Annie Lang's Blog!

There's nothing quite like an Autumn day out with the girls because you just never know what you'll discover until you get there!  This year, downtown Howell, Mi was our destination and we took the scenic route to treat ourselves to all the vibrant colors of the season.  Our first stop of the day was  Black Iron Coffee Roasters and we were greeted with the aroma of freshly brewed artisan coffee to start the day right.  There were plenty of tables to choose from and the coffee was nothing short of amazing and served up with style in hearty mugs!  I happened to choose their maple cappuccino which I highly recommend for a chilly autumn morning.  You can also purchase their coffee and gifts from their online website .    Unlike cookie cutter chain stores, there's something special about boutiques because they invite store browsers, tend to easily engage in friendly conversation and their staff members seem more than happy to answer questions and make helpful recommendations. 

One activity I love the most is an annual day trip to a fairly local destination in the fall.  However, the color this year wasn't nearly as vibrant as years past due to rain and warmer temperatures.  Fortunately, frost covered the area a few nights ago and the trees in southern Michigan started to show off their autumn colors just in time for Halloween.  This year, we took a day outing to downtown Chelsea, MI which is about 15 miles west of Ann Arbor.  It's a picturesque little town with plenty of local history, well kept Victorian homes, truly unique shops and great places to eat.  We originally planned to visit the "Jiffy" mix plant but it was closed due to Covid mandates, but here's a little tour of some of the other places we visited as we walked the downtown area. Kitty Face is by far a most unique shop filled with toys, games and vintage curiosities for kids of all ages.   You'll find everything from baby clothing to shower gifts to educational fun to

It's been a long time since we've been able to enjoy a day to get out and explore nearby boutiques filled with handcrafted hidden treasures and vintage curiosities!  My sister-in-law had the perfect destination in mind and the day was filled with sunshine and laughter as we browsed through  Yellow Dog Marketplace in Clarkston, Michigan.                                      Upon entering the establishment, we were warmly greeted by  a friendly staff and I was encouraged to "feel free to snap away"  to my heart's content with my camera.    Multiple vendors booths throughout the marketplace were delightfully staged with everything from apparel and fashion accessories to vintage novelties, Michigan themed items, kitchen goods, handcrafted products, blended coffee and teas and more.    If you're ever in the area, I hope you'll take a little time to spend a few hours exploring this remarkable shopping destination.  Though malls and chain stores are always neede

It's the time of year where a road trip is the perfect way for me to make the transition from summer to autumn a bit easier to bear.  Apple picking season will be kicking off soon and now that the weather is cooler, it's time to gear up and enjoy the great outdoors!  This year, we rented a lakeside cottage in Suttons Bay, Mi and not only enjoyed the privacy, beautiful views and nights around the campfire, but the cottage was ideally located for the day trips we spontaneously added to our list. There was a hidden nature trail from the driveway of our rented cottage leading to a small winery that we naturally had to explore! This establishment had changed hands a few years ago so the wine selection was very limited.  The friendly staff, rustic barn and oak barrels pretty much set the stage for our visit to Nathaniel Rose Vineyard . This was my first visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes , and if you ever plan a trip to northern Michigan, it's definitely a destination you'

NEW linework pattern book released! Grab your keys because it looks like you’re going to be going places!  Whether you're looking for travel themed patterns to take you around the neighborhood, on a family vacation or a trip around the world, you'll find everything you need to get moving!  This publication features linework of kid moving toy vehicles, family packed vacation vehicles and campers, costumed kids from around the world with flags and greetings from their native countries, car keys and travel necessities, road signs, a roadside billboard you can personalize, travel wordart and more! Designs can be colored with paint, color pencils, inks, markers, chalks, etc.  You can find this publication and more in my BookStore  Enjoy! CLICK HERE to watch the Video Trailer!