☕ Welcome to Your Sunday Sip

Have you ever wondered how the subtlest expressions of love can shape a lifetime of memories and wisdom? Well, I have.

Hey there, fabulous humans! I’m glad you are back and ready for another Sunday Sip.

Life Lessons and Personal Growth

If you ever met my mother, you'd quickly realize she wasn't one to wear her heart on her sleeve. Hugs? Not her cup of tea. Declarations of love? I can't recall a single instance. Her preferred love languages were apparently not "Words of Affirmation" or "Physical Touch" but something more akin to "Quality Time" or “Cookies.” 

She wasn't big on doling out advice, but the tidbits she offered are etched in my memory.

Write it down because you are going to forget all the stories. That had a profound impact on me. I have 11+ years of Life In Michigan stories and a treasure trove of journals. My handwriting, a cryptic cursive, ensures they're a puzzle for anyone but me. I once left a note for my kids, and they called me to say, “Mom, we can’t read it! It's in cursive!” After that, all Post-It notes were written in block letters. The secrets locked in my journals may go to the grave with me.

Our escapades with Rita, our trusty vintage camper van rental, were nothing short of a sitcom. If you’ve not read them, I highly recommend them. They even inspired a song by Ladyship Warship. During our adventures with Rita, we stopped at my cousin Janice’s house in Socorro, New Mexico. The following is an excerpt from a Rita story that showcases my dad’s advice-giving. 

This influences me daily. No, I don’t walk around looking for dead cats in trees, but when I find myself in a pickle, I think of my dad and the lack of dead cats in trees. 

But perhaps the best advice came from a Research Scientist I worked with for nearly a decade. Her mantra during negotiations or content creation was simple yet profound: "Is it good enough? Can you live with it? If so, let's move on. There is more to do." She'd stride into the office, and while passing by my door, she'd fling in my direction, I need a piece this long. Pinching her forefinger and thumb together to indicate the required text length. The topics felt akin to choosing a category on Jeopardy. And just like in the game show, with its iconic theme song 'Think' playing in my mind, I'd have minutes to deliver.

Reflecting on it now, I was like her personal ChatGPT. It's a skill I use daily.

“Start small and do it well" was another piece of wisdom from her. This sounds pretty straightforward, but I can’t tell you how often I pull this nugget out of my pocket. I was recently chatting with someone brimming with ideas for covering all things Michigan. I wanted to mention the research scientist’s advice, but their response when I said we’ve been doing Life In Michigan for over ten years ruffled my feathers. They said, “It is just a blog.” Insert whatever string of expletives you want here; it's fine. I’ve made peace with it because we are ranked among the top 20 Michigan Blogs, a testament to the power of starting small and being cool with who you are.  We are a fantastic digital lifestyle news source focusing on beer, music, and travel in Michigan. 

Here is my version of grandma’s brag book: 

• Life In Michigan has an average of 4000 visitors and 7000 page views monthly. 

• We have 16,468 followers on Facebook, with an average post reach of 18,860 people. 

• We also have cultivated a Facebook Group (Life In Michigan) with 6000 members (growing every day!), averaging 300 monthly posts. 

• On Instagram, we have 1808 followers with a daily reach of 151 to 444 people. 

• Sunday Sip subscriber list has grown from 123 on September 23 to 196, almost a 60% growth rate. ❤️❤️❤️

As for our future plans, we're eyeing the TikTok arena with a series titled “Life In Michigan’s Beer Fridge.” It's not groundbreaking, but with Chuck at the helm, it's bound to be a unique and entertaining journey into the world of craft beer. Stay tuned! (And dust off your TikTok skills.) 

Brace Yourself Big Ask Coming… 

Consider becoming a paid subscriber; not only are you making a significant difference in our ability to grow, but it is also a bit like my mom’s love language of making cookies. It says you love us. 

Collaboration Chronicles

Holy Toledo Batman, collaboration is the new norm!

First up, we're zipping back to Boyne City on January 13, 2024, for a heroic rendezvous with Stiggs Brewing - our third act of brewing brilliance! We will be camping out with Stiggs and their homebrew club to make another batch of Camping with Uncle Charlie. 

But wait, there's a secret twist! Rumor has it that a stealthy filming crew from LiveLoveLocalmi.com might sneak in to capture the action. And that's not all – it’s Stiggs’ Anniversary Party, complete with a heart-pumping Fat Tire Race. Oh, and did I mention the mouth-watering delights from their kitchen? You simply must join us for this saga of fun!

Next, we're supercharged to announce our collaboration with Destination Ann Arbor! Our inaugural collaboration is a guest post recounting our gastronomic adventures during Ann Arbor Restaurant Week in January 2024. And guess who's joining the party? None other than Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez, the dynamic co-hosts of 'Behind the Mitten,' Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast. I must say, I am quite smitten with this combination. 

But wait, there’s more! In April (exact dates are a mystery for now), we'll venture north to Marquette to concoct a special brew with Barrel + Beam. 

Then, in the late spring, after catching our breath from those thrilling escapades, we are planning a 'Day with Jay' in Ann Arbor. We're all ears for your ideas and would love for you to join our crew of adventurers! ❤️

Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss

Hey, if you’ve got something you’d like us to list, let us know. If it fits within our wheelhouse, as they say, we’ll try to list it. 

Sip, Snack, Shop - Small Business in Jackson, Michigan, on November 25th. Buy local from local artists! The studios at Art634 will be open and joined with area artists for all of your gift-giving needs - or maybe a little something for yourself. Sip and snack your way through Christmas shopping AND support your local art scene!

Christmas on the Farm at Waterloo Farm on December 2nd and 3rd. This re-creation of the holiday's traditions will include tours of the farmhouse, the authentic log house, and eight outbuildings. Hand-decorated greens, homemade baked goods, and gift items will be available for purchase. Live music will be among the offerings for this homespun weekend. Full concessions will also be available. 

Manchester CoOp Preschool Chili Cook-Off Event on December 2nd at the River Raisin Distillery. The goal for this event is to raise $10,000 for the program to provide quality preschool education to the children in the Manchester area. (I was once one of these squirts, so I can relate.) If you’d like to donate, here is a link.

Dark Horse Brewery Annual 4 Elf Party on Saturday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to Midnight. It is an opportunity to enjoy crazy amounts of Dark Horse beer with elves, Santas, and hundreds of other Michigan Beer Enthusiasts.

Tiny Expo - Indie Art & Craft Fair on Saturday, December 9, at Ann Arbor’s Downtown Library. Just go; I promise you’ll love it. 

What Are You Reading? 

I’m so done with travel books for a bit. 🦉I’m diving into the mysterious world of owls with Jennifer Ackerman's "What an Owl Knows." I’ve been promised these enigmatic birds' secrets, astonishing hunting skills, and quirky habit of decorating their burrows with treasures like bison dung and fabric swatches. Yes, I’m already obsessed with owls and birds in general, so discovering more about these creatures should be fun. I’ll let you know how it goes. 

Culinary Corner

Digging in the Life In Michigan’s archives, I found this oldie but goodie from nearly ten years ago, Sassy Sharilyn’s Soup Lynda Recipe. (Thanks again, Mom, for your sound advice to write everything down!) 

So the story goes, I tried to send Sassy Sharilyn a text saying, “Making Soup for Lynda” and “Can I have the recipe for the vegetable soup you made last weekend.” I left out a few words so the text read, “Making Soup Lynda” and “Can I have the recipe for the soup you made last weekend.” “For” is such a little word, but it clearly has a huge impact on the meaning of a sentence. And Sassy Sharilyn wasn’t giving me a pass on it either.

That is all I got… Just a list of ingredients, but as a rule, I consider a recipe a suggestion, so I was fine with a list of ingredients. There are several secrets you need to know before you, too, can create “Sassy Sharilyn’s Soup Lynda.”

When Sharilyn served it, she mentioned that she’d caramelized the onions. I realized that day I didn’t actually know how to caramelize an onion. (Google to the rescue.) Another thing I didn’t know how to do before making Sassy Sharilyn’s Soup Lynda was how to take a screenshot with an iPhone. Google does know everything.

Sharilyn also said she used some olive oil and caramelized each layer of veggies. I didn’t do this. I’m not sure how you’d do that. Caramelizing the onions was hard enough. I’m sure there are some real chiefs out there who would know what to do with this information. I didn’t.

The other thing Sharilyn mentioned was, “I used walnut oil.” I knew about olive oil, sesame oil, and canola oil, but not walnut oil. This required a special purchase and more time googling. I learned so much that day. Apparently, Lance Armstrong and Oprah both use it, and if you use it, you’ll be super skinny, beautiful, and maybe rich, but hopefully, you are not allergic to it because you could end up dead. Did you know that “Walnuts are the most common tree nut allergy? I learned so much.

I used frozen butternut squash in my soup. I’m not sure if Sharilyn used frozen or not, but it is a very important ingredient. It gives the soup a creamy texture. I used red lentils, but I recommend green instead. Red gets mushy.

Let me know if you make Sassy Sharilyn’s Soup Lynda. I’d love to know how yours turned out! If you want to see the original post, here you go! 

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up this edition of your Sunday Sip, I hope you've found some inspiration in these stories of love, life lessons, and the adventures that make our journey unique. Whether embracing our elders' wisdom, diving into new collaborations, or simply experimenting with a quirky soup recipe, each story is a reminder of the vibrant tapestry of experiences that enrich our lives. I invite you to carry the spirit of exploration and connection into the week ahead and remember that every small step can lead to something extraordinary. Until next time, keep sipping on the rich brew of life and making every moment count!

And here is a picture of a cute goat I’ll write about soon for the Rural Innovation Exchange.