to have another co-signer!! Thank you for your recs!
When you said “northern Michigan” I thought you meant the Upper Peninsula, where we live! Can’t beat a cottage vacation on Lake Superior!
Oh, no, I went to northern MI when I was a kid – Mackinack Island with my family, and to a friends home in Frankfort. I guess that was pretty far north for us ????????????
I live in Holland, MI. West Michigan is a wonderful place to visit. You can’t go wrong with Saugatuck, Holland, or Grand Haven. There are beautiful, sandy beaches, adorable downtown shops, and great restaurants.
Those are the exact three places a friend who lives in Traverse City told us to make sure to visit! On the list, for sure!
We live in IN, seven miles from the MI state line, and Michigan is where we grab a quick getaway or longer vacation as often as possible. St Joseph MI is a lovely lake town, with a big, beautiful grassy park on a high bluff that slopes down to Silver Beach. There are festivals every month, the beach is clean and the whole town is very family oriented. And good for older family members: my husband and I are staying in an adorable B&B called South Cliff House over the 4th, spending Sunday afternoon enjoying area wineries. South Haven is beautiful and when your kids are a little older, Sleeping Bear Dunes is a fantastic place to camp and climb. Enjoy!
Sounds fabulous, Anita!! Thank you so much for your recommendation. Your 4th of July plans sound fabulous!!! We went to a winery near Union Pier/New Buffalo called Hickory Creek – super cute and drier, European-inspired wine. Really good!