Personal Summer Blockbuster

One of the great pleasures of summer vacation is watching a single, favorite movie over and over until you know all the best lines. I like to think of it as a personal summer blockbuster.

When I was in late elementary school my siblings and I watched One Crazy Summer approximately 1,000 times. It is a perfect time capsule from the '80s and forever influenced the way we said "chili dog." Another summer we somehow convinced my brothers to watch Grease until we could sing every song and felt born to hand jive.

Last summer, my kids had their first summer blockbuster and watched My Neighbor Totoro on repeat, and my daughter loved it so much she dressed as Totoro for Halloween. I can't wait to see what they will pick this summer.

What is your most memorable personal summer blockbuster? What movie did you obsessively watch as a kid?

Freeform Friday

Happy first day of pool! My fingers are crossed that the weekend weather is warm enough to take a dip at the swim club and grill out with friends on Memorial Day. I hope you have a relaxing long weekend planned, and I hope you enjoy my favorite links from the last week.

Looking forward to finally catching this documentary over the weekend.

This trailer makes the movie look as good (maybe better?) than the book.

Highlights from Hillary's commencement speech.

A telling photo essay about women and power.

It's not so much a sinkhole as a portal to hell.

A new renovation for the White House.

The Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf: 100 Must-Reads.

Need more ideas for what to read this summer? How about NPR’s 2016 Book Concierge.

Have you seen Jupiter's azure south pole?

The colors of Mister Rogers’ cardigan sweaters, 1979-2001.

Despite what my local paper has to say, prom is just a dance, not an engagement.

[Photo of my recent trip to Tybee Island; find more on Instagram.]

Freeform Friday

My book club is headed to Beer City for a brewery tour and overnight this weekend, and I'm excited to try a couple new places and an all-time favorite. All of this travel is the perfect antidote to treat lots of work stress, and I'm grateful to my fantastic husband for loving his time with the kids while I'm away.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I hope you enjoy my favorite links from the past week.

How to get your body caftan-ready for summer.

"We spent our first decade in the country learning the ways of the new land and trying to fit in. Having a slave did not fit." (If you want to keep going, here is a piece on the author, too).

Alternate-universe response to a president's leak to Russia.

Best. Prank. Ever.

Have you tried Resistbot yet?

An inspiring piece about mid-life career switches.

Love this playful strawberry party idea.

Must try this recipe to see if it's as good as the one at Zingerman's.

I adore the soft fabric and flattering lines of this new dress.

"I'm gonna' look like I love cheese no matter what. 'Cause I love cheese."

My daughter loves the click-clack sound her new gold sandals make on the sidewalk.

These dress up wings are the bee's knees.

Freeform Friday

This weekend I'm celebrating Mother's Day with my two best friends, who happen to be my mom and sister, in the charming city of Savannah. It's a town we haven't visited together in almost 20 years, and we're delighted to have a chance to eat and drink our way from Forsyth Park to the Savannah River. Without young children in tow, and without a single regret. Cheers to that.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend, and I hope you like my favorite links from the last week.

In other ways other countries are smarter than us, France is officially a safe haven for scientists.

Not only are these the coolest geometric socks, but they also support saving bees.

Where the foodies go in Ann Arbor.

Feminist is my second-favorite f-word.

Anyone else always on the lookout for a new deodorant that works but doesn't irritate your skin?

Reading makes you nicer (as if you needed a study to tell you that).

A spot on cartoon describing what Fascism looks like.

How silly is also sexy.

I can't explain why, but I really want to buy this.

An unexpected, and hilarious, burn from the Nixon Library.

A few key edits to Trump's latest press release.

Don't ask about the upstairs apartment.

[Photo credit: @richardcuoco via Instagram]

Freeform Friday

Over the weekend we're trying brunch at a newer spot in town, and I'm looking forward to sampling blueberry quinoa pancakes and their famous baked goods. My daughter and I are also taking my mom to a kid-friendly play that's an adaptation of a classic as an early Mother's Day gift; it's a favorite of my mom's, and I'm excited to share it with her and my imaginative, talkative four-year-old.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, and I hope you enjoy my favorite links from the past week.

This is my kind of unicorn.

The wise children and immature adults of the Wes Anderson universe.

In defense of depressing books.

A space that has the potential for the perfect artist or writer's studio.

This shirt is freaking fantastic.

Happy wife, happy life.

Did you know this trick for finishing your pasta?

A practical how-to for the culinarily-challenged.

Free, high-resolution national park maps.

For once, I've found math that is interesting.

In addition to his feisty news conferences, here's another reason to love the Piston's coach.

This looks insanely fun.

I know where I want to go this summer.

A good reminder to put on your damn swimsuit.

When is it okay to ask a woman if she's pregnant?

My favorite vacation spot.

[Photo of the Italian city of Mango on a rainy day.]

What Mothers Want: A Gift Guide for Mother's Day

I have to admit that when asked what I want for Mother's Day, I usually say, "I don't know" or "Nothing." As a mom, I'm not very good at getting things for myself. I've been eyeing a cute dress for weeks that's slightly more than I think a dress should be, but in that same time I've gotten numerous things for my kids that easily exceed the cost of the dress. I think, like a lot of other moms, I'm just used to putting my kids first, and I'm not very practiced at thinking about things I need or want.  

Luckily, my doting husband has lots of creative ideas, and my own mom and mother-in-law have traditions for Mother's Day gifts. Here are some ideas to get you started:

If space permits, plant a patch of the garden with several pots of her favorite flower. If you're not sure what to plant, I don't know a single woman who would turn her nose up at peonies.

Cooking or baking classes are great for moms of all ability levels.  Bonus points if it's coordinated with her sister, mother, or another mom friend.

Photo from Pewabic Pottery on Instagram.

A beautiful vase with a big bunch of tulips from Trader Joe's (my go-to for affordable flowers).

A smart or sassy tote bag full of good books to read this summer.

A short trip with her friends. Give her a guilt-free break from momming it, and whatever you do, don't call your time watching your own children "babysitting." Wine or brewery tours can be as short as a 24-hour trip, and tapping into frequent flyer miles can score a long weekend away in her favorite city.

For the mom who doesn't want more stuff, take her shopping at your local farmer's market and pick up the tab for her hanging baskets, herb garden, or whatever spring plants she'd like.

Don't forget a card filled with all the feelings, too!

What would you add to the list? What gift do you love getting for Mother's Day?

Northern Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees: Where to Splash, Play, and Eat Along the Lakeshore

Tooling along M-119, the Tunnel of Trees traversing the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay from Harbor Springs to Cross Village is a 16-mile long route known for its dense canopy of trees and sweeping views of Lake Michigan. Although summer is the most popular time to visit, the road in spring seems carpeted in pastel flowers, while in fall, gold and red leaves frame the alluring vistas of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. No matter the season, you can have a grand time if you head to these tried-and-true spots that are little known to ordinary tourists.

Harbor Springs

For a taste of local history, pop into the Harbor Springs History Museum on Main Street. Visitors can learn about the native Odawa Indians, Great Lakes, and, in more recent developments, the local ski industry.

Just north of Harbor Springs, Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is our favorite hiking spot in the area because of the variety of ecosystems and access to Lake Michigan. The trails are meticulously maintained (and relatively wheelchair accessible), the surroundings are beautifully preserved, and it's only $5 per car to enter.

Stop at Pond Hill Farm, north of Thone Swift and just off M-119, to feed the fish in the trout pond and visit the pigs, goats, and cows. Bring lots of quarters for fish food because you won’t want to stop your kids from squealing as the trout gobble up the spray of pellets.

Good Hart

Continuing along the Tunnel of Trees, you’ll drive along a hairpin turn named Devil’s Elbow which, according to Odawa legend, is full of spirits and sometimes mysterious voices. Your next stop is Good Hart. This tiny hamlet has a sandy, public beach that is perfect for avoiding the crowds of Wilderness and Petoskey State Parks. Church Beach has a huge parking lot and requires a short jaunt to Lake Michigan. The kids and I like combing the beach for stones just as much as we like going in the water. We always hope to discover the most-prized find -- the Petoskey stone, Michigan’s official state stone and treasure of anyone lucky enough to find one. To get there, take North Lamkin Road in Good Hart down the hill and continue south until you get to the gleaming white 1880s church. The well-maintained path to the beach is just north of the church and well marked.

Cross Village

Further north is Cross Village; that’s where you’ll find Legs Inn, a fieldstone restaurant you can't miss. This landmark is renowned for its eclectic, one-of-a-kind architecture, expansive views of the sparkling Big Lake, and authentic Polish food. Their huge patio is on a bluff high over the lake, and you can easily see both Skillagalee Lighthouse and Beaver Island on clear days. I always order the sauerkraut pierogi, and their Polish sampler platter is delish, too. Head across the street to Three Pines Studio while you wait for a table or take your cold drink to one of the wooden swings overlooking the bluff.

Bliss

Although the Tunnel of Trees ends in Cross Village, take a short side trip northwest to the tiny town of Bliss. There you’ll find an old timey general store and Bliss Polo, a surprisingly accessible (it's free!) and entertaining match to take the kids to during the summer. You don’t need to know a thing about polo to appreciate the stunning horses both on and off the field. Another bonus: all spectators get to take the field at halftime to replace grass divots, an activity sure to please the kids in your group. I recommend bringing chairs or a blanket to sit on as there are no seats or stands for spectators.

Harbor Springs picnic:

Get thick sandwiches on homemade bread, slathered in its signature deli sauce at Gurney’s, the non-descript liquor shop at 215 E. Main Street.

Pick up dessert from Tom’s Mom’s at 267 S. Spring Street, famous for their amazingly huge and delicious cookies. Get a dozen so you can have some for later. You won't regret it.

Take your picnic fare to the tables overlooking the marina, and cap it all off with a stroll on the pier stretching out into the harbor.

Wondering where to stay or how to extend your trip to Petoskey? Here are ideas for both. 

Read about our favorite spots to stop in the article I wrote for Ann Arbor Family Press here.