Mitten Crate
Speaking of made in Detroit, have you tried Better Made chips before. They taste amazing and the recipe hasn’t changed since the company opened in 1930. Better Made is actually my favorite potato chip company and I especially love to pair the chips with a good old PB&J sandwich.
Bodhi Tree Switchel is an age old tonic used by farmers to cool off after working in the fields. Popular in the 1700’s Bodhi Tree Juice Company’s is delicious and refreshing. I receive the Ginger Turmeric Brew, and it was definitely a refreshing drink. The company is out of one of my favorite Michigan beach towns, Grand Haven.
Germack mixers are the perfect snack for on the go. Made in Detroit, Michigan they’re an essential part of any Michiganders road trips.
Guilt Chocolates bon bons definitely look too pretty to eat, but they taste even better once you accept that you have to eat these delicious treats. Made in Redford, Michigan – I highly recommend giving these little chocolates a try.
Mackinac Jerky company makes beef jerky the slow and traditional way. This process ensures that everything is tender and delicious. Made in Cheboygan, Michigan I highly recommend giving Mackinac Jerky a try on your next road trip.
5 Tips for a Stress Free Auto Show Experience
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens to the public on Saturday, and is sure to be busy. For those of you that do not know the NAIAS takes place in Detroit, Michigan at the Cobo Center. Being the motor city, you can imagine how big of a deal the auto show is in Detroit. Tons of people talk about the show, what their favorite cars are, who makes their favorite, what they want to see…etc. What I was surprised to learn while talking to people across the metro Detroit area was a lot of residents actually have never been to the auto show before, and if they had been it hasn’t been for years. Everyone had their reasons, but there were a few that really stuck out. Parking, planning and dress seemed to be the main concerns. I truly believe the auto show is an amazing experience that everyone should check out. That’s why I am going to give you my top five tips for a stress free auto show experience.
1. Purchase tickets at YOUR convenience. You can easily purchase ticket vouchers online or buy your tickets at the door. Therefore you can go when it’s convenient for you, and you don’t have to worry about paying for tickets in advance that you may or may not use. Being able to buy your tickets at the door is great because if something comes up you don’t have to worry about money being wasted, and let’s face it none of us want to waste money.
2. Parking. Now this one might take a little bit of planning. Lots and garages that are closest to Cobo fill up quickly, however there are plenty of lots within walking distance. Lots near Cobo Center are going to be prime parking spots and can cost you upwards of $30 or more. If you don’t want to drop a ton of money on parking, park further away from the venue and take the People Mover over to Cobo Center. Just make sure you bring enough quarters, the people mover costs 75 cents one-way, per person.
3. Eat before you arrive. Detroit is a foodie city from comfort to Caribbean you can find almost anything that you’re interested in eating. There are also plenty of restaurants within walking distance of Cobo Center that you can try once you have parked. Of course, if you want convenience there is a food court within Cobo as well as some snack food. However, be ready to pay premium amounts for the food that probably isn’t going to be as good as something you can find around the city.
4. Dress code. What you wear doesn’t matter, you can wear jeans if you’d like. However, ladies if you’re like me I know you want to dress to impress. Not to mention have a killer outfit for taking pictures next to some serious stylish cars. Keep one thing in mind though, this place is BIG and you will be doing a TON of walking. Which means you don’t want to wear your cutest shoes that are going to cause you pain. In most cases you’ll be spending at least a few hours at the show. Make sure your shoes are comfortable, really comfortable – there’s nothing worse than blisters and unable to walk because you’re uncomfortable.
5. Be patient. I’ll be honest it’s going to be crowded, and I definitely know how frustrating crowds can be. I am 4’10” so I feel like I constantly am saying “am I invisible?), because people are always running into me. It’s easy to think that everything is about you, and your personal experience at the auto show. Just remember everyone is there for the same reason as you are – to check out the cars. Remember to take a deep breathe and be courteous and polite with others.
Coming to Detroit: Hamilton
Detroit, get excited! HAMILTON is coming to town!! With all the hype, you can imagine how excited I am for this coming to town!
Producer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway in Detroit announced today that tickets for the Detroit engagement of HAMILTON will be available online through Ticketmaster Verified Fan®, on Friday, January 25 at 10:00 AM ET. Verified Fan is a new fan-facing technology from Ticketmaster that allows pre-registered fans to unlock access to tickets without competing against scalpers and bots.
Detroit Auto Show 2019
Get up close and personal with your dream car, sit in the driver seat, feel the interior and learn about the latest technology that will be in your next car with a trip to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). NAIAS has taken over the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan for the next couple of weeks to bring you the best of the best. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for your next ride, want to attend the show for the first time, are a car enthusiast or just want to go and pick out their dream vehicle.
This year, the North American International Auto Show celebrated its 30th year in Detroit. During its 30 year reign there has been plenty of changes. But, 2020 brings the biggest change of all. Detroit is saying goodbye to frigid temperatures, snow and ice and bringing you the best cars in JUNE! That’s right, not only will you see vehicles inside, but outside as well. You have no idea how excited I am that next year I will be able to visit the auto show and adventure around Detroit.
Let’s get back to talking about NAIAS 2019 though. When you step into the auto show you will be able to see what has just been launched from your favorite brands. Visit the AutoMobility area to see what the future holds for the way we drive and interact with our cars. Toyota premiered their all-new 2020 Supra, which is definitely a car I highly recommend you stopping by to see. The Lexus LC Convertible concept made it’s world debut, and usually I am not a Lexus girl, but this vehicle was so hot I couldn’t help but fall for Lexus.
What will 2020 bring….
Over the last 30 years NAIAS has changed, but no change will ever be like the one that is happening in 2020. Now you will be able to come to Detroit in JUNE instead of January, which means you’ll be able to see all the food, fun and beauty Detroit has to offer. The North American International Auto Show will return to Detroit on June 8, 2020. You will be able to see the newest technology and products inside Cobo, enjoy events around the city and really get to see what the motor city has to offer. With having the whole city to showcase what the industry has to offer I cannot wait to see all the creative ways brands will be debuting their vehicles.
“Our show is undergoing its most significant transformation in the last three decades,” said Rod Alberts, Executive Director, NAIAS.
“Detroit will continue to be a global stage for some of the world’s most significant and iconic vehicle reveals and host an unparalleled international audience of media and key industry influencers.”
“Detroit now has the opportunity to showcase our riverfront and our revitalized downtown during our beautiful summer months and creatively use the exterior of Cobo to launch new products that will transform Detroit into an exciting auto-centric environment,” said Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Having the North American International Auto Show in June allows exhibitors to create outdoor experiences, and some of the activities might include:
• Dynamic Vehicle Debuts
• Rides and Drives
• Autonomous/Automated Driving
• Off-Road Challenges
Current vision boards show activation sites throughout downtown Detroit, including but not limited to Grand Circus Park, Woodward Avenue, Campus Martius, Detroit RiverWalk, Hart Plaza and perhaps state parks such as Belle Isle.
New Year Intentions: 2019
The start of a new year is a time to reflect and set new goals for the year ahead. ‘New Years Resolutions’ tend to just set me up for failure, thats why I have decided to start setting intentions. For me intentions seem to have less pressure and feel like they’re something that I can actually accomplish.
What exactly are intentions? Intentions are simply the plans and goals you make to align with your life path. They’re more attainable, and allow you to work toward achieving them at your own pace. When I was setting my intentions for the year I wanted to really focus on the journey rather than an immediate outcome which tends to usually be a main focus. One of my friends told me that if I honor my intentions everyday, it will continue to put me steps closer to my dreams – and I am rolling with it.
Usually I keep my ‘goals’ to myself, however this year I want to share a few of my ‘intentions’ with you in order to hold myself accountable. I decided to break them down into categories to make them simple. While my intentions are long than this, I thought I would just share five of them with you. What are some of your intentions in 2019?
Fitness: The perfect cliche place for me to begin. I think every year I say I want to focus on my fitness and become the best version of myself, however I don’t think I have ever actually achieved this. I just finished reading the book Unfu*k Yourself and it really changed my perspective on a lot of things. It talks about the domain we create, and we achieve what we want. In 2018 I spent time going to plenty of workout classes – I showed up, put in the work, but I wasn’t supplementing it with days spent at the gym – so really I wasn’t helping myself or reaching the goals I want to. That’s why this year I want to spend five days a week at the gym which includes bootcamp classes in the mix. I intend to focus on strength training, and properly breathing during core exercises. Despite my loose skin, sketch marks and cellulite, my goal is to be confident enough to wear a bikini when summer rolls around. It’s January so in reality thats five months of putting in the work to reach my goal – I know that I can do this and I will do it. Of course, I will be sure to share my journey with you through social media and post updates.
Nutrition: In 2018 I learned that meal prepping really isn’t something that works for me. I was spending countless hours in the kitchen, would package my meals in easy to grab containers and then when it came down to it I NEVER wanted what was in those containers. I had so much food waste it was pathetic and a huge waste of money. This year I want to be more mindful of the food I buy, even if it means buying things that are pre-cut for me (hello apples at Walmart). In order to reach my fitness goal I know my nutrition will need to be on point (with desserts and dinner out every now and then). My intention is to eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water and really try to live an 80/20 lifestyle.
Career: A week before Thanksgiving I left my job to begin at a new one during the busiest time of the year for an e-tailer. I cannot wait to really move my career this year, and bet the best version of myself.
Faith: This is something very personal for me, that I am sure many of you really haven’t heard me talk about before, but since I am sharing my intentions I figured I needed to mention this one too. I think in order for me to live my best and feel more confident I really need to listen to what the Bible has to say, put my trust in Jesus, and really just allow myself to be vulnerable.
Personal: I want to travel and go on more adventures, be spontaneous, read more, focus on the good, practice more gratitude, actually show up for myself, do what I say I will do, practice self love, nourish my body with workouts and healthy meals, work on becoming the best version of myself, work on my relationship with myself so I can have a better relationship with a significant other.
Fashion meets Food 