Life Lately in July: Drummond Island, Paddle for Pints, Camping on the Georgian Bay

Taking a break from the food today to share what happened in July!

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I am sure I have mentioned this before, but this summer has got to be one of the busiest I’ve ever had. Between showers, weddings and summer vacations, there isn’t much time to slow down and take it all in. I feel like summertime gets busy for people because you try to make the most out of the nicer weather – especially in Michigan. The older I’ve gotten the more I realized just how precious our Midwest summers are.

I have mentioned tidbits of what has been happening this summer, but I thought it would fund to share some pictures with you all of what’s been happening this summer in July.

Drummond Island

We started off July up north in the Upper Peninsula (UP for short if you’re a Michigander) on Drummond Island with Drew’s family. They go white fishing there pretty much every summer and it is a lot of fun! I was never much of a fisherwoman until I started dating Drew 😉 Last year we brought my little sister, Tori, and she actually loves fishing. Like, a lot. I am not as enthused about it as she is, but either way it is a good time.

Truly, I just love being out on the water. Does anyone else know what I mean? 

this recipe

And copious amounts of s’mores 🙂

Paddle for Pints in TC

So Drew and I visited Traverse City (TC) for the first time together in May to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary, where we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes. The weekend after the fourth of July holiday and visiting the UP, we were right back up north visiting TC again, this time for Paddle for Pints – a local brewery tour via kayak. It was pretty darn fun! Our only complaint was that they didn’t give any discounts on the drinks at the breweries. And I say “complaint” because the tickets aren’t really cheap, so you’d expect to get at least a dollar discount or something at the pubs. BUT, it is a really awesome time and the Paddle for Pints crew did a great job. And it was nice to get away with friends and do something different!

And then we ended our paddle (pints) with some ice cream from Milk and Honey in downtown TC…

Camping on the Georgian Bay

A couple of weekends later Drew and I are back on the road, this time heading for good ole Ontario, CANADA to go camping with my family on the Georgian Bay. I look forward to this trip every year. And while I missed last year, nothing really changed, as I expected. The people are still there, the sunsets, the campfires… OH, the park did get new flush toilets though. Before the toilets were push pedals. And before that they were holes in the ground… Well that was like 20 years ago. Exciting times for us campers.

We didn’t have the best weather there for the week we were there, mostly rain and overcast with a couple of sunny days in between, but we made the most of it!

Drew took my little brother and sister fishing.

And I bought a fun unicorn floatie and avocado to play with on the beach. Best purchase of my life. Tori wanted to be on the blog so I said she could if she took a picture with me. True story. 

OH. My Canadian Bestie (pictured to my right below) got ENGAGED while we were there! Her fiance surprised everyone with a proposal during the sunset. I was actually taking photos for them. I was approaching them to hand back my friend her phone and then next thing I know her BF is getting down on one knee and I just started shuffling backwards whispering, “OMG. OMG. I’m gonna cry.” And then got myself together and took more photos for them. But it was perfect. So excited for them!

And then just like that our week camping was over.

I actually get really sad when we have to leave. I just can’t help it. We only really see most of our camping family once a year. And the place just means so much to me and my family.

And now it is August and I am like, “Okay, now is REALLY the time to just sloowwwww down.”

I am going to do my darnedest to be more present this month and try not to let this month go by too quickly!

What was your favorite part of July or this summer so far?