Happy Happy DECEMBER, friends!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and last few days of November.
As you probably can imagine, my holiday cheer today is pretty much off the charts.
This is me right now…
Now don’t forget, I have this very festive posts for you as well should you also be in the holiday spirit:
MY 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TREATS
MY TIPS FOR HOSTING HOLIDAY PARTIES
CHRISTMAS A TO Z
TOP FIVE/BOTTOM FIVE CHRISTMAS SONGS
TOP FIVE/BOTTOM FIVE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
All of that to say, I AM PUMPED IT’S DECEMBER.
I’m kicking off the month today by sharing a few pictures from the first two days of our Thanksgiving trip to Detroit, Michigan. Brace yourself, there is A LOT of reminiscing in this post. You’ve been warned 😉 .
If you missed my post last week, this year, we decided to take a Thanksgiving trip.
It was the perfect year/timing because:
– It was the 20th anniversary of Andrew and me living there.
– Since my brother and his family decided to spend Thanksgiving in Seattle with Catherine’s family, my mom said “let’s go to Nantucket”…and I said, “Well there are currently no working bathrooms at my house (they’re being remodeled), so that’s out.”
– And Tab was told he and his dad both got the Lions game to officiate/work on Thanksgiving.
It all added up to one big framily trip up to Michigan!
We booked our flights, a VRBO, bought some Detroit football tickets and off we went. It was a trip, that for Andrew and me, was 20 years in the making 🙂 .
We were so excited to head off on Monday morning! My parents flew up to Michigan with us and the girls and our first stop was…
…to visit our first apartment as husband and wife in Dearborn 🙂 .
You guys, this was our first home together, and I have SO MANY amazing memories from our time here.
Awwwww!! I was like “look, that’s my parking spot” and Andrew was like “this is where we built snowmen” and well, we were all a bundle of emotions.
I lived in the dorms my first year in college, but after that, I moved back home with my parents until I was married to work, save my money and finish school. Andrew and I met, dated and got engaged long distance and the funny reality is that the first time we spent an entire week together was on our honeymoon. We were married mid-March, and he was undrafted as a free agent to Detroit in April and off we went. It was marriage boot camp for us, and I am SO GLAD we had that year way up there together. Family came and visited, and I popped back to Texas a few times, but we spent every birthday/holiday/occasion up there in Michigan just the two of us working new jobs and figuring out life all by ourselves. It was truly, truly such a blessing.
I still remember the day we left. There was so much snow EVERYWHERE, and as we drove away, I really thought we would be right back. We had an apartment…we had friends and jobs, I loved our little life there and truly thought we were headed back. You know the rest (it’s been a very full circle year), we drove to Dallas and the Dallas Cowboys’ orthopedic told us just a few days later that Andrew should definitely not go back and play…and well 20 years, four kids, and one spinal fusion later, I finally got my farewell trip. It was very very sweet to share it with my girls.
A few more pics of our first little home…
…this community where we had lived was still just as charming and adorable two decades later…
And just like that…
…we went from 2004 to…
…2024 🙂 .
Life goes really fast, y’all.
Later that night, we headed to Troy, Michigan for a delicious dinner. It was a wonderful first day!
I am calling the next day “let’s revisit all of Shay and Andrew’s favorite spots in one day”.
I’m about to make myself sound 108 years old, but way back in 2004/2005 when we lived in Michigan, the internet wasn’t the same as it is today (huge understatement). I had an actual flip phone and only used a computer at my job which only had intranet (not internet). Needless to say, I didn’t have a lot of information at my disposal (as we do today). BUT I did have a magazine that I found in a hotel room when we first arrived that was all about Detroit and in the very back was a list of “100 things to do in the Detroit area”. You guys, that list was my best friend and often Andrew’s worst enemy because for the love, we were going to do every single thing on there.
(Let’s all take a moment to acknowledge my over-zealous enthusiastic personality that needs to be busy/find joy was alive and well even way back then 😉 .)
We spent a year crossing off restaurants/activities/places/towns all over the area (from eating their famous coneys to visiting the Greek Town Casinos to driving over into Canada, we did it all!). Along the way, we found certain spots we loved the most and revisited them often.
On this day, we hit some of our very very faves starting with…
…Northville, Michigan! Oh Northville, you are TOO CUTE!!
They’re pretty cute too!
I don’t look excited to be back at all, do I?
Northville is right out of a Hallmark movie. While we were standing on the corner that day deciding what to have for lunch, the mayor himself walked over, introduced himself and offered to help. He gave us his card and told us to please call him if we needed anything while in Northville. I mean…RIGHT OUT OF A HALLMARK MOVIE!
We missed having our boy with us, but I certainly loved this extra time with my girls showing them our favorite places around Detroit.
To quote my dad as we were driving around “I think Madeley is going to be an actress”. Me too, Dad. Me too.
Or maybe an influencer 😉 .
After a yummy lunch and morning in Northville, we drove over to another one of our favorite towns…
…hello Plymouth!
Plymouth, Michigan, you are also a Hallmark town. We enjoyed coffee, cupcakes and cookies as we looked at your beautiful town.
The decorations were aplenty and the shops had all decked their halls.
If we lived in Michigan, I think this might be where I would most want to live.
It was a sweet time.
We wrapped up our day with a trip over to…
…Birmingham.
This was the first town we fell in love with in the Detroit area, and we enjoyed movies at that theater behind us allllll the time. We loved this little town.
Later that evening…
…we cleaned up and headed to Pop’s for dinner…
…and it was oh so festive and oh so delicious!
It was the perfect way to end our day.
Awwww…so many happy memories.
Thank you for starting off your month here with me today! I am so blessed by YOU!
One more thing before we go…my very favorite skincare AND haircare brand Colleen Rothschild Beauty wanted to collaborate because today and tomorrow only, you can get 30% off site wide with no code and 50% off all boxed gift sets (excluding The Icons).
Their CYBER MONDAY SALE is only today and tomorrow, so grab my faves like RADIANT CLEANSING BALM, RETINOL SUPREME EYE SERUM, VITAMIN C NOURISHING CREAM or the QUENCH & SHINE TRAVEL HAIR ESSENTIALS KIT now for 30% off!
Happy December! I’ll see you all back here tomorrow! xx
Diane Moore says
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip so much!
K.K. says
Oh, I love it!!! Very Hallmark-y, indeed!
How’s Andrew’s back by the way? He looks like he’s doing great in pictures, of course.
Happy Thanksgiving, Shulls!
Mix and Match Mama says
He’s doing fantastic! He has his final post-op appointment Wednesday morning. He’s a ne man now. Thank you so much for checking. xx
Bev says
Iappy December, Shay! This post makes my heart so happy! I’ve lived in metro Detroit my entire life. I worked in Birmingham, have family that lives(d) in Northville and Plymouth. It’s so refreshing to hear such positive, happy memories of it from you! Can’t wait for Part 2!
Mix and Match Mama says
We LOVED our time there!!
Erika Slaughter says
Awwwww!! The pic in front of the pond 20 years ago versus now…so cute! It was my first time to the entire state of Michigan! The weather showed UP for us!
Kathy says
I’m so glad you were able to do that. There is something about revisiting those places that mean so much.
Elspeth says
What a fun trip down memory lane! Can’t wait for part two!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kelly M Sites says
I’m glad Michigan did not disappoint. I live in Lansing! You just missed an incredible fall here- extended and beautiful colors. But I’m sure the brisk and chilly weather was great for you to enjoy.
Mix and Match Mama says
Lansing is gorgeous too!!! We have already decided to go back and visit again in the fall. I didn’t get a cider mill donut on the trip either!
Alicia says
I live in Novi, so it was super fun to see you stop over in Northville and Plymouth. (also our fav towns, especially for a date night!) This is probably the only time I will know about/have been to from all of your travels! Ha!
Mix and Match Mama says
We love Novi too! Andrew and I both said that we needed another week there. You live in a BEAUTIFUL state!
SS says
Shay,
How fun!!! Other side of the state of Michigan we had snow!!! But I bet there was a chill in the air though!!
Laci says
Michigan looks amazing!
Kristi says
I love seeing these pictures!! Do you happen to know which North Face jacket you’re wearing for this trip? I couldn’t seem to find this same one and you look so warm 😊!
Mix and Match Mama says
I do not. It’s an oldie but a goodie.
Katie Stewart says
Been saying for a while now that o want to visit Michigan (never been)… and now I’ve gotta make it happen. Gorgeous pictures and so glad you got to take a trip down Memory Lane! ❤️
Amy Rae D. says
What a fun filled trip down memory lane! I’m so glad you and Andrew were able to share it with your girls and your parents.
Kara says
Being from Ohio-we vacation in the Upper Peninsula of MI/Mackinac Island every summer and we love it up there! So many good little towns. Last winter we tried Boyne Highlands ski resort (small but SO cute and we got 2 FEET of snow in the 5 days we were there.. it was amazing!) and we now have a bernedoodle named Boyne 🙂 I need conditioner from CR but it has been sold out for a month.. ahh!
Tish says
So fun to travel memory lane with you! Just curious, where did you work while in Michigan? Was it in insurance as well? Happy December!
Mix and Match Mama says
It was! I got my license in Michigan and worked for State Farm.
Sheaffer says
What a fun trip! Love the flashback pics!
Lyssy says
I grew up in Northville, it’s a special place!
Mix and Match Mama says
I could not love it more!
Jaime says
What did your parents do for thanks giving then?:)
Mix and Match Mama says
My parents were with us in Detroit. We all had Thanksgiving together 🙂 .
Concetta Michael says
Thank you for living our beautiful state as much as we do ❤️loved watching you go to some of our favorite spots
Marisa Patel says
What a sweet memory you shared with us. Life sure does go by fast and it helps to have trips down memory lane to revive us!
Connie says
I’m glad you and your family enjoyed your trip to Michigan! It’s where I was born and raised and live! 🥰
Jeanette says
Awwww, such precious memories you were able to share w/ (almost) your whole family. You and your husband are aging backwards!
A says
I was so excited to see this post and your stories! I started following you when I relocated to McKinney (from metro Detroit) a few years ago. Now we are back in Birmingham, MI. I lived in Plymouth and spent a lot of time in Northville too, so you were highlighting my favorite places. I wish I had bumped into you in Birmingham this past weekend! P.S. I miss McKinney!
Windy says
It was so fun to watch you on Stories visit my home state! We were watching the Lions game and I turned to my husband and said hey the owner of our very favorite travel agency is at the game! He was very jealous lol!
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwwww!!! Thank YOU, Windy!!
Toni :0) says
Hello from Farmington Hills, MI. I’ll actually be in Plymouth Friday! My boss is taking a few of us for a pottery painting class and lunch there in town to celebrate the holidays. I used to work in Northville and always went to B’Ham, as we liked to call it in high school, for weekend fun and my daughter actually works for the Mayor in the Dearborn city offices. Go Lions! 🏈 What a game!! I screamed my head off at that ending LOL. 😂
Mix and Match Mama says
I love this, Toni!!
Heather says
Shay-
You NEED to put Macinac Island on your travel list just once in the summer. You would absolutely love it. Very Nantuckety vibe, and the water is just stunning!
Mix and Match Mama says
I do!!! THAT IS FOR SURE on my list!!
Karen says
Well this post brought back so many memories for me… I was born in Detroit, Michigan. My relatives lived in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Before we moved to Indialantic, Florida I lived for several years in Troy, in the early 70’s! I could walk to the Somerset Mall from our townhouse…went to elementary and junior high there! My step dad owned an I-Hop in Birmingham and I still miss the Jacobson’s! haha
Julie says
One place you definitely need to visit next time is Rochester, they have the cutest downtown with all the lights up at Christmas time.
Mix and Match Mama says
We went 20 years ago and loved it! Next time, we need MORE TIME!!!
Leann says
So fun!! Can you do a post on your cold weather gear but live in Texas?! We’re heading to NYC in January and at a loss for shoes/boots jackets etc for all that walking..
Mix and Match Mama says
Of course! I can add it to my list! If you have any specifics beforehand though, please don’t hesitate to email me 🙂 . mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com
Molly says
You should try the west side of Michigan. St. Joe is the ultimate Hallmark town, with a beach on Lake Michigan! You’ll want to come in the summer though.
Ann says
My son recently had his senior pictures taken in downtown Northville at many of the same spots you took pictures. You should come back at Halloween time when they have all of the skeletons out along Main St. and the street is closed to traffic!
Alana says
hahahah I need to know more about Madeley’s giant Dum-Dum sucker! Is it real?!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s filled with a gazillion smaller Dum-Dum suckers. Bahahaha!
Lindsay Stuebe says
This looks so cute and festive!! But….How has no one mentioned your PAPER airline tickets in the first photo? Not to talk about Andrew’s competitor, but you’re feeling very “Progressive Becoming Your Parents” commercial in that picture! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Bahahaha! We get paper because the kids don’t have phones. It’s just easier for one adult to keep all of them until it’s time to board, but your comment made me lol!
Kacy M says
Aww this is so sweet, what a walk down memory lane!
Lindi says
So I thought Detroit was rough? Clearly not all of it? I have kind of written Detroit off to be honest… Looks like that’s not accurate?
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, I think there is certainly a difference between the actual city of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. I wouldn’t write off the entire area though. It’s lovely.