Author: promotemi

Hollywood Celebrities Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart Tie the Knot in Classic Rustic Fashion on Northern Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula.

Like a scene out of a 1950s-era movie, Michigan drive-ins still serve up frosty mugs of foamy root beer along with juicy burgers and fries in red plastic baskets. Here, hungry patrons push aside their dietary restrictions and dig into fare as nostalgic as it is flavorful.

It’s summertime…and that means the return of fresh-grown produce, harvested by local growers and brought to you at dozens of historic farmers markets around the state. Michigan is the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the country, ranking among the top for growing everything from asparagus to cherries to peaches to zucchini. Add to that, locally crafted cheeses, meats, honey, breads and more, and it’s no wonder that our farmers markets are among the hottest — and sweetest — summer destinations!

The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design — posted with a “Penny Black Stamp” in London, to the writer Theodore Hook in 1840. The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp — issued on May 1, 1840. Displaying a portrait of Queen Victoria, it was primarily black in color and was one cent — thus, it became known as the Penny Black.

I’ve been hitting antique fairs and flea markets since I was in college—intrigued by the reuse of quaint pieces of furniture that told a story, as well
as served a purpose. Today, I’ve added the online market of eBay to my shopping repertoire, taking my treasure hunting to the virtual realm.

It’s no secret…I LOVE Michigan! I love the winding back country roads, the Mighty Mackinac Bridge and the thriving urban centers. I love the sitting outside on Elbow-to-elbow with a favorite little-seen cousin or family members too often split by conflicting schedules, nothing much beats a mind-bending Scrabble match, spirited checkers tournament or competitive carrom game played on the screen porch.

Each spring, we make a ritual out of cleaning the clutter out of our homes, dusting off the last remnants of winter, opening up the windows to let fresh air in. Have you ever thought that your body deserved the same type of cleaning—a rejuvenation, a cleansing, an opportunity to shed the old and make way for the new.

Spring is a season of awakenings in Michigan – where April showers bring May flowers and May flowers are infused into dazzling artisan spirits like the new White Blossom from Valentine Vodka.