9 Fall Hiking Outfit Must Haves for Her
Fall hiking season is in full swing. In early October I spent a few days enjoying the peak fall colors in Marquette. Later in the month, I enjoyed time hiking mid-Michigan and towards the end of October, I was hiking around the Metro Detroit area. Now that it is November and we have had many windy days, the leaves have started to fall and what is left on the trees is barely hanging on.
Even though the leaves are dropping and the temperature is dropping, it is my favorite time to get out for a fall hike. This weekend Jack and I drove down one of our favorite dirt roads, hiked along the Clinton River, we soaked in the views, stepped on all the crunchy leaves and even grabbed cider at Yates Cider Mill.
You can typically find me sharing my adventures on my blog and Instagram with you, but I hardly ever share what I am wearing. So, ladies today I wanted to share a fall hiking outfit with you that has been inspired by my October and early November activities.
If you\’re anything like me, figuring out what to wear, especially if you\’re exploring a new place can be a little tricky. Living in Michigan, the weather is a little tricky. For example, this weekend it was gorgeous on Saturday and Sunday it was extremely windy and snowy on my adventure. Temperatures on Sunday were in the mid-30s and it was the first snowfall of the season that left only a dusting behind.
My rule of thumb when it comes to dressing for a fall adventure in Michigan is dress in layers. Always bring a hat, some gloves and of course a warm jacket. Wool socks will help keep your feet warm, and hiking boots are great for adventures.
Michigan Fall Hiking Outfit Must Haves for Her
1. Cozy beanie for cooler fall days. I personally love this beanie from YoColorado.
2. Base layers, I personally love Smartwool base layers. I love this top and these bottoms.
3. Wool socks. Wool socks will help keep your feet warm as well as wick away moisture. When I am out hiking I will only wear Darn Tough socks or Smartwool socks. These Darn Tough socks are my personal favorite.
3. A warm hiking jacket. I personally love jackets from The North Face and Columbia.
4. Durable yoga or hiking pants. I personally prefer hiking in yoga pants and love these joggers that have an added layer of warmth.
5. Boots to keep your feet warm and dry. I prefer Teva hiking boots and shoes.
6. Always bring water! I love this EcoVessel reusable water bottle and always take it with me.
7. Pack a thermos with hot cider or cocoa for a mid-hike warm up.
8. I always bring a small daypack on our hikes even if I know they\’re going to be short. I like to keep an extra top, pair of socks, water bottle, and snacks in my pack. I have an Osprey daypack. When I bring Jack I take our Kurgo.
9. I tend to sit down and spend time soaking in the views, and like to bring a lightweight blanket with me.
What is your favorite fall activity? Where is your favorite place to view fall colors? Don\’t forget to follow my adventures on Instagram.
Movie Review: Let Him Go
Let Him Go is set in the late 1950\’s and follows George (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) an aging rancher couple as they try to find and bring back their grandson after his new step-father moves him away.
The couple lived a simple life on their ranch in Montanta, with their son James (Ryan Bruce), his wife Lorna (Kayli Carter) and the couples infant son Jimmy. Tragedy strikes when James passes away in a freak accident.
Fast forward to a few years down the line and the widowed Lorna marries Donnie (Will Brittain), a polite and charming man, who is not at all what he seems. Margaret takes a trip into town, and spies Lorna, Donnie and the little boy Jimmy from her car. Margaret watches Donnie give Jimmy a slap for dropping his ice cream and then gives Lorna a harder slap. As if the abuse wasn\’t awful enough to experience a few days later, without a goodbye, the family is gone. Donnie has taken them to move in with his family somewhere in North Dakota.
Margaret knows that the fate of their grandson relies in the hands of her and her husband. George points out to Margaret that she has no legal justification to take the boy away from his mother, however her instinct tells her she needs to go find little Jimmy and George goes along to keep Margaret protected.
As George and Margarat adventure into each new small town, they ask around about Donnie\’s family and keep hearing stores about Donnie\’s family clan, the Weboys, who are not good people from the sounds of it. They discover the Weboys, in their creepy farmhouse in the middle of nowhere and that is when the movie really takes off.
Overall Thoughts of Let Him Go
This movie is a THRILLER, you are on the edge of your seat and left wondering in today\’s day and age how far would you go to get back something that is so precious to you. The movie does seem to go a little slower, which based on the time period and Western feel it makes sense for it to move a little slower. If you\’re looking for a movie that will keep you interested and wondering what will happen next, I highly recommend checking out Let Him Go this Friday when it is released in a theater near you.
5 Reasons You Will Love Gnomish Detroit
Growing up you couldn\’t walk in our backyard without seeing the face of a friendly gnome. Originally, gnomes were thought to provide protection and were also a symbol of good luck. When I went off to college my mum sent me with a gnome, when I moved out of state I received another gnome, and so on as events happened. Somewhere along the lines, I fell in love with gnomes on my own. I have a few gnome statues, and recently discovered a whole new world of gnomes that I am absolutely in love with. Let me introduce you to Gnomish Detroit.
Gnomish Detroit is based in the Detroitish area and is a small business making up the cutest modern gnomes that you will ever see. One thing unique about Gnomish is you can\’t just go to the website whenever you want and buy a gnome. These gnomes are handcrafted and have special release dates. When the gnomes are released you have to be quick to get them, these little guys are special and make a fun and loving addition to any home.
Handmade vs. Manufactured
I recently read something that said something along the lines of, when you buy from a small business you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. Instead, you are helping a little girl get dance lessons or a little boy get his team hockey jersey. You\’re helping someone put food on their table and pay their mortgage and let me tell you this really hit me.
You know that I love supporting small businesses, I love craft shows and art fairs and I know that a lot of time, effort, and money go into the products that are handmade. Earlier this fall my mum and I went to a local farmers market, there was a lady selling afghans, they were stunning and she was only charging $35. I was in shock because I know how long afghans take to crochet and the price of yarn. My mum bought an afghan immediately and gave her two twenties and said to keep the change. The lady was in shock, and my mum said you are making hardly anything on these, I know how much yarn and time costs. The lady said that people won\’t pay more for something that is handmade, and when you think about it that is true. Many people will think nothing of spending $70 on a manufactured blanket, but will not spend that much on a handmade blanket, because it is not going to be perfect.
When you buy something handmade it means you are buying something that was made by hand. It means the items are not created in bulk and sometimes stitches go outside the lines. It means that each piece is unique and has its own personality. It means you have a one of a kind item for your home. Yes, homemade comes with a higher price tag, but it also comes with a lot of time, effort, energy, thoughtfulness, and love.
What makes Gnomish Detroit Gnomes Unique?
Gnomish Detroit gnomes are made by one person out of their home. These modern gnomes take time to make, and each gnome is so much more than just a gnome. Theses gnomes are a work of art that makes a great addition to your home.
The gnomes have special release dates that you can find out via the Gnomish Detroit Instagram. The reason for special release dates is because these modern gnomes are made by a single person and she is able to create a whole bunch and then take pictures of them and list them online. Bulk listing is easier than individually listing and allows for more time to be put into the creation of these modern gnomes.
5 Reasons You Will Love Gnomish Detroit
1. Each gnome is handcrafted with love.
2. The modern design is sure to fit perfectly into any home or office.
3. Gnomish gnomes feature a Solmate sock flopped hat and the best part you can actually order that pair of Solmat socks to match your gnome!
4. The hair of the gnomes is unique from frosted snowy hair to red-feathered hair the hair has a personality of its own.
5. Gnomish gnomes are one-of-a-kind and easily identifiable due to their unique style.
Will you be welcoming a a gnome home?
30 Things to Do in November (Quarantine Edition)
Happy November! There\’s a new kind of chill in the air, the leaves have changed colors and have started to fall to the ground, the grocery stores are packed with pumpkin spice flavored everything. Fall is in full force, and I am here for it.
Thanks to the pandemic, many of us will find ourselves spending more time inside during November, and lucky for you I have 30 things you can do safely in November. From hunkering down with your favorite fall candle, a super soft throw blanket, and Hallmark Christmas movies to backyard bonfires, get ready to indulge in the cozier side of life.
30 Things to Do in November
1. Out with the spooky and in with the gorgeous gourds. Dress up your front door with an autumn wreath or a welcome mat.
2. Light some autumn scented candles. I am currently loving Copper Forest from Shea Woods Co.
3. Curl up in your favorite blanket and enjoy some Hallmark Christmas movies.
4. Sip on some mulled hot cider. I love Adams Apple Mulling Spices.
5. Make a chunky knitted blanket – the best part about this blanket you only need your fingers and some chunky yarn.
6. Get your hygge on. Hygge is the Dutch concept of coziness. Think snuggles by a fire, chunky knit sweaters, fall-scented candles, and anything you find cozy and comforting.
7. Try out a new soup or chili recipe.
8. Start your Christmas shopping and don\’t forget to shop small.
9. Make some hot cocoa bombs. I will be sharing the details on how to make them on the blog soon.
10. Have a backyard bonfire and make popcorn and s\’mores over the fire.
11. Why not send gratitude notes to friends and family and let them know you\’re thinking of them and appreciate them.
12. Make a list of things you are grateful for.
13. Donate to your local food bank and/or volunteer at a soup kitchen.
14. Rent a cabin in the woods, bonus points if it has a fireplace.
15. Today is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner it is the perfect opportunity for you to get rid of anything that has gone funky.
16. Make a delicious charcuterie board. Add things like nuts, cider mill donuts, cookies, cheese, crackers, apples and more.
17. It\’s National Take a Hike Day, so get outside and explore a new trail.
18. Polish your nails in a moody color.
19. Head to a cider mill for some cider and donuts – the season is almost over so splurge.
20. Order Christmas cards to mail out to friends and family.
21. Make some candied nuts.
22. Go for a leisurely Sunday drive.
23. Make a Pinterest board of cookies and treats you want to make for Christmas.
24. Make a pumpkin pie. This year I want to recreate the chai pumpkin pie I had while I was in Marquette.
25. Sign up for a virtual run with a friend.
26. Happy Thanksgiving. It\’s been a tough year for many of us, and today is a great time to reflect on the things we are grateful for.
27. Make a delicious panini with Thanksgiving leftovers.
28. It\’s Small Business Saturday, get out there and support your favorite local businesses.
29. Treat yourself to something nice like a new blanket scarf or pair of boots.
30. Create a winter wreath.
5 Things that make Five Guys Stand Out from the Crowd
[this is a sponsored post]
At Five Guys, the food is so fresh, they don\’t even have freezers on the premises. From fresh beef to fresh-cut fries, Five Guys takes American\’s favorite fast-food meal seriously.
5 Things that make Five Guys Stand Out from the Crowd
Have you ever heard the acronym K.I.S.S.? This acronym stands for Keep It Simple Stupid and is something that was preached to me throughout college when I worked at the school newspaper. People love simple, it makes things easy and is probably a big reason Five Guys is so successful. Five Guys menu is incredibly simple, it has burgers and fries (of course), along with hot dogs and a couple other options depending on the restaurant.
2. Top that burger
At Five Guys there are 15 toppings you can add in any combination you want, for free. Your options are mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, jalapenos, green peppers, bar-b-que sauce, hot sauce, and A1 sauce. By their own count, Five Guys says that there are 250,000 possible ways you can order your burger. Pile on as many toppings as you want, because they\’re all free.
Fast food restaurants and even some sit-down restaurants have pre-made food that they simply warm up and serve it to their customers – gross right? That is not the case at all at Five Guys – in fact, it has been said that the owners of the company actually refuse to install freezers and will only allow coolers in the restaurants.
4. The fries
I don\’t know about you, but I am a fries kind of girl, and I absolutely love the ones from Five Guys. The Five Guys fries are twice-fried in peanut oil and made just the way I like them. Crispy on the outside and mashed potato soft on the inside. The best part is, they\’re made to order. The portion of fries is great too, at Five Guys Daphne they take a paper cup that is about 12 ounces and fill it full of fries. They then place that paper cup into a lunch bag-sized paper bag and add another scoop of fries on top of that, and that my friends is a small.
5. There\’s only one way to cook the burger
If you\’re looking for a medium-rare hamburger, you should probably visit a steakhouse and not your local fast-food burger joint. All of Five Guys burgers are cooked well done and taste delicious.
Fashion meets Food 