Hi!
I'm Nicole. I am a wife, mother, shop owner on Mackinac Island, and lover of handmade. The little things and little moments inspire me. Follow me on my blog as I write about shop news, my travels, island life and motherhood.
Nicole
xo.

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little luxuries

Today on the blog I’m sharing some of my summer essentials for myself and the boys!

I recently purchased two tops that I love from Target. They are the perfect shirt for summer in the shop - cool and breezy and a good price!

Women's Bubble Elbow Sleeve Blouse - Universal Thread™

Nicole Doud

Women's Plaid Short Sleeve Collared Button-Front Shirt - Universal Thread™ Red

Recently, I bought a pepper plant from the Magnolia Line at Target! It’s the perfect addition to any room in the house! 

Faux Pepper Plant - Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

The boys LOVE this new 2-1 shampoo / body wash that I got them! It’s toxin free (which makes me happy!) and, tear free and smells great! Plus, it’s called Fresh Monster! What little boy doesn’t love that?!

Fresh Monster Shampoo & Body Wash Ocean Splash

I’m a bath girl, I LOVE soaking in the tub! These 24 bath bombs from Amazon have 6 different scents. They are organic and natural and I bet that you’ll love them as much as I do! The boys are just as excited about them as I am AND they keep our skin extra soft!

 

This is my favorite laundry detergent! The garden - fresh scent isn’t too strong and I love that it’s a plant based solution. 

Nicole Doud

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Laundry Detergent, Cruelty Free and Biodegradable Formula, Honeysuckle Scent, 64 oz

The boys are out in the sunshine everyday, almost all day! This sunscreen is great for the boys - the best part is - it’s water resistant and is easy to apply. 

Alba Botanica Tropical Fruit Kids SPF 45 Sunscreen, 4 oz

 

These are our current summer essentials! Tell me, what are your summer essentials? 

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Happy Saturday!

Fall brings about a breath of fresh air on the island, as the leaves are changing and the season is starting to slow down. The air is crisp and the mornings / nights are chillier.

I wanted to tell you about two of my favorite spots to visit on the island: Watercolor Cafe and Lucky Bean!

Watercolor Cafe

Watercolor Cafe is new this year, opened by Kate Dupre, an artist on Mackinac Island. (Fun Fact: Her work is in The Artists Market of Mackinac!) Watercolor Cafe is an art space and beanery, hosting a cafe during the day and creative art classes at night. The boys enjoyed her Monday art classes that she hosted for children this summer! The menu is fresh, exciting and delicious! The view of Watercolor Cafe is peaceful and serene, as is it right on the water, next to the marina.

Lucky Bean

Lucky Bean is right behind us on Market Street. I love to slip in here in the morning for a chai tea latte with almond milk to start the day! Crisp fall mornings are perfect latte weather. This is Lucky Bean’s 9th season on Mackinac Island and I honestly don’t know what I did before it existed!

When you are on Mackinac Island this fall, stop in to each of these places for a sweet treat and great drink!

 

Xoxo

Nicole

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Living on Mackinac Island with three young boys is always an adventure! During the summer, Andrew and I stay busy with work, but in our home, Sunday’s is a very special day of the week. On Sunday, we reserve the entire day just for the family. 
We start the morning with a big breakfast at home, then we venture outside to see what the day will hold! Usually we head downtown and visit some of our favorite spots on the island! Our boys love to go places! 
Great Turtle Toy Store
Stops usually include Great Turtle Toy Store to browse the latest toy selection, popping into Little Luxuries, The Artists Market and Canvas and Paddle just to check in, then we head to Doud’s Market, where the boys run around the store for a few minutes and grab a snack. With little boys, the mornings start early, so this is just all before lunch! If it is nice out, we will have lunch in Marquette Park, thanks to Doud’s Market. 
Doud's Market
Since we have the entire Sunday to spend together as a family, we also have time for a bigger activity. The boys have their favorites that we do often: 
The Butterfly House: The Butterfly House on Mackinac Island has between 50-100 different varieties of butterflies! Louie and Tommy's favorite butterflies are the Monarchs.
    Fort Mackinac: With live demonstrations and tours, this fort is every kid’s dream! All of the buildings on the Fort are set up with period settings, giving them each a unique theme and teaching important points about Michigan’s history. Not to mention, the fort has an amazing view of the island! 
      Fort Mackinac

      Grand Hotel: Weather permitting, Andrew and I will leisurely roam the grounds while the boys are a little faster at exploring their favorite spots on the beautiful trails. If the weather isn’t as nice, we can all head inside to the arcade games, which the boys always love!

        Grand Hotel
        After a fun day of exploring Mackinac Island and all of our favorites, we will head back home to grill out for dinner. The excitement isn’t over, however! After a tasty dinner, we visit Windermere Hotel for a tasty treat. If it’s not quite bedtime, the boys will play on the playground at the school playground before we head home to end the evening. 
        Living with children on Mackinac Island is definitely different than living anywhere else! Andrew and I love sharing our favorite place with our boys, knowing that it is their favorite place too. We can’t wait to see you and your family on Mackinac Island soon! 
        Nicole Doud
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