The Island Life: Lilacs and Ladies

30 years from now we will all discuss our youth.

We will tell of our failures, triumphs, friends, memories, and the ideas we had. We will also probably talk about our summer jobs. Some people hated theirs, some didn't care much, but I would tell of how much I loved mine.

My summer job is not important or exciting in any real way. I work at a cute little gift shoppe called Benjamin of Mackinac (or to us islanders "Benjamin Kodak") and I even got a part time job at Maeve's Art Gallery. Both jobs are located on a beautiful island in the state of Michigan called Mackinac Island. If you haven't heard of it before, you NEED to check it out. If you haven't been, you need to come and visit.... jus' sayin'... The jobs pay well and provide great housing, but its not what I would remember most about this gorgeous island.

What I remember most are the porter jams, the booze cruises, late night pizza, boardwalk walks, biking 8 miles around the island, photo adventures, photo shoots, Mexican vs. Jamaican soccer matches, good food, live music, big red parties, boys, girls, and ladies night lock-ins. All of which I will eventually go into depth about in future blog posts, but for now I want to talk about Ladies Night Lock-Ins and Lilac Festivals.

The Lilac Festival is an annual event every year where the Lilacs are full in bloom and people from all over the U.S. come to witness and smell the growing, budding, and fully blossomed lilacs. And on the last day of the festival is the parade. It is full of horses, floats, carriages, princesses, old people, and bag pipes. And every year our shoppe allows us to close the doors and sit to watch the parade for an hour, all while still being paid. Can anyone say LEGIT?! Here are some of my favourite pics from the parade:

The descendents of Chief Mackinac!

One of the many Scottish bagpipes and dancers!


Horses!!! So pretty!


Of course the Americans!


And the hobo band! Love them! They're my fav part!

Ladies Night Lock-Ins are very frequent and fun instances where our apartment (Laura, Rachael, and I) stay the night in while getting pissed and have the hilarious opportunity to get to know each other with no hold backs. (That is what happens when you drink right? You don't hold ANYTHING in!) Recently we held the first of many to come of this awesome event. During which I have only come to love my roomies even more. I learned that Rachael not only is a tank, but she has a kick ass playlist, she loves to use Brittish slang on Laura and I to confuse the hell out of us, she hates pretzels, never has had a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (we're soon gonna change that), and she is embarrassed of the way Laura and I dance even in private. ;) And LAURA,.. too funny! She would not shut up about how great of a roomie I have been for the past 2 years! All cause I'm "CHIIIIILLLLLLLL",.... as she put it! She taught Rachael the slutty baby dance move, told me of a few other drunken moments she has had, and a few other things I learned (and laughed) about that is best not repeated aloud. ;)

This is all three of us girls!! Rachael is on the left and Laura on the right!


Rachael and I! Isn't she a doll?!


Laura and I talking in secret! <3

Over all, I LURVE this island. Everything about it screams awesome, chill, relaxing, exciting, and so much more! I don't think I will ever get over how awesome being here is! I am so blessed each and every day that I am here!