The customized workouts are about 30 minutes, because you are able to stay at one workout station. Each member has a “fit key” that plugs into the machine with their customized workout program.
There’s still time to get fit before swimsuit time this summer. But wait, are you like me when it comes to physical fitness? If I can’t have these things, I’m probably not going to be consistent with my workout:

  1. Fast: I want a workout that can be done in 30 minutes or less.
  2. Convenient: workout times need to be flexible and I don’t want to have to schedule anything ahead of time.
  3. Easy to follow workout: I hate having to look up my routine on a card and have to figure out how to do it, and I want to make sure I have good form.
  4. Effective: if I’m going to show up, I want to KNOW that I’m taking the best and quickest route to strong and lean.
  5. Safe: getting hurt doesn’t work so good for me.
  6. Affordable
  7. Evidence of results before I can see them: yep, I know that sounds unreasonable, but it’s true, I’m impatient and I lose motivation when I don’t see an immediate drop in my weight on the scale.

This monitor is attached to the workout pod, it makes it easy to follow along, keep good form and does all the thinking for you. It even helps pace your workout and turns it into a game.
KoKo Uses New Technology for Motivation and to Offer Everything Listed Above KoKo Fit literally addresses all of these potential setbacks for me with unique equipment that makes training fast, convenient, custom-tailored, effective, safe and affordable. As a member, each time I check in, I can track my progress with cool technology that provides a complimentary body analysis. In about a minute, it measures my percentage of muscle mass and fat, this is uploaded to my personal profile so I can track my progress. This is a game changer for me because I can see how I’m doing before it shows in my weight or clothes.

The local KoKo website explains a lot of this better than I can, or better in, stop in or call one of their locations to see for yourself how they are different. The people there are nice, with absolutely no pressure at all.

If you live in the Northeast Grand Rapids area, the Beltine location is close to you: Beltline KoKo Fitclub 2830 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI  Phone: 616-432-3171

In case you are wondering, no, I’m not getting paid or receiving any other benefit whatsoever to share this info about KoKo Fitclub. I simply like the place that much and want to share it with you. Members tend to stick around. When I first joined, one of the members was lamenting that he had to move to Ohio and there wasn’t a KoKo Fitclub in the area. He was seriously looking into buying a franchise to put near his new home so he could continue with this program that had been so good to him. That’s how much people love this place, and frankly, it’s been a bit of a secret. So, for those of you who check this out, you’re welcome!

Archive

Regions

Tags

I love this photo taken by guest photographer, Rhianna Hudson. It’s taken at the Grand Haven State Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline.
You might think that the beach is only for summer, but in Michigan, I love seeing the ever changing snowy, icy sculpture of a seascape found at one of my favorite places, Grand Haven, MI. The catwalk is under construction and is closed, but that’s ok, it’s still well worth visiting. Rhianna Hudson and I recently captured these photos. If you decide to make the trip, you might want to visit one of these great places while you’re there:

Buffalo Bobs: From the outside, this looks like a small general store that might have clothes, but wow is that decieving! This gem of a store never fails to have something cute that I just have to buy, they carry major brands such as Free People, BB Dakota, Woolrich, Kut, Maui Jim, Oakley Native, Bula, Havana, See-thru Soul Denim and much more. Basically, they have the latest trends for guys and gals, plus lots of things to support your active life for camping, fishing, skating, etc. Located at 136 Washington, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

The Toasted Pickle: A local favorite, that has an eclectic and delicious menu of sandwiches, salad and soups. I always go there, and I’ve never been disappointed. Located at 112 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

Aldea Coffee: This place is another local favorite and features some of the best coffee I’ve had in my life. Plus, the folks who work here are super nice. The are located in the Armory Buiding at 17 S 2nd Street, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

The Creative Fringe: Guys, this place is AWESOME! They have an amazing amount of beads, jewelry supplies, jewelry lessons and more. If you have a creative bone in your body, you owe it to yourself to visit this place. They are located at 210 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417 and locally owned and operated.

There’s lots more to enjoy, so stay tuned. I’ll be writing more about Grand Haven again soon!

The frozen beach with embedded frozen ice balls looks a bit like a lunar landscape.

I discovered this unique barn driving on the backroads in Arcadia, MI.
It would be easy to pass by the Onekama / Arcadia, MI area – but that would be missing out big time. Online searches reveal very little about the place, perhaps that’s because being there feels like you are going back to a time when electronic devices took a back seat to nature and being a human at peace with the world. I took these photos driving around the back roads near Lake Michigan.

The landscape is dotted with historic barns, vineyards, and rolling hills. You’ll also discover golf courses and a beautiful. Here places to stay: Here are some place to check out when you visit.

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course: This course is open to the public and resembles a seaside links course with rolling terrain and a windswept landscape with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. Lodging and cottages are also available.

Artesian Wells: Some of the purest water in the country is located at these public wells, where folks have been known to travel for miles to bottle it up and take some home. Here are links Old Facefull (GPS 44.427615, -86.247132) Portage Point Well (GPS: 44.376511, -86.227881).

Portage Point Inn: I’ve never had a chance to stay here but have always wanted to. This historic inn was established in 1903, yet features a boutique gift shop, pub, fitness center, lake access, movie nights on the lawn, kayak and paddle board rentals, boating, fishing and much more.

Inspiration Point Scenic Overlook: This is one of the best overlooks I’ve been to in my entire life. It’s just off the Scenic Highway and you can see for miles and miles. Trust me, and be sure to lug your camera along with you for this one, all 120 steps to the top of the overlook!

Arcadia Marsh: This 273-acre marsh nature preserve has a short trail and is especially popular for birding.

Area Preserves and Trails: While I was researching this project, I found a link to this map with a bunch of preserves and trails that I didn’t even know existed in this region.

This is a great time to start planning your Michigan summer vacation. These are just a few of the great places to discover in the area.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ada, Michigan has been near and dear to my heart for a very long time. I love Ada for it’s small town feel with some really great places to visit and do business with.

It amazes me that a small village can have so many fabulous places to go out to eat at, with the majority of businesses being local and family owned. Some of my favorite locally owned restaurants in Ada include:

  • Nonna’s Cafe: featuring European cuisine in an intimate, homey atmosphere. My favorites include the quiche, which is the best I’ve ever had, and their latte’s, which are responsible for me staying up half the night way too often. Located at 591 Ada Drive SE, Ada MI
  • Zeytin Turkish Restaurant: featuring a cozy, semi-casual atmosphere and Turkish cuisine. My favorite experience at Zeytin is to score one of their cozy booths with Turkish pillows and chow down on the grilled chicken kabobs. Located at 400 Ada Drive, SE, Ada MI.
  • Schnitz Ada Grill: a deli by day and grill at night, this has been a long time favorite of many. I love to hang out on the outside upper deck in the summer and people watch. Located at 597 Ada Drive, Ada MI
  • Vitale’s Ada: a great sports bar, with best Italian lunch buffet that I’ve ever had.

Downtown Ada is located just a few minutes away from Grand Rapids and well worth the short drive.

The Taiko Drummers Performance was great!
The Taiko Drummers Performance was great!
I’m glad I got to see the Taiko Drummers tonight at the Frederik Meijer Gardens… and you will be too if you make it to one of their performances tomorrow. That’s right, Raion Taiko and Special Guests will have 3 more performances tomorrow, June 12, 2015 at 3:00 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM at the Frederik Meijer Gardens amphitheater. The performances are for members only, so you will have to get a FMG membership before seeing the concert.

The Taiko Drummers are part of the celebration of the grand opening of the new Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. I also got a peek at the Japanese gardens and I can see why it’s taken four years of planning, another three years of construction and $22 million to make this happen. The 8 acre garden was designed by Japanese landscape designer Hoichi Kurisu and is well worth a visit. I feel so very lucky to have this treasure so close to home.

I’ll be back to take more photos of the Japanese garden, in the meantime, I thought you would enjoy photos from the performance tonight.

The Taiko performers had an amazing amount of energy.
The Taiko performers had an amazing amount of energy.
Taiko Performance

FMGJG4MSS

FMGJG1MSS

 

massage therapist ada, cascade
Nancy Hanks, LMT, NMT, OMERI, Licensed Massage Therapist, doing what she loves, working the kinks out of a lucky client’s back.
If you live near Grand Rapids, wowie zowie, I have an awesome licensed therapeutic massage therapist for you. Nancy Hanks, LMT, NMT, OMERI has been eliminating neck kinks, unwinding stress and alleviating headaches and back pain for me for about 2 years now.

I like to consider myself a bit of a massage therapist expert, because I’ve been to a lot of them! I used to work at a YMCA next to a massage therapy institute, and had several friends that would routinely give me massages for practice. That’s when I gained an appreciation for the health benefits of massage, as well as how well it helps me relax.

Asking around to find out who the best massage therapist is in the area is something I’ve done for a long time, I’ve stuck with Nancy because she is hands-down (no pun intended) the best massage therapist I’ve ever been to. One of the things I appreciate about her, is the extensive training she’s had. Nancy has more certificates than I’ve ever seen on a massage therapist’s wall, and she continues to expand her training. When I asked Nancy about all the certificates, she actually said, “Oh, those, I should update them, I need more frames, I have 5 more certificates at home,” … and she wasn’t kidding. She also pays careful attention to the quality of the products she uses on her client’s skin, choosing carefully thought out oils and scents that are healthy options. I also appreciate her attitude, she genuinely cares about her clients and means it when she says, “I can’t believe how lucky I am do be doing this for a career.” It shows when someone loves what they are doing.

One of her several areas of expertise is myofascial release massage, it’s a way of unwinding the fascia, which tends to bunch up and cause problems over time.  I recently referred Nancy to a friend who have been in a rollover car accident after crashing into a semi truck at 70 MPH. My friend, who is very lucky to be alive, went to Nancy the day after the wreck, hoping that she would avoid problems with whiplashand sore muscles. Afterwards, she called and told me that “Nancy saved my a–,” and “I can’t believe that I feel this good after that wreck, I could barely move before I went to Nancy, she’s the best massage therapist I’ve ever been to.”

If you’re interested in a therapeutic massage session with Nancy, she charges $70 an hour. Her spa-like massage therapy room is soothing, relaxing and located in a pleasant office building in the Ada, Cascade area on 28th Street that she shares with her husband, Dr. Brian Hanks, a talented local chiropractor.

To schedule a massage, Nancy Hanks can be reached at 763-300-9844.

 

Quiet Mind, Scarlett Kanistanaux. Located at 50 Monroe
Quiet Mind, Scarlett Kanistanaux. Located at 50 Monroe

After hearing mixed reviews about ArtPrize 2014, I decided to head over and see what was there. I’ve been both an ArtPrize artist and spectator, this year I decided to enjoy being a spectator (it’s a little hard for me to multitask on this one.)

First of all, I loved what I saw. Truly ArtPrize is what you make it, so I’d like to give you some tips on how to get the most out of ArtPrize.

  • If you’re going to go to one of the major venues,  go early in the day, or expect a big crowd and a wait. 
  • Wear something comfortable both on your feet and to wear and don’t carry a heavy bag. Expect to walk a lot and plan little breaks to sit down and people watch, and grab something to eat and drink. The food trucks by the GRAM have some delicious offerings, by the way.
  • Don’t make this a race to see as much art as possible in a day. You will get tired and burned out quick, and just feel mad… because you just aren’t going to see it all in a day.
  • Expect to see some items, in fact lots of items where you think “how could anyone possibly call this art?” It’s okay though, because there is more than enough work that you will love and that will make it worth your while.
  • Expect to pay about $10 to park downtown for the day. And do it, it’s not worth the hassle to add walking a long distance to get a cheap parking spot.
  • Figure out the main venues you want to explore and their proximity to each other.
  • If you plan on staying the night downtown, expect to pay a lot, the hotels are almost sold out except for the most expensive rooms.
I don't know the name of this piece, it was in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum and was one of my favorites.
Gravity, Dean Kugler, located in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum and was one of my favorites.

Here are some  great places to check out, they have enough artists where there should be something for you. There are also a lot of other venues, some with fewer artists, and many with incredible work, so this list is by no means complete, just a great place to start if you don’t know where you want to go:

  • The Grand Rapids Art Museum  (expect a wait during peak hours)
  • 50 Monroe Place (the building behind the BOB)
  • Women’s City Club (expect a wait during peak hours)
  • Frederik Meijer Gardens
  • JW Marriott
  • Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (expect a wait during peak hours)
  • The Grand Rapids Public Museum  (expect a wait during peak hours)
  • Plaza Towers
  • The Gerald R. Ford Museum (expect a wait during peak hours)
  • The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (check out back along the river front too)
  • The Harris Building
  • West Coast Coffee
  • Palatte Coffee & Art
  • Bridgewater Place
  • Fifth Third Bank/Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
  • Boardwalk GR Condominiums
  • DeVos Place Convention Center
  • The Mitten Brewing Company

Here is the link to ArtPrize 

You will probably meet a lot of the artists, especially if you vista at night or on the weekend. I ran into Frits Hoendervanger, a previous ArtPrize winner and participating artist again this year. His work is at the Amway Grand Plaza.
You will probably meet a lot of the artists, especially if you vist at night or on the weekend. I ran into Frits Hoendervanger, a previous ArtPrize winner and participating artist again this year. His work is at the Amway Grand Plaza and is stunning.
Michigan farmland is stunning this time of year.
Michigan farmland is stunning this time of year with cool clouds.

This summer has had more rain than usual, resulting in a lush beautiful Michigan! Even more so than usual. If you’re not from around here, you should come up for a vacation, luckily, most of the rain has been at night and this has been a wonderful summer.

I took a little drive out into the country and took this picture yesterday. Take a close look at the cloud, isn’t it wild looking? The Michigan farmland and scenery is just spectacular this time of year!

Tall grassy areas are a typical place to be aware of ticks.
Tall grassy areas are a typical place to be aware of ticks.

Yes, I said it, lyme disease is in Michigan and if you live here, or visit here, you need to know about it. The last few years, I’ve been hearing more and more about lyme disease in Michigan and this year is no exception. I am not saying this to alarm you, ticks and lyme disease don’t need to ruin your fun, you just need to know that it’s here, it’s probably not going away anytime soon and how to protect yourself. Most cases in Michigan occur between late spring and mid-July, but can happen even in the fall.

Check out the below map provided by the state of Michigan, it shows where the most cases have been discovered in the state, and where lyme disease is heading. If you’re visiting the lakeshore, ticks like to hang out in tall grassy areas and hop on for a tasty meal when folks walk by them. But, you can prevent this by either covering up, and/or spraying with tick repellant. I prefer to use natural repellants with at least 20% oil of lemon eucalyptus. After being in wooded or tall grassy areas, check for ticks and take a shower. If you discover a tick, remove it and save it so you can send it in for testing if you get sick. If you remove a tick within 36 hours of it attaching itself to you, chances are more likely that you won’t get lyme disease. If you do get sick, getting immediate 30 day treatment with antibiotics that last for at least 30 days is important. Following are some useful resources to help combat this issue:

Michigan Lyme Disease Association

DBC Holistic Health Dr. Adrian Den Boer, nationally known for wholistic treatment of lyme disease.

Prevention: Be cautious when walking in the woods, avoiding bushy and grassy areas. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and wear insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin or, if you’re like me use something natural containing a strong solution of oil of lemon eucalyptus. After walking in wooded areas, thoroughly check the skin for the poppy-seed sized ticks, paying particular attention to the scalp, armpits and groin. If you find a tick, carefully remove it with tweezers or a tick remover. More info

Repel Plant Based Insect Repellant with Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus has been recommended as a natural solution.

Permethrin on clothes kills ticks on contact and lasts several washes

Dammix Tick Tubes offer an innovative solution to rid your property of ticks.

Ticked Off Tick Remover

Useful guide from the Michigan Department of Agriculture for preventing tick borne illness: Ticks and Your Health

Michigan Lyme Disease Map (does not include results from 2013).

Lyme Disease Map for Michigan
Lyme Disease Map for Michigan

 

 

windchimes
Oh how I love the sound of my wind chimes blowing before a thunderstorm.

This photo makes me think of summer in Michigan, beautiful, full of color, sunshine and musical. Speaking of musical, here are some great places to see outdoor concerts in West Michigan, with links for more information:

Frederik Meijer Garden Club Tuesday Evening Music Club: Tuesday nights at 7PM (free to members), Grand Rapids

2014 Lowell Showboat Sizzlin Summer Concerts: Thursday nights 7PM – 9PM – June through August at the Riverwalk Plaza, downtown Lowell

Blues on the Mall FREE  Wednesday nights, June 18 – August 20, 6:30PM – 9PM Rosa Parks Circle, Monroe Center NW & Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

East Grand Rapids 2014 Summer Concerts June – July 15, Tuesday nights at 7PM, located in John Collins Park Plaza on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids

Jazz at the John Ball Zoo through August 11 a different jazz concert will be featured each Monday night through Aug. 11, at John Ball Park, 1300 W. Fulton St. Free concerts run from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Rockford’s Rogue River Blues Series (sponsored by Huntington Bank) through August 12, Tuesday nights 7PM – 9PM, at Garden Club Park in Downtown Rockford (Bridge Street, behind Arnie’s Bakery)

The quality of the music at these events is usually outstanding, I really love how easy it is to find something fun to do during the summer in Michigan. Hope to see you at one of these concerts!