When we are on Mackinac Island our little family loves taking walks after dinner, either through town, along the board walk or to Grand Hotel and the West Bluff. This spring, our walks have been extremely quiet and, honestly, it's VERY weird to me. Not seeing the lights on at Grand Hotel or the flags flying, only seeing 2-3 people on our entire walk, and seeing CLOSED signs on almost every business along Main Street - it's so scary.  It has definitely been challenging trying to stay positive once we moved back to the island. We are so used to experiencing a normal, busy Mackinac Island season to now a lonely, quiet island. This time has made me realize how important small businesses are. Of course I know how important they are to our economy, but through all of this small businesses are the heart of small towns. The past 12 years running my shops, never did I ever think we would be experiencing something like this. However, it has had it's positives. Such as, making me think out of the box, ordering more carefully, and digging deeper to make my businesses work. I do believe that small businesses are going to get more support than ever right now and after this pandemic. We will get through this! Our world is realizing how important independent businesses are to our economy.

Mackinac Island, along with other tourist towns will have a later start than normal, and I really hope many of you can still make a trip to our beautiful island this season. If you cannot, follow my Instagram stories so you can feel like you are on Mackinac. I am trying my best to show each of you your favorite place(s) and what's behind our store doors.

Our Island Girl Collection items are arriving the end of this month!! I can't wait to show you what's new!! 

Who would have thought we would be styling ourselves with handmade masks?! Families are purchasing patterned masks and supporting local makers. We are carrying 4 different makers' masks in the shops. Check them out online! They are selling quickly!

You are probably thinking what are we doing to keep busy on Mackinac Island with only the grocery store open and the Mustang for take-out. With three little boys it is a little challenging, especially with the weather not being in our advantage right now.  We are spending time in our backyard, enjoying walks, venturing out to Wawashkamo Golf Course, finding rocks along the shore, family face-timing, board game nights, science projects, eating more, and just holding each other tighter more.

 

I know this isn't easy for anyone. This will pass and IT WILL get better eventually. Be patient, stay positive and don't be so hard on yourself. Staying in your pjs all day and binge watching Netflix IS okay :) 

Be well, 

Nicole

xo

Please enjoy these free printable coloring page of Doud's Market, Little Luxuries and Mackinac Island designed by Katie Doucette, a Michigan designer. 

To download the coloring sheets, click here.

As you know, fall is one of my favorite seasons, yet it goes by so quickly! The weather in northern Michigan has recently seemed to turn colder and rainy. We are hoping for a few sunny, beautiful fall days to enjoy this month. 

Each year, October seems to be a whirlwind month. Our fall sale keeps our staff busy, tourists flood the streets on weekends, our fall shopping event takes place, and we close out the season celebrating Halloween October 25-27. With restaurants and shops closing up the end of the month, our family tries to go out to dinner a little more. With kids, we love the Yankee Rebel, Gate House (where Andrew and I first met), Millies and Mary's Bistro. They all have great options for kids and mom and dad too!

Now, the most important event of the month and season really, is the Women's Wellness Weekend. Seven years ago a group of like-minded business owners got together to create a refreshing, women's weekend focused on health, friendships and a little bit of wine! My close friend and vendor, Jenna Kator has a huge love for Mackinac Island. When she learned about the event, she thought, "I want to bring a group of women to this great weekend getaway." We carry Jenna's beautiful handbags in Little Luxuries. To tie her handbags into this event, Little Luxuries' hosts a private trunk show for her group of women. This year's group is her largest - 120 women! Since we can't fit all 120 women inside of Little Luxuries at one time, the trunk show shopping event will also take place inside The Artists Market and Canvas and Paddle. We are very excited to host this special event and have so many women in our stores at one time! Best of all, the Women's Wellness Weekend supports the Mackinac Island Community Cancer Fund. In these short seven years, we have raised over 170,000! Last week, there was an end of the season women's dinner at Grand Hotel supporting the Cancer Fund. Over 100 women attended and it was such a great time! What a special way to close out the 2019 season. 

As I mentioned before, fall is my favorite season and now you can see why! There are too many great events taking place this time of year before the island hibernates. 

If you have never visited Mackinac Island in the fall, add it to your bucket list! 

Nicole

xo.

Lake Art is the company that started making 3D wooden lake maps, in the early 2000s. All of the orders are made in the United States by a small family owned and operated company and most of the process is done by hand! 

The number of layers on the art depends on the shape of the lake, so each one is creative and unique to the actual lake design. Lake Art has a pop of color included, with blue stain added to the natural coloring of the stain, as well. 

Next time you are in the shop, look at our collection of Lake Art! If you don’t see the lake you want on their list of offerings, they will work to make a custom map for you!