Blog – jaime lyn

Charlevoix, Pt. 2: True North, The Salad Fork, & Cherry Republic

Happy Weekend! I’m happy many of you enjoyed my post earlier this week on my visit to That French Place and Bloom Floral Design in Charlevoix, MI. If you missed it, you can read it here. I had a few more places I visited up north last weekend that I wanted to share with you all before I move along to other blog topics… I hope you don’t mind! I love passing along great places to shop for your home; places in my local area and ones I find on my travels. Today I’m sharing about True North Interior Design and Antiques shop, The Salad Fork, and Cherry Republic, all in Charlevoix…and all on Van Pelt Alley…

True North Interior Design and Antiques

This husband and wife owned design & antique shop has been on my “go-to-boutique-places-to-shop” list (it’s kind of a quirk of mine that I keep such lists) all winter long! I couldn’t wait to get back up to Charlevoix this summer to visit this unique shop, and it was worth the wait! So many beautiful antique and new vintage-inspired treasures are found here in this inviting, cozy shop; one of those stores you just want to snuggle in at because it’s too pretty to leave. I gain a lot of inspiration for my Heirloom Grove Home Market when I visit shops like this… how they curate their space, stage pieces, and create a haven of beauty for their customers to enjoy. Take a little peek inside True North below… I get the feeling this shop is always changing things up, so I’ll be visiting every time I am in Charlevoix. They are open Monday – Saturday 10-5pm, and located at 108 Van Pelt Pl, Charlevoix, MI & be sure to give them a follow on Facebook here.

Honestly…. can I just move into this space and call it “HOME?”

I love their natural shiplap walls…
what a pretty backdrop to display all of their unique pieces.

Their back room houses more of their architectural pieces.. if you are looking for old doors, columns, banisters, windows, corbels…to add real architectural interest to your space, don’t miss this area of the shop.

Really enjoying Van Pelt Alley… Time for a snack at The Salad Fork…

The Salad Fork

Next stop we visited in Van Pelt Alley was The Salad Fork… my girls had to try their new Acai smoothie Bowls… and they were so yummy and the perfect afternoon snack for us while we shopped downtown Charlevoix. This little eatery makes made-to-order salads, avocado toast and new specialty acai bowls… that are so, so good you guys! They are housed at 217 Bridge Street, Suite B in Charlevoix (right down from True North, and next to Cherry Republic) and are open 9am-8pm Monday thru Saturday… if you visit Charlevoix this summer, check. them. out! & give them a Facebook follow here.

I have yet to try the Acacado Toast….but I’ll let you know on my
Instagram Stories how it is when I do!

Any shop that “hand letters” their menu is kind of a true sign that these are my people and a place I am going to enjoy eating at!

OMGoodness! So So good and you know you’re eating healthy so it makes it
*reall*y enjoyable too!

When you visit… grab one of these little fill-in menus…one for Salads, and one for Acai Bowls.. decide on your toppings and turn it in & they’ll whip it up for you within minutes.

We ate right here in the cute little tables outside The Salad Fork, in the alley.
This is the time of day during our shopping that we need to a little break…
the big girls are hungry,
and the little one begins to get tired..

Our final stop in Van Pelt Alley… Cherry Republic!

Cherry Republic

Okay… if you aren’t familiar with Cherry Republic, this will be a real treat for you… like if you were there, literally a real treat! Everything is cherry.. cherry candies, cherry jams, cherry salsa, cherry pop, beer… and wait for it..cherry wine!… I could stop right there, because cherry wine would have done it for me. It is amazing what they have to offer, and so nice that they have little samples set out everywhere (even a little tasting bar for the wines) so you can try out what you enjoy, before you buy. Cherry Republic is a favorite stop of my family’s as we stock up on all things we love when we visit, for our boat and home pantry. It is all sooo good! Northern Michigan is known for their cherries and you can find a Cherry Republic in not only Charlevoix, but also in Glen Arbor, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Frankenmuth, and Holland.. all beautiful places to visit while in Michigan! Follow Cherry Republic on Facebook here and take a little closer look that I captured for you at their Charlevoix store…

These are wonderful gift ideas too… make an assortment basket of Cherry Republic items for an anniversary, wedding, or Christmas gifts and your recipients will enjoy everything!

On the boat enjoying my cherry wine and white chocolate covered cherries…
(Is it an accident that 1/2 of my photos of Cherry Republic include their cherry wine?….
no friends, that’s not an accident.. 😉

I hope you enjoyed a little sneak peek into a few more places I enjoy visiting while in Charlevoix. I’ll be sure to share more of these shopping and eating gems as I travel… and more of Charlevoix on Instagram as I am there visiting. There are some other great shops and places to dine there and their Venetian Festival in late July is a great time!… I’ll share more on Instagram Stories in the future!

I hope you have a great weekend…it’s rainy here in Michigan today, so even though I’d love to curl up with a good book, I have some weekend to-do list things that needs done!

What’s to Come on Jaime Lyn Life by Design…

I’m looking forward to carving out more time to devote to my blog this summer…I truly enjoy sharing with you here! I’ve been in a bit of a remodeling and redecorating phase in my home, and I’d like to share some of that journey with you, as well as other areas of my home, my travels, and more fun design and lifestyle things you might find inspiring. Please comment on what you’d love to see.. I’d love to hear!

Until next time, thank you so much for visiting my blog today, it means so much to me! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and sign up for my Email updates so you never miss a post. I would love for you to check out my Heirloom Grove Home Market too here on the web!

Have a great day friends!

June 1, 2019 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle, Travel

Magnolia Table

Hello all! It has been a minute since I was in Waco, TX staying at the Magnolia House (you can see that post here) and visited all there is to do at Magnolia Market at The Silos (that post coming soon!) but I still have even more to share with you from my trip! Today, let me take you back to my visit to the Magnolia Table!

If you do not yet know the story behind the Magnolia Table, Chip and Joanna Gaines purchased this vacated property previously known as the Elite, an iconic generations-old diner in Waco, and renovated and reopened it as their own in 2018, calling it the Magnolia Table. Chip and Joanna documented the revival of this iconic location’s renovation in one of their Fixer Upper episodes (you can watch here.)

The Magnolia Table has a feel-good, come-on-in-for-breakfast-y’all-feel, designed with the Gaines’ signature farmhouse style of shiplap, subway tile, black accents, farmhouse tables and chairs, and other welcoming touches… and all of this before you even see the menu…

And then onto the menu and the the food.. oh my gawd….. the food is so good! We started out our breakfast with a slider of juices, then we ordered up their lemon sugar doughnut holes.. melt in your mouth good, followed by our breakfast entrees. Both my husband and I’s meals were delicious, generously proportioned, and sooo full(filling!) When you visit, make sure you order some of Joanna’s biscuits.. so delicious covered with sausage gravy or spread with their homemade flavored, whipped butters. Just yum!!

I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time, because especially during their busy months, you may have to wait a bit for a table. The Magnolia Table serves from 7am to 3pm Monday thru Saturday. When you arrive, after putting your name on the wait list or checking in for your reservation, you can enjoy the covered outdoor patio area, and order up a coffee or pastry to enjoy while you wait. For our visit, we stayed at the Magnolia House, so the property manager had already pre-reserved us a 10:00 am reservation so we had our table within minutes (another great perk to staying in one of their properties) but the patio area is so festive and fun, even if you do have to wait, it is a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Before you leave, make sure to visit the Take Away market, a quaint little to-go shop attached right next to the diner.. grab lunch to go, a beverage for the road, or any Magnolia Table merchandise for your memories.

You must include the Magnolia Table in your trip plans when you visit Waco for the full Magnolia experience. They are located at 2132 S. Valley Mills Dr, in Waco… about a 10 minute drive from the Silos. Start your day out here before heading to Magnolia Market, as you’ll need a full belly of food and energy to take in all there is to see and shop at the Silos!

I hope you enjoyed my recap of The Magnolia Table! See more of my trip, first with my stay at the iconic Magnolia House here, and more of my Magnolia trip that I’ll be sharing to my Blog soon!..so keep a look out for those posts!

March 27, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle

Almost Up North, Clare MI

Recently my daughters and I had the opportunity to visit the most quaint shop in downtown Clare, Michigan called Almost Up North. This unique shop is filled with local Michigan made products, unique jewelry, home decor, gifts, gourmet goods, fresh succulents, high quality clothing and accessories, and embroidered merchandise created by it’s own sister store located right next door, Stitches for Britches.

Almost Up North opened it’s doors only a couple years ago when owner Stephanie Boudour and her daughter, Shelby, expanded their embroidery and screen printing shop. They renovated the adjacent space next door to create their unique boutique of Michigan made treasures, and other timeless pieces for guests to shop while visiting Clare or just passing through town on their way to further northbound destinations.

Almost Up North has a timeless, welcoming vibe, filled with feel-good items that shoppers can not resist. My daughters ended up snagging some adorable pieces…a couple signature Almost Up North beenie hats, craft made soaps, two adorable potted succulents (they now consider themselves “plant moms”) and I grabbed some gourmet goods… the blueberry salsa is Amazing! We were excited too, to see our very own Michigan-made brand of body and wellness products on display, as Almost Up North is now a new Retailer for our Heirloom Grove CBD brand!

Almost Up North is located at 120 W. 4th St in Clare MI, and is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. You can visit and shop their website and learn more about their store & unique story on their website here. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram too, to see all they are currently carrying.

I recommend you stop by and give this quaint shop and small business owners some love… especially this weekend for the Irish Festival… there may be a little less celebration in town this year, but that doesn’t mean visitors can’t still stop in and support some of these local small businesses who thrive and survive on their annual festival weekends. The Irish Festival runs from March 11 thru March 17th this year, 2021 and you can learn more about this year’s events here.

We just loved our visit to this shop, and made a girls afternoon of it…There are also other desirable boutique shops in town and nice places to eat for lunch or dinner too… Make a day of it and enjoy all there is to offer in Clare! A big thank you to Almost Up North for their hospitality and memorable visit!

Until next time, friends!

March 12, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle

Think Spring – Shop my Amazon!

After all of the crazy winter weather our country has been experiencing from Texas to all corners of the US, I think it’s safe to say we are ALL ready for the Spring season! It is this time of year in Michigan when the days seem to be getting a little longer, and the sun is trying so hard to peek out, that I really begin craving Spring… to see the snow begin to melt away, the trees start to bud, and the tulips unearth into to their full glory… Spring will be here before we know it, I can just feel it! In that spirit, I am sharing some pretty Spring items in my Jaime Lyn Amazon Shop today… everything from Spring and Easter home decor, to Spring inspired fashion and accessories, to gardening tools, to other fabulous pretty pastel pieces… all for you to enjoy in this next season. Shop ALL of these items and more at my Amazon Shop, under “Think Spring”…I’m always adding to my shop, so make sure you follow me there on Amazon, so you can always see the latest products I’ve prepared for you to browse and shop…

To easily Shop each item above individually, use the links below…

I hope you found some pretty Spring pieces to help your spirit ‘spring’ into the new season! Make sure you are signed up for my Email list here on my website, so you always see my new posts!

And before you go… did you see my last post about my stay at the Magnolia House in Waco, Texas?!… if not, you can read it here.

Also, have you followed me on Instagram?… I share more daily inspiration from my own home, life & style there.. I’d love for you to follow me!

Have a blessed week, friends!

Blessings,

February 23, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

Our Stay at the Magnolia House

Hi all, I hope everyone is staying well and healthy! I am back home to cold and blustery Michigan from my quick trip to Magnolia in Waco, Texas this last week. My husband and I went out because I happened to come across availability at The Magnolia House in McGregor, TX… one of Chip & Joanna Gaines’ bed & breakfast homes they filmed on Fixer Upper… they have 3 of these vacation rentals available for guests to stay in, but the Magnolia House has always been by far, my favorite! so when I came upon the 2 nights available in the first week of February, I jumped on it. I had been wanting to go back to Magnolia since my first trip in 2018, to see all the new & recent additions they have built at the Silos, but I knew I wanted to wait until I had the opportunity to stay at The Magnolia House when I went again.. so all worked out perfectly and it was fate! 😉 Once my trip was booked, I also scheduled a few business meetings for my Heirloom Grove business, so my trip ended up being a little work & a little play vaca!

We arrived to Waco and the house was not quite ready yet, so we drove around and found where Chip and Joanna and their family live, and also where President George W. Bush is retired, which was not too far away… obviously we could not get too close to either of their homesteads, but it was really fun to see where they each call ‘home.’

When we were finally able to check into the Magnolia House, I was just a little excited…(if you follow me on my Instagram, you can see my reaction in my highlight stories when I walked in the door…) The best way I can describe my experience, is the equivalent if I had told my 8 year old daughter she could sleep in Cinderella’s castle in Disney World for two nights.. this was my Disney World y’all!

Yes, I am a Fixer Upper fan… it comes from my shared love of their cozy, farmhouse, family-oriented, timeless style they bring to their redo’s, and the relate-ability I feel watching their husband/ wife dynamic of not only living and raising a family together, but also working together day in and day out on their shared passions and business. I am always so inspired by their work ethic, creativity, and values, and feel even more inspired when I visit Magnolia!

So… let’s get into the details of this beautiful Magnolia House… first, how do you go about booking it? I booked right on their Magnolia website… it shows availability and all of the varied rates (weekday, weekends) and the specifics of each of their three vacation homes – how many bathrooms, how many the houses sleep, etc… The whole house was furnished with everything we could possibly need.. from washing machine to coffee creamer and everything in between. We had a property manager who was an absolute gem to work with… she emailed me a few times before our stay, and texted me throughout our stay, making sure we were accommodated with everything we needed… such hospitality!

I would love to describe the house in detail, and hopefully you’ve all seen the episode when they fix this house up on the show, and their folks all come over for a holiday dinner… if you haven’t seen that episode, you can download & watch it here (I watched it again, while IN the house….and talk about surreal!!) Instead of describing the house room by room, in detail, I know pictures are worth a thousand words, and so I literally walked the house for over an hour and took so many pictures for you all… I will just say this quickly to describe the house…. shiplap, shiplap, & more shiplap, natural wood floors, black iron, subway tile, cement countertops, architectural corbels, antique furnishings & light fixtures, textiles, and the most layered compfy bedding you’ll ever sleep in… for the rest, take a look for yourself and oooh and ahhh as you scroll along…

The house was an absolute joy to stay in… so homey, and I just felt like I should pinch myself the entire time I was there to make sure I was really staying there. The house had a porch on every side of the house, and the whole property was cared for immaculately. The house is actually in McGregor, a quiet little town, which is about 25 minutes from Waco.. and actually, one of the other vacation homes they own and rent out, The Carriage House, is a stone’s throw away from the Magnolia House, in it’s backyard… we lucked out royally when the group of ladies who were staying for the same 2 days as us in The Carriage House, happened to arrive at the same time as we did…. so of course, we swapped houses for a half hour or so, so we could each tour both houses.. I will share my glimpse into The Carriage House in a future post… but it was such a sweet surprise to get the chance to see inside The Carriage House as well, what a dream!

You can see The Carriage House in the back…

Our first night, my husband and I were whipped from traveling and I couldn’t bring myself to leave the house, so we went to the local grocery store and picked up some appetizer finger foods and some great wine and made ourselves an easy dinner at home… let me just say, preparing food in Joanna’s kitchen was an experience in and of itself… I think I giggled the whole time… we then snuggled up in the living room and watched a few episodes of Fixer Upper (because it just seemed appropriate and all their episodes happened to be organized and stored in a digital DVR folder they provide for their guests…seriously, they think of everything!)

The next day my hubby and I did venture out for the day, starting first at Magnolia Table for a 10 am reservation they provide their house guests (the ‘breakfast’ portion of their bed & breakfast) and then we hit the Silos to check out the Magnolia Market at the Silos, Silos Baking Co, Magnolia Seed & Supply Co., the iconic food trucks, and all that is new at Magnolia… the Shops at Magnolia, the beautiful church, woofle ball field, Magnolia Press Coffee Shop, and the Magnolia Home furniture store (which I completely forgot was new there too… so that was a welcome surprise!) I will blog about all of these areas to experience at the Silos, in a near future blog post… so stay tuned for that. I had been to Magnolia before in 2018, so I’d already seen half of the complex… but if you are going for the first time I’d give yourself 2 days at Magnolia so you can really relax and take it all in without feeling rushed… and another day or two as well to take in all else there is to shop and see in Waco.. if I had had another day of my trip, I would have spent an entire day just relaxing at home in the house! I’ll share about all the places to shop, dine, and stay in Waco too, in a future post… soon!

I hope you enjoyed this post about my stay at the Magnolia House, a bucket list experience for me, for sure!! If you are interested in staying here, or any of their other Magnolia-owned Fixer Upper vacation rentals… check out their booking informations here, and plan your trip!…. a romantic getaway, or split the cost with a group of friends or family for a fun girls trip or couples getaway!!… you will be so glad you did!

I’ll be in touch with more about Magnolia at the Silos, and other things to do in Waco, and my sneak peek at The Carriage House.. all in future posts…so make sure you are signed up for my Email list so you don’t miss any of my new posts! …. oh 😉 and I am going to be doing some Magnolia Giveaways soon – on my Instagram, and one special one just for my Email list followers! Stay tuned! Until then, message me or comment below if you have any questions about the Magnolia House or my trip.. I’d be so happy to help you as you plan your fun trip to Waco!

Happy Travels, friends!

Blessings,

February 7, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | 0 comments

Lifestyle

Planning Tips for the Year

Hi friends, I hope you are enjoying your new year so far! If you were like me, you began making plans for 2021 the minute you watched the ball drop at midnight… travel plans, new year resolutions, personal and professional goals you’ve set for yourself… Having plans is a great thing! They help us focus our time and energy effectively on achieving what we aspire to do, and it give us something to be excited about for all that is to come. I have always found that the more time I allow myself to ‘plan’, the smoother my life goes, the more I achieve, and the more I enjoy my productive time and down time. While no plan is fool-proof and we must stay flexible to change, and open to spontanaety too, I really believe that the mantra (my mom always told me) that”failing to plan, is planning to fail” really does hold true in our day to day lives.

Today I thought I’d share some ways I plan in my own life as we continue moving into this new year… ways that help me to multi-task and manage my family, businesses and home. As we can all relate, the juggle struggle is real… so any ways that we can make life easier on ourselves, the better!

Use a Planner!

I am a huge proponent of using a Planner… and I spend a bit of time each year selecting which planner to use because the book means so dang much to me… it is my bible of sorts as I use it to keep track of literally everything and everyone in my life.. schedules, appointments, work deadlines, special occasions, trip details… everything! When I have a lot going on it can be therapeutic even, to get everything off of my mind and down on paper, organized in one consistent place… my saving grace.

Target has a wide selection of tried-and-true planners I love, and I have used Erin Condren planners as well and love hers! But this year I tried a new planner by Paper Panduh and am loving it! The soft colors, subtle graphics, pretty fonts, and weekly layout design all spoke to me. I like that there is a bit of space next to the typical lines for me to get a little creative if I have time… using stickers or having space to write more notes. I am a visual person and like to pretty things up, plus I keep all my planners for years to come, as I like to think one day I’ll be in my 80s, rocking quietly in my granny chair looking back thru all of my old planners, remembering the years of my life (& wondering how the heck I did it all some 40 years earlier)… and I’ll want the books to be pretty… so I kind of do it for my future 80 year old self too.. 😉

Lists!

I take list-making to the extreme probably… just ask my husband… he LOVES getting lists from me. But I picked up this trait from my own mom and can say for certain this organizational genetic trait has definitely been passed down to my daughters… as they list out everything!… So let’s break down my list-making habit a bit further…

Daily Lists…

Each morning I start my day either at my work office desk or my home office on the weekends, with a cup of coffee and a blank piece of notepad paper to write out all my list of to-dos for the day… emails and calls I need to make, work-related tasks I have to complete, meetings I may have… all the way through to evening with kids activities, home chores… you get the drift. As the day goes along, I satisfactorally (is that a word?) cross things off…and what is not crossed off, I carry over to the next morning’s list. These daily lists keep me on task with what is priority, and helps me not forget anything major, and stay productive all day long. One word to the wise though… don’t over-list yourself, because it can feel very disappointing when you only complete half a list because what you planned to accomplish in one day would realistically take 3 days to get all done…so be practical and patient with yourself.

These pretty lists are designed by my daughters and I’s company, Kai Kai Brai – you can shop them *here!*

A Journal of Master Lists…

So this may seem like taking list making to the extreme but I find it really helpful to keep a journal of all my bigger project lists in one centralized notebook. I take a Journal and divide out all of these major parts of my life into ‘categories’ of sorts… so I have a few pages dedicated to each business I own and run, a few pages for family things, a few pages for home projects, etc. Then, when I think of something that needs done…. like, schedule my son’s senior pictures (cue mom’s-ugly-cry)… I write that down under the family pages… if I remember I need to call the pool company to open up the pool in the Spring, I write that under the ‘home project’ pages… that way I don’t have 3000 random things wrote down from work, to kids, to home all mixed in on one overwhelming, never-ending list, but rather strategically placed in their proper categorized lists… (Did I mention I am type-A??… moving on)…

I’ve used plain-jane college-ruled notebooks for this, and I’ve used pretty journals, or even the back notes section of my yearly planner works well too… I do find that the prettier, the better and the more apt I am to use it – kind of like when you have cute work-out clothes, it encourages you to actually want to put them on… and work out… it’s a bit of mind-trickery, but it works!

Set Tasks for Set Days

Another planning strategy that is really helpful for me, is I set certain tasks for certain days each week. For example, I do laundry on Sundays and Monday nights.. I wash my car on Fridays, I have a cleaner who comes to my home every-other Thursday, so I pre-clean my house on Wednesday nights (this… this is something I should work on…why do I pre-clean my house before a cleaner comes?… because I don’t want my cleaner to see my house dirty… everyone has their quirks) 😉 moving on… Planning for the same tasks on the same days/nights (within reason when things come up) is helpful for those of us who are creatures of habit and like schedules.. and it can lessen the burden too as you come upon things that you see needs done… like walking past a huge pile of laundry on a busy Thursday night… instead of feeling overwhelmed that I should be doing that pile of laundry right at that moment… my mind’s eye just remembers – oh, that task isn’t for me to tackle until Sunday…

Meal Planning

If there is one thing I have realized is a never-ending responsibility of mine… is that my family needs fed… like every day… multiple times a day… forever. I decided for my own sanity, to break it down in this way… Sundays is a big family brunch or dinner. Mondays – I cook a meal at home. Tuesdays – I cook another meal at home. Wednesdays – I put dinner in the crock pot in the morning so it’s ready for a busy night. Thursday is leftovers night (or very easy dinner (tomato soup & grilled cheese… cereal… let’s be real.. we all do it!) because by Thursday nights I am tired and over it! Fridays we eat out or order in, to celebrate the week!… and Saturdays are simple Saturdays (or fend-for-yourself… aka – mom’s got the day off!) Each morning before I walk out the door, I look at what I have planned for dinner that night and do any prep that needs done hours beforehand… like get meat out to unthaw, marinate, or prep the crock pot… when I get home that night, I am ready to cook!

I meal plan for 2 weeks worth of dinners and only get groceries every/other week (twice a month), with the occasional stop for bread and milk on the off-weeks… I keep my meal planning lists on my phone’s Notes page, because that’s where I also keep my running grocery list (as my phone is always on me and I remember things we need at the most random times and places.)

A Few Other Tips

Those are the key points of my daily and weekly planning tips. A few other things I do, is in January I make all the annual doctor and dentist appointments for my family for the year, book our travel destinations or at least plan for which weeks we are going to travel, and decide which house projects we are going to tackle for the year.. and then write them all down on their respective lists and in my planner… 😉 My only other recommendation is to have a “command central” space in your home… maybe that is a home office, an area of your bedroom, or a desk space in your kitchen, or even if you are tight on space, a portable canvas tote bin… some place where you can keep all the planning things of your life, together… school calendars, travel confirmations, notes, your lists, planner…

Some of this is pretty standard stuff friends, but sometimes it helps to create a system of sorts that works for you, that you can follow each day, week, and year as a guide to help yourself through life, staying organized, on track, accomplished, and well…sane.

I hope my planning tips were helpful for you! Like I said, I’d love to hear how you plan and organize your day-to-day as well… so comment on this post or feel free to message me!

Wishing you all a happy, fulfilling, beautiful year that energizes your spirit and brings peace to your soul!

Blessings,

January 28, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | 0 comments

Lifestyle, Travel

My Trip to Cape Coral, FL

Hi friends, I am not sure about you, but I can not believe we are already through half of our first month of 2021! I hope the new year is treating you well and there are days of hope and happiness in your year ahead. I just got home to Michigan on Monday from our two-week vacation to Cape Coral, Florida so this last week has been busy catching up on life. Before I got too far into the new year though, I wanted to share with you about our trip to Cape Coral to celebrate the new year… It proved to be the perfect time for our family to escape to warmer weather for some rest and relaxation as we wrapped up 2020 and welcomed in 2021!

If you have never been to Cape Coral Florida, it is a beautiful area in southwest Florida near Fort Myers with over 400 miles of canals that lead to the big water, allowing for countless beautiful homes to be ‘water-front’ properties. We rented a gorgeous home via VRBO, and stayed for two full weeks, from the end of December thru the first week and a half of January. Our home was a 4 bedroom, 3 bath in a quiet neighborhood with the gorgeous canal to the back of the house, nestled among other beautiful homes in the area. Key features were the screened-in pool, outdoor living and kitchen patio area, game room, office, living, kitchen, dining, and laundry room, and came equipped with every amenity we could possibly need for our stay.

We rented two vehicles (we have quite the crew to cart around) and also a boat so we were able to enjoy traveling the endless canals, do some fishing, and take in some day trips by water to Captiva and Sanibel Island where we watched dolphins, walked the beaches, and collected sea shells.

Our home was actually located very close to the Cape Harbour Marina, Restaurants and Shops so this proved ideal to be in short walking distance to enjoy nice dinners, boutique shopping, and the festive feel of the active marina as boats came in and went. I’d definitely recommend Rumrunners there, Fathoms Restaurant, and The French Press. Cape Harbour also has two towers of condos, so if you are not looking to rent an entire home for your stay, this would be a very nice alternative to enjoy this beautiful area of Cape Coral.

Another condo rental area I would highly recommend is the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village… this resort is gorgeous and equipped with restaurants and a spa. We enjoyed Pinchers, a lively and festive seafood dinner spot there at the Westin one evening, known for it’s fresh crab dishes… we devoured this appetizer (a whole meal literally!) to start our meal there.. everything was so delicious!

Other Restaurants besides Rumrunners, The French Press, Fathoms, and Pinchers we also dined at (or ordered in) were Duffy’s Sports Grill, Ford’s Garage, and Moretti’s Italian Grill.

I loved the location of Cape Coral, as it was far enough south that we could really embrace the warmest weather of the Florida climate, while nestled in a place that was a bit more low-key in terms of tourism, yet close enough to places like Sanibel and Captiva Islands to enjoy their beautiful waters and beaches, and also near Fort Myers’ busier, more touristy ocean-front appeal during our stay as well. Cape Coral was the perfect place for us to settle in and enjoy ‘life away from life’ for a couple of weeks, trading in our Michigan snow days for Florida’s palm trees, ocean views, and gorgeous sunsets.

Here’s a few more pictures from the home we stayed in and my family’s trip…

If you are thinking of visiting Cape Coral, or have questions on the particular home we rented…message me.. I’d be happy to give you more info, details, and insight!

I hope to share more of my 2021 travels with you on my blog this year…I already have a few more trips planned and I can’t wait! If you haven’t yet followed me on my social medias, or signed up for my newsletter…I’d love for you to do so today (links & sign-up here on my site) so we can stay in touch!

Happy Travels… & New Year, friends!

Xoxo, Jaime Lyn

January 17, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle

Valentine’s Day Ready from Amazon

Hi friends, I hope you have had an amazing start to your New Year! I have been enjoying the first couple of weeks in sunny Florida to ring in and begin 2021 and it has been… heaven… more on that trip in a future post. Today, I wanted to share with you some Valentine’s inspiration… because now that Christmas is over, it’s time to get Valentine’s ready! Shop these sweet pieces below I selected, and more on my Amazon Store under “Valentine’s Day.”

#1 Love Pillow Covers // If you follow me, you know my love for pillow covers… such a quick, versatile and affordable way to change up decor each season or holiday using the same pillow inserts and just changing up the decorative covers… they fold up and store away so easy too!

#2 Two Hearts One Love Sign // This cutie sign is a fun way to add a touch of Valentine’s to your home.. think bathroom vanity sink, table top, or a nice little add-in for a Valentine’s gift for the love in your life.

#3 Heart Banners // So many possibilities with these cute heart banners.. 4 total in each order. Perfect for party, to doll up your coffee bar or fireplace mantle, surprise your kiddos on Valentine’s morning with a hanging in their doorway, or to add a little heartfelt spirit to a candlelit dinner night at home on the special holiday.

#4 Prelit Heart Wreath // Take down those winter holiday wreaths and jazz up your front door or an interior door with this adorable red-berry heart wreath, pre-lit and ready to go…this is a ‘top seller!’

#5 Women’s Vday Tshirt // I am ordering this adorable top for the sweet day.. compfy, cute with a leopard print old car, roses & hearts?… Sold!

#6 Valentine Gnomes // Because… why not?! Gnomes are all the rage right now and these adorable little cuties will be a welcoming site in your home.. place them on a foyer table, dessert bar, or even on a Valentine’s Day table scape.

#7 Rose Gold Tableware Set // This set is classy, does not scream Valentine’s Day and can be used for other occasions too which is why I love it… and because rose gold is my spirit color right now. This will make a pretty in pink placed table scape for Valentine’s celebrations.

#8 Heart Waffle Maker // I saved the best for last with this one… because nothing tells your loved ones you really love them, than homemade waffles on Valentine’s morning. I actually always cook up a festive breakfast every Valentine’s complete with heart shaped pancakes (& now waffles), strawberries, whipped cream, heart sprinkles, strawberry milk, and it makes for a fun tradition each year for my family.

These are just a few ideas to prepare you for sweetening up your Valentine’s Day.. you can shop more of my Amazon Valentine picks on my Shop… visit it here!

Happy New Year friends!

Jaime Lyn

January 9, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle

Our Family Small Businesses

Happy Small Business Saturday! A day to really celebrate all of our small businesses and remind us to support these small businesses through the holiday season and into the coming year… if there was ever a year to really get behind all of these small businesses, this is the time!

Today I thought it would be fun to share a few small businesses that are near and dear to my heart… my own family’s small businesses!

First is Heirloom Grove, my ‘seed to skin’ CBD business derived from my family’s own organic farm. I create and carry a full line of Hemp CBD products from CBD bath and body, to CBD pain relief and tinctures. You can learn more about our 3000 acre Michigan organic farm and shop my CBD products at Heirloom Grove!

Second is Kai Kai Brai, a business I own with my 3 young daughters, creating our “Tell Me Anything Shared Journals for Mom & Daughter” and full line of gift and stationary products for women and girls. Learn more about our special business and shop our creative products at Kai Kai Brai!

And last is Country Crops Farmers Market, my 16 year old son’s farmers market business he started when he was just 12 years old and runs in our local hometown. He was just featured on the TV show “Destination Michigan,” you can watch that HERE, he is on about the 13:40 mark. You can also follow him on Facebook here.

If you’d like to support our small businesses, visit our websites and follow our social media accounts. If you own a small business anywhere in the US, I’d love for you to share about your business in the comments below so I and others can follow and support you! If you are a Michigan Small business, please Email Me about what you make or sell… I am planning to feature more Michigan small businesses this coming year!

Shop Small friends today on Small Business Saturday, thru the holidays, and all new year long!

Blessings, Jaime Lyn

November 28, 2020 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design

Teen Girls She Shed

Hi friends, it’s been a bit since I blogged here last but thought it would be fitting today on the first day of deer hunting season in Michigan, to share a fun project my daughters did on an old hunting fort to create their very own girls’ she shed! The fort was originally built by my son for his hunting shack, but after he decided to move his hunting spot to a different location, he gifted over his fort to his sisters… that’s all the girls needed to go to work remaking the interior to become their very own backyard girls’ oasis to escape to!

My oldest daughter Kaitlyn decorated the interior with a boho chic, bohemian style. She painted the interior paneled walls white, re-carpeted the floor and upper loft area, added in a fold-down futon sofa, writer’s desk, leather desk chair, and casual, natural accents to the walls and flat surfaces. Big brother left the girls his TV, mini fridge, space heater, and microwave so their she shed could be comfortable all year long.

The fort is situated behind our home, nestled in an open field with views of our woods. It is a quiet, serene place for the girls to do homework, read, hang out with each other and their friends, swing in the hammocks, even pop popcorn and watch movies, and make lasting memories together.

The girls love coming out to this space to relax… and I really enjoy coming out with them too, it’s such a fun place to escape to and hang out. They spent a lot of days out there this spring during their virtual school days at home during the Covid shut down… helping bring a little change of scenery to those sometimes mundane days.

The space is really cozy and has everything they need to hang out for a few hours during the day, and because it is wired with electricity, they also are able to enjoy cozy evenings too.. snuggled in together with snacks, cold drinks, and games, or movies… so much fun!

I hope you enjoyed a little peek inside the girls she shed! It’s amazing what can be done with a small space and budget, to create a special place to enjoy the simpler things in life, and to make lasting childhood memories together!

Happy Week, friends! Jaime Lyn

November 15, 2020 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design

Deck Fire Pit Gathering Area

Hi all, it’s been awhile since I’ve visited with you all here on my design blog. I have been a busy bee working on some other ventures the past few months, but am excited to reconnect with you here this Memorial weekend. I hope you are all doing well, enjoying yourselves wherever you are, and staying healthy. We are all definitely living through unprecedented times, and as scary as the world can feel sometimes, I pray your home has served you well as a place of solitude and safety, providing comfort and peace during these unpredictable times.

As I’ve spent more time in my home, I realize I am seeing my home a little differently… instead of mainly serving as a pit stop in our comings and goings, it truly has become a place for my family to be together again, to make memories, and enjoy our lives in a simpler, more peaceful way. I am looking at our spaces with fresh eyes, and minimizing all the “stuff” that clutters not only our rooms, but our minds. I am repurposing the uses of my ‘old’ things, instead of running to the stores to buy more ‘new’ things, and I am recreating spaces that serves the purposes of our family being together. Being home more has become the ‘blessing in disguise’ through all of this for my family. It has slowed our lives down a bit, brought us back more so to the basics of what is important, and allowed us the time and reflection to enjoy what it is that truly matters here in our home… the people inside, the memories made here, and the peace and safety that it provides…truly what home should be about.

One area I just finished recreating in our home that has helped serve our slowed-down, family-focused time is a small area of our deck that used to house our drop-in hot tub. We never used the hot tub much with having our pool, so we opted to pull that out and board up the opening…. but then, we had to decide, what to do with the space now?

Above is how the space looked after we boarded up the hot tub opening, restained the deck boards, and I laid my Amazon Rug down, and added some outdoor accent pillows I had on hand, to the built-in bench… but I felt it just needed more. I didn’t want to go out and buy more furniture… I am avoiding being in the stores as much as I can right now, and the thought of putting together new furniture just felt like a daunting task I didn’t want to deal with, so instead I looked around at what I already had. I had recently purchased all new patio cushions for the furniture that is around my pool area, and was about to sell all my ‘old’ cushions on a garage sale site, but instead I decided to reuse them here in this space. I also had quite a few stackable patio chairs that serve us well when we have extra company over, that I could use here too. And… we found this Propane Fire Pit stored in our pole barn that we had received some time ago (and totally forgot we had!)…. So I pulled that out, and put this all together, and within an hour, the space was done! We now have a nice ‘new’ fire pit oasis on our deck overlooking our pool area, that was all created with things I already had on hand… I just had to pause a moment, and look at my things and my space in a new light, with a fresh perspective of possibilty.

You can take more of a look at this space below…