So, I just signed up to run in the Crim. “Don’t you always?” you ask. “What do you want? A medal?” It really isn’t about the large, clanking medal that Crim runners earn once they cross the finish line on Flint’s iconic bricks every August. I have several of them. It’s not like I ever
Foodie that I am, I like nothing better in the summer than going berry-picking! And August is prime time for picking blueberries in Michigan. Those luscious little berries are a burst of sweet, juicy flavor and so good for you! I like to freeze the berries to bring a little taste of summer to the
On a recent trip to Northern Italy, we planned a stay in the ancient city of Bergamo. It is everything a northern medieval city should be: walled, with twisting, turning, nonsensical streets that are too narrow for a car (even the tiny, European variety) to navigate. In a city like this one, we were determined
There are several popular business/self-improvement books out there now (Factfulness and Enlightenment Now) that make the case that the world is objectively a much better place than it has ever been. The authors don’t base their positions on flaccid, positive-thinking mumbo jumbo. If they did, I wouldn’t believe them. I’m not the type who can
For most retirees, healthcare costs will be the biggest expense. It’s not a pleasant prospect, but it is a reality. A 65-year-old couple who left the workforce in 2017 will spend an average of $275,000 to cover medical expenses through retirement, according to the latest retiree healthcare cost estimate provided by Fidelity Benefits Consulting. That’s
Whether you spend seven months nurturing and cultivating or five minutes at the farmers’ market choosing the perfect specimen, few crops elicit as positive an emotional response as the locally-grown heirloom tomato. As farmers, the process starts in early January with seed catalogs, then planting, transplanting and pruning, all the way to harvest in July.
It has been a decade since the Great Recession, and Michigan’s economic recovery is a mixed bag. The state got hit harder than the rest of the nation. Our economy declined by an average of 6.5 percent in 2008 and 2009, while the nationwide economy declined by an average of 1.9 percent. Michigan’s unemployment rate
Who Doesn’t Love Summer? After a long and dreary Michigan winter, there is nothing better than sunny days and warmer evenings! It’s also the perfect season to change up your home’s interior. Freshening up your home for summer is simple and affordable. With floral accents, brighter décor and simple patio lights, Autumn Perry-MacClaren, a blogger
Michiganders remember when anyone could get a high paying factory job straight-out of high school and then retire in 30 years with a pension. Those days are gone. Why? Manufacturing employment has substantially decreased across the country. In 1990, 18 million people worked in manufacturing while 12 million did in 2017, a 33 percent decrease.
I know I’ve said it before, but one of my favorite things to do is to read a good book. I’ve been known to stay up into the wee hours of the morning to finish a good thriller or suspense novel. Because I love reading so much, I was interested to see PBS launch its
Michigan has some of the most beautiful places for a warm, summer getaway. The weather allows you to not only dress in fewer layers, but also pack for a trip in a more efficient way. Every so often, we all need time to unwind, de-stress and just take time to enjoy the beautiful scenery in
Temperatures are on the rise, and you’ve probably said more than once, “It’s too hot to turn on the oven to cook dinner.” If you are beginning to tire of your stove-free “go-to” summer salads, it might be time to add some excitement to your cool supper options. Making smoothie bowls for dinner is a
