Freeform Friday

This weekend is our last hurrah before we return to work on Monday after another amazing summer. Luckily I have a girls night Saturday with the alluring promise of a cool frosé (or two or three) for each of us.

I hope your weekend is a good one, and I hope you enjoy clicking through these links:

I've made this simple pasta dish about once a week ever since cherry tomatoes showed up at the Farmer's Market. 

These sleeping baby pictures are whimsical and fun.

The state of Michigan cleaned house at the Olympics.

Speaking of Michigan, say yes! to each of these frosted glasses.

This vajingle is hooha-riffic.

Balloon letters at their best.

Feeling excited for our next book club book, another hit from Erik Larson.

This is why high school seniors are awesome.

Unearned white privilege in action. Gotta pair this with the McIntosh article in class this year.

(Photo of Ingrid Bergman looking as good as I hope to feel after several glasses of frosé this weekend.)

The Buddy Bed: Best Use for a Repurposed Crib Mattress

When my youngest transitioned out of her crib, I scorned the idea of throwing out the expensive mattress and felt a little icky selling something that had been so, well, clean but previously peed on.

I put her cutest crib sheet on it and shoved it under her bed, vowing to think of something to do with it. Inspiration struck a short time later when my pre-school aged niece spent the night. She opted to sleep in our loft on the couch, but she then insisted on sleeping on the floor.

Remembering the spare crib mattress in the other room, I pulled it into the loft to reveal The Buddy Bed. It was more than big enough for her, and she loved sleeping on it.

We use The Buddy Bed for visiting cousins who spend the night, when one of our kids is sick and wants to sleep in our room, and occasionally for my daughter's naps when she just wants a change of scenery from her regular bed. After an ear ache left her cranky and sleeping in our room on The Buddy Bed, my five-year-old even begged for a turn on The Buddy Bed.

I think half of the reason The Buddy Bed is such a hit is because of the name. It just sounds fun.

What have you done to repurpose your old baby gear? Do you have an inventive use that gives new life to baby products?

Bedford Springs: A Grand Hotel in the Mountains

While many midwestern families are drawn to the stunning Great Lakes for vacations, an escape to the mountains is a nice change of pace.

Ninety minutes southeast of Pittsburgh, Bedford Springs is a stunning historic resort situated on and around eight mineral springs in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.

We dined at Bedford Springs several times when my sister lived in Maryland, and my husband and I stayed at the resort with our kids for the first time in June. We loved it so much that we booked a stay for twice as long in August, and it's easily our new favorite vacation spot. I've been to the resort in every season, and the hotel is beautifully decorated for each.

Here are some reasons we keep coming back to Bedford Springs: 

Two beautiful pools. Both have comfortable loungers and upscale, timeless designs. The outdoor area has poolside service and breathtaking mountain views. The indoor pool is spring fed (and heated!) and has some of the most beautiful tile and architecture I've ever seen in a pool.

Lawn games like corn hole and horseshoes and a couple giant, comfy hammocks. These entertained my kids for hours or even a couple minutes as we waited for the car to be brought around. (Did I mention that there's complimentary valet parking at the resort?)

Hiking to springs and caves that range in ability level from short and simple to strenuous and challenging. This spring, in the wedding grotto, is about five minutes from the front door of the hotel.

Historic plaques and markers are dotted throughout the hotel and draw you in like a good book. If you're at all interested in American history and American presidents, you'll love reading them, too.

Cozy chairs and nooks throughout the hotel that beg to be lounged in for hours while you read your book. The entire hotel is so thoughtfully and beautifully decorated, and the staff so friendly, that you really feel welcome to make yourself at home wherever you please.

Great restaurants and attractions onsite and nearby.

We really enjoy the Frontier Tavern at Bedford Springs. They have seasonal menus, and it's reliably good.

In downtown Bedford we loved the sandwiches, burger, and duck fat fries at the Golden Eagle Inn. The dining room decor is akin to eating at your fancy grandma's house, but the food is much more modern and thoughtfully prepared than the decor suggests.

If you take Pike south out of downtown Bedford, you'll pass a kitschy coffee pot roadside attraction on your way to two great dining options.

Horn O Plenty is a farm to table restaurant in a historic building with a charming interior, inventive offerings, and a menu that changes daily in order to utilize the freshest ingredients. Their cake with fresh peaches was one of our favorite foods from our entire vacation.

The Jean Bonnett Tavern is another local favorite that we've been to several times, and it was our favorite restaurant from the entire trip. The tavern dates to 1762 (George Washington and his troops stayed here!) and does a great job embracing the old and new. The first floor is like dining at a historical museum (similar to the Eagle Tavern at Greenfield Village); it's dark and cozy with candle light, huge hearths, and heavy pewter dishes. The second floor also has huge fireplaces but is open and brightly lit by huge windows as well as a breezy porch when the weather is nice. The menu uses local produce, and everything we had was outstanding. Other notables about the menu: the kid's menu is generous and varied. The desserts are homemade and tasty. Leave room for old fashioned oatmeal pie.

We took a short driving trip to see covered bridges. There are three not far from the Jean Bonnett and a map to take you further afield if you're in the mood.

In short, Bedford Springs is an outstanding resort unlike any other I've been able to find. It somehow manages to be family friendly, perfect for couples, and priced in a range that makes it feel luxurious while being no more (and sometimes less!) than a hotel in a beach town during high season. 

What attractions have you enjoyed in and around Bedford? Do you have any other historic resorts you've been to and enjoyed? 

Interior pool photo by Bedford Springs; Jean Bonnett photo by the tavern. 

All other photos by Aimee Eldon. Find more on Instagram. 

Freeform Friday

We spent a wonderful week at a historic hotel in the mountains (post coming soon), so we'll spend the weekend catching up around the house and snuggling with the dog. Lounging by a spring fed pool is grand, but so is sleeping in your own bed with no kids in the room. I hope your weekend is a good one, and I hope you enjoy clicking through these links:

This Dutch baby is super fast and easy to make for breakfast; I topped ours with fresh cherries and powdered sugar.

We had oatmeal pie for the first time while on vacation, and I'm excited to try to recreate it soon with this recipe.

I am terrible at making time for television, but I'll be sure to carve out time for a new season of this show. 

This play on words made me snicker.

Are the different bib fonts at the Olympics driving you crazy, too?

Pony Boy is 50!

Freeform Friday

I've been doing some heavy assessment work with a dynamic group of teachers this week, and I'm looking forward to a restful weekend full of watching the Olympics, hitting up the pool, and talking about a great read (that I just finished last night!) at book club on Sunday. I hope your weekend is a good one, and I hope you enjoy clicking through these links:

I'd really love it if my boss (hell, all bosses!) sent out this list of expectations on work/life balance.

I want to use these cheery decorations for my next party.

The look on this mom's face is timeless (and the commentary hilarious).

I caught Hitchcock/Truffaut this spring in the theater, and highly recommend checking it out on HBO.

I'm super excited for this new stop-motion film.

American politics aren't the first to have crazed men grasping for power.

I really with I had this shirt for an Olympics viewing party I'm going to this weekend.

My favorite record breaking at the Rio Olympics thus far.

Boden added a ton of great items to an end of the season sale, so I finally bought this lemonade yellow dress.

Beach Life: Must Haves for Fun on the Lake

Living in the Great Lakes State means that you're never far from splendid fresh water that you'd be remiss to miss out on. Michiganders also know that even though school starts after Labor Day, there are still plenty of swimmable days left in September. So, get yourself to the lake and get yourself some fun toys to make the most of it. 

Here are our favorite toys from this summer: 

Water toys are always a hit, and this alligator float doesn't get old. We had one as kids and always fought over it, so now we have one for each kid. At less than $15 each, that's an easy problem to solve. 

The Water Mat made playing in the lake insanely fun. My mom took the plunge and bought one after a friend of hers raved about it being the best lake toy ever. And she was right. It was great when the water was calm and wildly exciting when the waves of the lake made it like a roller coaster.

Sand toys are a must. My kids especially like decorating these cupcakes, and as mentioned in an earlier post, I like this packable pail that packs flat.

I've tried a million sunscreens, and Think Baby is my absolute favorite. It rubs in easily, smells good, and has great longevity.

I love my new Hatley bag for toting all of our things to the beach; it has an interior zippered pouch for sunscreen, cell phone, and keys. It's also big enough to fit three or four towels.

What are your must-haves for the beach?

That's a Tool, Not a Toy

"That's a tool, not a toy."

This is a mantra that I repeat frequently when curious kids want to pick up everything in sight and, well, play with it.

I'm all for banging on pots and pans or stacking every plastic storage container pulled out of the cupboard, but sometimes kids pick up things that are off limits. This is when I chime in with my trusty saying I came that I coined years ago. "That's a tool, not a toy."

This goes for the universal remote, scissors, metal tape measure, vintage typewriter, and every other thing my kids grab that can easily break or injure unfamiliar, inexperienced hands. It's not to say that they may never touch those items. Rather, it's imparting the knowledge that different objects have different functions and not everything is a kid-friendly toy.

What tips do you have for helping kids understand that not everything they want to play with is a toy?

Where I Eat, Drink, and Shop in the Little Traverse Bay Area

I've been vacationing at our family cottage in Northern Michigan for a dozen years and accrued a distinct list of favorites I have to get to when we're there for a week or a quick weekend. These are the tried and true places that I love whether we're there to play on the beach or ski down the slopes.

Petoskey

American Spoon Cafe for lunch and gelato (which one must save room for). I get the whitefish sandwich. Every time. Note that it's closed in the winter off-season.

Chandlers is another great lunch spot. Sit outside on the covered patio in the summer or inside the warm brick walls in the winter.

Twisted Olive for lunch or dinner. They have tempting desserts and a great view of the water. They're also gracious when you bring kids.

Cutlers for kitchen gadgets galore.

Bearcub Outfitters for super cute kid shoes and clothes, dog accessories, and a killer sale section.

The Rocking Horse Toy Company for biodegradable water balloons and a sweet water balloon launcher. There is an additional location on Main Street in Harbor Springs.

McLean and Eakin Bookstore. I make it a habit to buy books when I'm on vacation so I can support local book stores. They have a sizable kid section, too.

Then & Now Antique and Consignment Mall for vintage linens, jewelry, and anything else that fits your fancy.

Toski-Sands for fresh fish and whitefish spread.

Crooked Tree Breadworks for bread (cherry pecan is my favorite for breakfast), lavender shortbread cookies, scones, hand pies, and anything else that looks tempting in the case.

Bill's Farm Market. This is maybe my favorite place to shop while on vacation. Bill's is an old school family farm with outstanding produce at the best prices. We go at the beginning of our week Up North and at the end of the week to stock up before heading home. Note that they are closed on Sunday and in the winter.

Harbor Springs

Georgina's is my new favorite restaurant in both Harbor Springs and the entire area. The food is interesting and delicious and the drinks perfect. This location opened July 1st, the building is beautifully decorated, and there is an ample patio. If you're eating out at one place, this has to be it. EDIT: As of 2017, this tasty spot is only open in their Traverse City location.

Tom's Mom's Cookies for chocolate chunk (not chips!) and cherry, oatmeal butterscotch, chocolate caramel pecan, and tons of other choices. Get a dozen. You won't regret it, and they freeze well if you have enough restraint to not eat the whole bag.

Sandwiches from the nondescript Gurneys. Get anything that goes well with deli sauce; I'm a fan of turkey. You can pass as a pro if you read the menu and make note of veggies they have and don't have. Pick up a bag of chips, cold drinks from the cooler, and take your sandwiches (and cookies from Tom's Mom's!) and head west to the park on the bay for a picnic. And bring cash. No credit cards accepted here. Another pro tip: you can buy deli sauce to take home, too.

Cocktails on the dock at Dudley's with picturesque views of the harbor full of boats.

Ice cream or something on a stick and dipped in carmel at Kilwins. I went for the first time when a family friend was working there and recommended the butter pecan ice cream. It's wonderful.

The Outfitter for shoes, clothing, and a hat (or any other sun or snow gear) when you forgot yours at home.

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is my favorite hiking spot in the area. The trails are meticulously maintained (and relatively wheelchair accessible), the surroundings are beautiful, and it's only $5 per car to enter.

Pond Hill Farm to feed the fish. Bring lots of quarters because you'll use them all.

Thelma & Louise for more antiquing fun. Note that they're only open Friday through Sunday.

M-119 and Beyond

Legs Inn is a fieldstone restaurant you can't miss, and it has a huge patio with outstanding views of the lake, including Beaver Island on clear days. I'm not ordinarily a big eater of Polish food, but I love eating here. I always go for the sauerkraut pierogi (which for ages I remembered by thinking of the filling choice that sounded the most odd). Their sampler platters are delish, too.

Bliss Polo is a surprisingly accessible (it's free!) and entertaining match to take the kids to. There are tons of horses both on and off the field, and everyone gets to go out and replace divots.

P.S. Wondering where to stay? Our family cottage in Good Hart (which has turned into a pure sand beach in recent years!) is available on VRBO, and we have stayed at a host of other rentals when we've been in the area for skiing, weddings, and other occasions. This home on the lake is just down the road from the historic church in Good Hart/Middle Village. This home on Lake Michigan in Harbor Springs is another favorite. We had good luck with this home in downtown Petoskey when skiing a couple winters ago, too.