I misplaced my laptop computer within the mayhem so I haven’t been in a position to weblog however I now have a keyboard hooked as much as a pill and I’m making it work as a result of I simply can’t keep away from you guys for too lengthy! (I left my laptop on the airplane after we arrived in Vegas and have a misplaced gadgets declare crammed out with Delta so all hope shouldn’t be misplaced. I’m holding off shopping for a brand new laptop for a few weeks because it looks as if laptops forgotten on airplanes can resurface inside a month. Fingers majorly crossed!)
However let’s again as much as the enjoyable stuff!!
Arrival in Michigan
On Thursday evening, my dad and mom arrived on the town to assist watch the boys, canine and leopard gecko whereas Ryan and I went on our whirlwind journey. We had been so grateful to them for providing to stick with the boys however further grateful to them for taking up a vizsla pet as nicely. (Comet is really an even bigger handful than all 3 boys in the meanwhile!) Chase, Ryder and Rhett couldn’t watch for particular time with Mae and Pop and leaving the boys in such loving, succesful fingers made saying our goodbyes a little bit simpler.
We had one cease en path to Traverse Metropolis, Michigan on Friday morning and had a fast 45 minute layover in Chicago, my previous stomping grounds!
I grew up in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago, so anytime I discover myself again in Chicago, nevertheless briefly, I really feel pleased! I additionally couldn’t resist a $19 Chicago sweatshirt that referred to as to me from a random present store.
We made it to Traverse Metropolis round lunchtime on Friday (perks of a super-early flight) and picked up our rental automobile earlier than driving alongside the coast of Lake Michigan towards our lodge in Petoskey. We made a pit-stop in Elk Rapids for lunch at Cellar 152 which we completely loved!
I ordered a Reuben sandwich as a result of corned beef is eternally considered one of my favourite meals and a heat sandwich was calling to me within the chilly climate.
We had a 90-minute drive forward of us however made one other cease to stroll out to the Petoskey Bayfront Lighthouse which was not our smartest concept.
We laughed lots as we slid all around the snow and ice-covered path that regarded much more like a mini ice peninsula than the pier it apparently is within the summertime. (On both facet of the trail was the lake and it acquired fairly slim and the drop off on both facet was somewhat steep near the lighthouse!)
It was windy and freezing and our footwear was horrible (zero-traction minimal sneakers) but it surely ended up being a spotlight as a result of it was such a ridiculous journey. It felt like we had been on one other planet as a result of the lake was frozen and lined utterly in snow and ice. At one level we stumbled upon a small American flag somebody put alongside the trail and burst out laughing once I couldn’t resist saying, “It’s one small step for man, one large leap for man form.”
Finally we made it to the Bay View Inn the place we met up with a bunch of our school pals who had been staying on the similar lodge! The lodge labored nicely for our group because it had a number of semi-private lounge areas we had been in a position to commandeer and use for our gang within the mornings and late nights.
Our Friday evening consisted of a gaggle dinner in Petoskey earlier than we made our option to Bar Harbor, an area bar in Harbor Springs, for a enjoyable evening out with Ashley and Sean, the bride and groom we had been celebrating, and their households.
Saturday
Saturday morning started vivid and early as a result of, regardless of a late evening, our school group is sort of all in the identical boat and may now not sleep previous 7 a.m. This labored out nicely as a result of we had been ready to hang around within the second flooring lounge space in our pajamas and sip lodge espresso and ease into the day collectively. Finally a DM from considered one of you on Instagram led us to Maple & Batter in Bay Harbor for a festive Valentine’s Day brunch. The restaurant had stay music, a purple and pink balloon arch, an extended wait (to be anticipated with a big group) and good meals!
Brunch took most of our morning however we nonetheless had a little bit time to discover and headed into Harbor Springs the place we in a short time discovered the city all however shuts down throughout the winter months. The overwhelming majority of the retailers alongside Primary Avenue had been closed for the season however I did handle to nab an apple fritter the dimensions of my face from Johan’s Pastry Store so all was not misplaced.
The shuttle for the marriage was set to choose lodge friends attending the marriage up at 2:20 p.m. and a little bit after 1:30 p.m., all of us figured we should always prepare. The marriage wasn’t black tie but it surely was a little bit fancier than cocktail apparel which made it loads of enjoyable, as all of us wore lengthy clothes and pretend furs to fight the Northern Michigan chill.
(Wedding ceremony outfit particulars all linked right here! Particular shout out to my footwear as a result of I by no means felt the necessity to take them off even as soon as after hours of dancing!)
The marriage ceremony started at 3 p.m. on the most lovely snow-covered church on the finish of Primary Avenue.
Watching Ashely stroll down the aisle had me in years figuring out how deeply in love she is along with her husband. Sean and Ashley at present stay in San Diego and started relationship a 12 months in the past after reuniting greater than a decade after they initially met in Chicago. Our group hasn’t had the chance to get to know Sean in addition to we’d like (dang lengthy distance friendships!!) but it surely grew to become so manifestly apparent Ashley is marrying a beautiful man and gaining one heck of a beautiful household as we spent extra time with Sean and his crew all through the weekend.
(Photograph credit score:Stephanie Baker Images)
Shuttles took friends to Birchwood Nation Membership the place we loved a scrumptious dinner (my flank steak was implausible!), cake, drinks and much and many dancing to a stay band.
We had the very best time and I’m satisfied there’s not a lot better than laughing till your abdomen hurts, dancing your face off and spending time with pals you’ve had for greater than twenty years.
Sunday
Sunday morning got here a little bit too rapidly, however fortunately nobody had tremendous early flights so we had been in a position to reconvene within the lodge foyer with espresso in hand and rehash the shenanigans of the evening earlier than… one other considered one of my very favourite issues to do with my pals.
Finally all of us stated our goodbyes and Ryan and I made the haul again to Traverse Metropolis to catch a flight to Detroit earlier than heading onto Las Vegas. Flight choices had been slim so we had a somewhat lengthy layover in Detroit (4 hours) however we walked lots across the terminal and grabbed a good dinner earlier than catching our 5 p.m. flight.
The time change labored in our favor, fortunately, and we arrived in Las Vegas a little bit after 7 p.m. (10 p.m. Charlotte time) and hauled our butts to our lodge the place we had about quarter-hour to rapidly change and all however dash to the Sphere earlier than the Backstreet Boys live performance started.
We made it with a couple of minutes to spare and joined a handful of Ryan’s coworkers for the live performance! (Ryan has a piece convention in Vegas this week which is how this entire concept happened! When you’ve gotten childcare protection, ya profit from it!)
The live performance was implausible and equal components enjoyable and nostalgic. It’s mainly not possible to be a millennial and never know the phrases to a ton of Backstreet Boys songs and all of us sang our hearts out and leaned into our internal teenage selves whereas donning our BSB whites!
On our flight to Vegas, Ryan and I had been pretty sure we’d be face planting in mattress instantly after the live performance however once you’re in Vegas, all idea of time flies out the window and we discovered ourselves dancing up a storm at a membership for just a few hours earlier than In-N-Out Burger referred to as to us simply earlier than 2 a.m. (5 a.m. Charlotte time — who’re we!?!)
It was a blast and a half of a weekend and although I arrived house feeling like a little bit of a zombie, I’d do all of it once more in a heartbeat. Getting away simply the 2 of us is a uncommon however great factor and we’re so, so grateful to my dad and mom for serving to make it occur. Now it’s again to realityyy!
