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For the past 2 summers, CD and I have spent part of July and all of August in Colorado. However, this year, we chose to come to Michigan as my doctor was a bit worried about me traveling to altitude during my 3rd trimester. I never thought I would love any place more than my beloved Rocky Mountains, but the past 5 weeks have been amazing…
We traded in our yurt for a lakeside cottage…
We swapped mountains for the water…
and mountain trails for sand dunes…
There was deck yoga, but this year with views of the water rather than any Colorado 14ers ..not bad for 7 and 1/2 months preggo, no? Truth be told, I totally toppled over after CD took the photo. 
We missed our old friends but made new ones…
All in all, I’d say it was a fair trade, wouldn’t you?
And so our trip ends where it all began…at the Fife Lake Dairy Bar!!! Yesterday was cold and rainy, and CD and I decided to head into town after dinner for one last ice-cream date. I ordered an Oreo flurry with chocolate malt ice-cream, and CD got a large cup of Moose Tracks and Peanut Butter Brownie Crunch. We figured since it was our last night in Michigan, land of all things ice-cream, and we might as well go all out. We then drove down to the lakefront, and enjoyed our dessert in the car with the heat blasting…it was perfect. 
Again, we’ve had a wonderful Babymoon here in Northern Michigan. Thanks for joining us on our trip, and I hope you’ll be back next year! Come on…you know you can’t wait to see photos of the HEABlet on the beach.
{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow amazingly flexible momma to be. Sounds like a great trade and perfect to give you one last bit of fun just the two of you before you become a lovely threesome
Good morning, Heather! Great post!
Thank you for sharing your vacation with all of us–and way to rock that yoga pose!
Lovely post and you are in awesome shape, look at that pose!
It was really fun to read about your vacations these past weeks Heather, I had no idea how Michigan was!
Ana
I recently found your blog and I must say that I absolutely enjoyed following you and CD’s adventures in Michigan. My husband and I are inspired to venture up there from Pittsburgh with our family. Thanks muchly….and keep those recipes coming- I am finally losing my last 10-15 pounds of baby weight since eliminating refined sugar from my diet.
Vivre, Rire, Aimer!
Andrea
Andrea,
So glad you found me and thanks for reading my blog. So cool you’re going to Michigan – I hope you love it as much as we did and many congrats on the weight loss. That’s awesome!
I just had to comment because I ALSO am finally losing the last 15 lbs of baby weight by eliminating refined/added sugar from my diet (thanks to http://www.paigelysaght.com ‘s sugar challenge)! I especially notice my waist getting smaller, yay! That’s why I really love that I found HEAB since the recipes are creative and healthy. My baby is almost 5 months now and I just ran a 10k this morning for the first time since having her. I couldn’t be happier! I added nut butter to my oats this morning and plan to make HEAB’s butternut squash burrito for lunch. I don’t even miss the sugar and am way more excited about (and satisfied with) my meals! Thanks HEAB!
Emily,
That is awesome. Can’t believe you ran a 10K this morning. Very inspiring! So glad to hear you’re doing so well without sugar. Now that I’m no longer a 5 minute walk from the local dairy bar, I plan to get back to my little to no-sugar lifestyle, and I can’t wait. I feel so much better when I eat that way! Again, congrats on the birth of your little one and for losing the weight!
Thanks so much Heather! It sure wasn’t easy to get back into things. The first couple months were hard. I felt like I barely had time to go to the bathroom, let alone eat healthy and exercise! But it gets better.
Emily,
That’s what I hear…one of my friends told me she kept leaving the house without brushing her teeth after her baby was born – she just kept forgetting or didn’t have time…kind of scares me, but I know I’ll adjust eventually, even if the first few months are crazy. Thanks for the encouragement!
What a wonderful vacation! I would love to visit Michigan one day!
Have a safe trip back to Nashville!
Looks like a beautiful, beautiful vacation, and I’ve said it before- but I LOVE the idea of a babymoon and I love that you had a great time
xo
Kris
Regardless of you falling over after that shot…that is impressive! Both places are beautiful. Glad you had such a good time and I hope you return home refreshed and ready for some nesting time! Have a safe trip home!
What a beautiful post, Heather. Your love for life and Chris and Heablette shine all the time. That yoga pose is rockin, too girlie!
Love you so much. Safe travels. If you have to go potty, you can pit stop at my house.
We’ll be in Nashville in a few weeks… I gotta see that cute belly of yours peachy!
XOXO
Polly,
Love you, and sooooo super excited you’re coming to Nashville. When? When? When? Hopefully we can sneak in a yoga class, church, or lunch or something. We didn’t end up driving through Ft. Wayne on our way back. Drove home via Gary, IN, and made it back to Nashville in about 9 and 1/2 hours. No traffic, and on labor day – so nice! See you soon muh peach!
What a great opportunity to be able to take such a wonderful vacation right before the baby arrives
That yoga picture is very impressive! (Both of them are, actually- I can’t do that pose yet!).
Do you two live in a yurt in Tennessee?? My mom lived in one in Michigan, actually, before I was born.
Annie,
Hehe – no, but sometimes I wish we did. We actually live in a 1920′s Tudor here in TN. Love our house, but it’s old and requires a lot of work. We rented that yurt in Woodland Park, CO last year. Such a cool experience!
I can’t believe it’s already time for you to come home! It flew by!
Tell me about it. We were so sad to leave.
Your trip looks like it was lovely! I am glad you both enjoyed yourselves. I bet the Dairy Bar is sad to see you go.
Kiersten,
Haha…yep, I think they probably were too. We definitely did our share to keep that place in business this month!
It looks like you had a wonderful time! I’m a little sad you wont be in Chicago this weekend… ok, more than a little sad. But once the HEABlet comes, you’ll have to bring the whole clan up here for a Cubs game!
Mara,
I’m sad we missed Labor Day in Chicago as well…hopefully next year! I need my annual baseball fix.
Wow, feels like you just got there! I think trading the mountains for the water was a good deal. Love that you embraced the Dairy Bar. And wise final choice! I had pizza last night and am pretty sure it was under-cooked. The (surplus) cheese is still making me sick…ugh.
Safe travels though!
Can’t wait to see that baby heablet on the beach! Ugh she is going to be so adorable. I can’t believe 5 weeks is over already. It’ll be nice to look back on your blog and read through the memories again
What a lovely trip Heather! Thanks for sharing it all with us. Even if you did topple over you look great doing deck yoga!
Have a safe trip home!
You and CD really know how to vacation!! Glad yall had a wonderful time!!
Travel safely back home!! 
Aww I can’t believe how fast this time went by! Have a safe trip home!! <3
Babymoons are such a great idea! YOu are literally glowing the whole time. What precious memories you have made, especially with the dairy shop! hehe.
How much fun!
its hard to compare huh- both places have their own unique adventures and landscapes. both a breathtaking. Of course, seeing the little one at the beach is going to be priceless and the best part is being able to share all this with you from afar <3
enjoy the weekend Heather
xoxo
Thanks Kelsey. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
What a lovely last night in Michigan!
definitely an even trade
where did y’all stay when you came to colorado?
Heather,
Two years ago we stayed in Manitou Springs for a month. Then last year, we stayed in a Westcliffe for 2 and weeks and rented that yurt in Woodland Park for 3. Loved the yurt…well, love your whole state!
Heather – it’s awesome to see the 5 weeks summed up! I’m sure it’s bittersweet that your time is over but aren’t you excited to get back into your own kitchen?? Safe travels. xoxo
Dorry,
YES! Already used my Vita-Mix.
Great post Heather! Love the sound of the ice cream you and CD had.
Great post and loved seeing the side-by-side comparisons!
lol! My mom and I are the Queens of Eating Ice Cream in the Car with the Heat Blasting! I am teaching my girls the fine art
Cold weather should stop no one from eating it 
Michelle,
Agreed! I will definitely be teaching the HEABlet this very important lesson as well.
I’m glad you had a good time!! It looks like such a beautiful place
Pretty impressive with the yoga stance in your 3rd trimester! Even if you did topple over…you still held it for a little bit!
It doesn’t matter if you toppled over after that pose. You are 7 1/2 months pregnant and got up into that pose
Yay for Michigan and ice cream! It was fun to follow you guys on your adventures, as even though I live in Michigan, I hadn’t been to any of your stops. Guess I could take a vacation in my own state, huh?
You look so healthy and happy and I wish you luck in the next couple of months!
Thanks Abby, and yes, get out and see more of your home state. Such an amazing place!
I love the side-by-side vacay photos. Looks like two kinds of paradises to me
Safe travels home my friend!
Thanks Deb. Miss you…we need to chat soon!
It sounds like a wonderful change of pace:) What a lovely summer!
Sweeeet Yoga Poses, Hot Mama! I had no idea you had been living in CO in the past!! I grew up in Littleton, moved to Steamboat Springs (also got married there), then lived in Denver. How about you?
MoniMeals,
We actually live in Nashville but spent the past 2 summers in Colorado, mostly outside of Colorado Springs near Pike’s Peak. Love your home state!
It’s so great that you don’t feel like you missed out by not going to Colorado!
Love the yoga poses! Too cute
Thanks so much for sharing your vacation with us–I’ve love reading about every one of your dairy bar treats:)
Excellent job choosing your last ice cream treat!!!!
It’s so amazing to see the side by side photo comparison of the 2 years…I remember last year’s yurt, yoga pose, and trip VERY well. I was in the process of moving to Phoenix and had just gotten there when you were in CO and seeing these pics makes it feel like in a way it was wayyyy longer than a year ago and in some ways, it makes it feel like it was just yesterday.
Anyway, great comparison and glad you and CD have had such a phenomenal trip! It truly has looked amazing! And if you didnt tell anyone, some of your lake pics could be stand-ins for Caribbean ocean waters!
Your yoga pic at 7.5 mos…you are rockin it!! Even if you did topple over after the photo
Safe travels home!
Averie,
Oh well, just means I’ll have to get my butt to San Diego someday…as long as you promise to take me to the vegan ice-cream creamery, I’m so there! 
Gosh, it seems like forever ago that you moved to AZ…was it just last summer? And now, you’ve already left, and I never got to see you there.
I’m so glad you had a relaxing vacation/babymoon Heather! I’m also glad that you loved Michigan — it truly is a great state. I like the combination of accessible culture/cities and wilderness. I wasn’t there all summer; I can’t believe it! I missed out on ice cream (especially blue moon
) and sand dunes and Lake MI. Sad Caronae.
I can’t wait till next summer when, hopefully I’ll be there, at least for a little while, and I get to see adorable pictures of HEABlet.
Happy weekend!
Caronae,
Happy Heather/Happy Caronae. 
We plan to go back next summer, and you and I should meet up for ice-cream. You can get your Blue Moon, and I’ll get some Moose Tracks!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful vacation with us! And that yoga pose impressive.
I must add that your choice of ice cream sounds soooo delicious.
Thanks Lindsey, and it was. However, put Oreos on or in anything, and I’m a happy girl.
So glad you guys had a wonderful Babymoon, and shared it with your readers. Safe travels back home. (and yes, your ice cream choice, WOW!)
impressive I can’t even do that and I am ot even pregnant! aha
I’m so glad that you got to experience Michigan. Northern Michigan in the summer is truly my favorite place on earth. I mean, it really has it all: Water, views, trails, charm and Moose Tracks…
Mimi,
Hehe, I couldn’t agree more. We have an amazing time and can’t wait to go back next summer!
I’m glad you had such a great time up here! Safe travels back home!
Yay, so happy that you had a wonderful babymoon! And keep up with the good eats; my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy and won’t go near me after I made my blended yam with oats breakfast yesterday, hahaa
Sylvia,
Sometimes, boys just don’t get it. Convert him with banana soft serve!
Oh I did! But then he was like, “I don’t like eating it from a bowl. I want to eat it in a cone!” What a boy
And he didn’t really believe me when I said that I used cream – hey, you gotta tell whatever lies to convert them and then you slowly tell him the truth haha 
These are links that will take you to my Sunny Side Oats creation!
Recipe: http://www.KathEats.com/the-best-of-both-worlds/
My picture & Winners: http://www.KathEats.com/and-the-winners-are/
Teenage Gourmet – thanks Sami! Looks amazing. Love the fresh basil.