One of my favorite parts about living in Michigan is getting to experience all four seasons. Each brings their own unique beauty and variety of activities to the area. This winter I've made it a goal of mine to opt outside as much as possible so I was very excited for the opportunity to be a tourist in my town and create my own winter bucket list in Southwest Michigan.

Whether its snowboarding down a sand dune, sipping wine in an igloo, or attending a local festival, there is so much fun to be had in Southwest Michigan during the snowy season. Read on to discover the best ways to enjoy a winter weekend of your own.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. ​

Did you know Southwest Michigan is one of five American Viticulture Areas in Michigan? The sloping terrain along the lakeshore, mild temperatures and variety of soils make it the perfect location for growing grapes and other fruits that serve as the inspiration for a vast array of award winning wines. In fact, our growing season has been compared to noteworthy destinations such as Bordeaux, France and Piedmont, Italy. 

​With more than 22 wineries dotting the landscape along the Maker's Trail, you can easily enjoy an afternoon or an entire weekend with a glass in hand. In fact, the winter months offer an entirely new experience featuring more secluded tasting rooms, mulled wine options, and a variety of experiences that are unique to the snowy season. Read on to discover three of my favorite winter winery experiences. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 
​

Hi, name is Jessica and I have a self-diagnosed case of flight anxiety. This may seem strange coming from a travel blogger whose passion in life is to travel as much as possible. But hear me out for a second. It's not the flying itself that is the source of my anxiety - in fact stepping foot on the plane is my favorite part. It's all the other aspects of flying that I worry about.

How on earth do I get to terminal XYZ? Am I at the right gate? Do I have my passport (after checking my bag 154 times)? What if my bag doesn't make it on the plane? Am I going to have enough time to make it through security? And the list goes on and on...

My hubby, bless his heart, is the flight master. When we travel together he handles all aspects of navigating the airport and I literally just follow him around and he always gets us to where we need to be. And while I SO appreciate his guidance in this area of our marriage, I do frequently travel without him and have to figure it all out on my own.

Over the years I've gotten much better at preparing myself in advance so I can eliminate as many variables as possible. Whether it's your first time flying, or you're just an over thinker like me, these 8 tips are designed to help you have a foolproof flight experience from start to finish.

"People don't notice if it's winter or summer when they're happy." -Anton Chekhov

I've recently decided to make this my new life motto. Living in Michigan all my life, I've experienced my fair share of winters and trust me, they can be brutal. I used to spend my days counting down until the summer sun was back again but there really is so much beauty (and fun) to be had in the snowy season!

I had the opportunity to pack my bags and hit the road to head north to one of my favorite Michigan towns, Petoskey, for an ultimate winter weekend getaway. We spent three days packed full of good food, wine, adventure, and even some fresh snow.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Petoskey Area Visitor's Bureau. The itinerary was created by me based on personal research and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

You know those destinations that instantly steal a piece of your heart and you know right away you'll be back again and again? That is Hawaii for us.

We visited the islands of Oahu and Maui for the first time in August 2017 while on our honeymoon. After 10 days of living the island life we were head over heels in love and knew we would be back sooner rather than later. So we started saving and planning and in February 2019 we visited Kauai for the first time and returned to Maui (our personal favorite). 

In the months that followed as I've been talking to people about our trips and love for the Aloha state I've heard a lot of comments such as "Isn't Hawaii so expensive?!" and "You're went twice in two years..how can you afford that?" It was those types of comments that sparked the idea for this post and I'm excited to share some of the tips and tricks we use to save extra money for traveling. Now, keep in mind, this is certainly not an all-encompassing list. My husband and I are both blessed with great careers and are currently living the DINK (dual income no kids) lifestyle so we automatically have a bit more disposable income than others in different situations might.

With that being said, YES Hawaii is a more expensive than most other vacation destinations in the U.S. and may not be feasible for everyone. But wherever you're planning to travel, whether it's the trip you've been dreaming about for years, or simply a weekend getaway in your home state, I hope you can take away at least one or two tips from this list to help you save for your next adventure and make it a reality. 

"The fondest memories are made gathered around the table."

Food has such a special way of bringing people together and helping us to appreciate the land around us. Granor Farm, located in Three Oaks, Michigan, was founded in 2006 with a commitment to creating an environment respectful of the land they cultivate, the products they grow, and the local community they serve. In addition to growing and selling certified organic produce, farm operations also include organic berries, cut flowers, pasture-raised eggs, and grains.

Throughout the year, Granor Farm also hosts Taste of Granor farmhouse dinners designed to connect people to the farm and the food they grow. The dinners are a multi-course, family-style meal featuring produce and grains grown by Granor Farm as well as meats, cheeses, and fruits from other farms in the area. I recently had the opportunity to attend one of the winter farmhouse dinners and it was truly an experience I won't forget.

Disclosure: Granor Farm hosted myself and a guest for the Taste of Granor dinner. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you have someone on your shopping list who loves to travel or is always on the go? Or maybe you're just at a loss of what to buy that person who seems to have everything. Over the years I've acquired a list of go-to items which make traveling SO much easier and I'm excited to share them with you. Many of the items on this list I personally own and have used on my own trips - except for a few that ended up on my wish list this year!

From travel gear, to accessories, and even some go to travel OOTD I hope you find something on this list that will make the adventurer in your life very happy this holiday season. I'd also love to hear your suggestions for travel items you can't live without in the comments below.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I am a warm weather girl through and through but there is just something about the holiday season that I can't get enough of. The lights, the decorations, the carols, the traditions, and of course the cute cold weather accessories!

Each year, as the holiday season rolls around I become giddy as I wait for all the magic to unfold. One of my favorite traditions is traveling up to Grand Rapids to visit my sister as we pack in as many festive adventures as we can in one day. Below are some of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season in the city. 

In the words of Taylor Swift, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake (and stir..). Okay, I may have revised that a bit after attending Round Barn's new Shake and Stir Workshop, but c'mon can you blame me? Round Barn has long been one of my favorite stops along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail offering lively entertainment and delicious wine, beer and spirits on the Estate grounds which is also home to the iconic 1912 Amish Round Barn. In addition to traditional wine tasting, Round Barn has recently added a new hands on experience for visitors. During their Shake and Stir Workshop you'll have the opportunity to shake and stir three different craft cocktails made with Round Barn Spirits and take home some delicious recipes so you can make your own cocktails at home.

​Try something new for date night or belly up to the bar with a group of up to 16 people for this 60-minute masterclass. The class is held on Saturdays and Sundays and can be booked online. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Round Barn. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

When it comes to packing for a trip - you either love it or hate it. Some people thrive on trying to cram as many perfectly folded outfits into their suitcase, all of which have been planned out for the corresponding days of their trip. While others find themselves throwing whatever is clean into a bag last minute. Whichever side of the spectrum you fall on, I am so excited to share one of my new favorite travel products that will help you pack smarter and make the most of any size space. 

Tripped Travel Gear compression packing cubes are especially useful for organizing outfits in a suitcase and minimizing your clothes to fit inside a backpack. You can separate the cubes by different outfits or easily pack away bulky clothing like raincoats/heavier jackets that are not used as often. Take advantage of empty cubes to pack dirty laundry in and keep your suitcase or backpack organized.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Tripped Travel Gear. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

​