Guest Post: Back Home Again in Indiana

Hi everyone! My name is Catherine, and I write the blog Small Town, Big Wardrobe. I'm so thankful to Cat for graciously asking me to write a guest post about why I love the Midwest while she's traveling to California.

I had dinner with an old friend Lindsay last weekend (old as in I've known her forever!). She lives out in the country - really, in a town of just over 2000 people - and told me she couldn't stand coming into the town where I live and she works because she can't stand all the stoplights.

I had to laugh, because in my town - of just around 33,000 people - bad traffic is considered more than five cars backed up a stoplight.

I live in a town in southern Indiana. Besides five years at Indiana University in Bloomington and one year in Indy, I've been here my whole life. Of the people my age here, there are two kinds - those born here who will never leave and those who cannot wait to escape. It is that sort of polarizing place, small town Midwest - you either love it or you are just wishing you could get away.

Does it help that fall is probably the most beautiful in Indiana? Perhaps a little.

I was in New York a year ago, and I shocked myself with how homesick I was. There were too many people in not enough space. I needed my tiny town and my green yard and my quiet evenings.

This is my backyard. It's not that big. But my dogs love it, and it's fenced so I just open the back door every morning and let them out. After living in an apartment

What is it about the small towns in the Midwest that I love? It's that corner shop where the clerk recognizes you. It's seeing an old friend downtown at your favorite tiny Italian restaurant. It's the warm Saturday mornings at the farmer's market getting your favorite blueberry scones. It's the comforting smile and "how are ya" as you walk past a stranger on the sidewalk. It's the endless fields of corn down the highway.

It's my favorite, favorite song about my state. Can you guess what it is? Hint: it's the title of this post.

Yeah, ok, the shopping sucks. But the good news is the best mall is only an hour away. And I probably didn't need to spend all that money anyway, right? Right?

Thanks again Cat for asking me to guest blog! You can follow my blog on Twitter and Facebook - I hope you stop by and say hi!

Guest Post - Heart Full of Daisies

Hi there! My name is Kate from Heart Full of Daisies, and I’m filling in for Cat as she and Jon make their way to sunny San Diego! They will be missed in Michigan, but I can't wait to hear how life on the west coast treats them! 

When Cat told me the theme for this guest post week was, “Favorite Thing About Michigan,” I immediately thought of a million things that I love out this mitten state! Originally haling from central Illinois, Michigan is a totally different world. I grew up surrounded by corn and bean fields for miles on end, where trees weren’t everywhere you turned, and the closest thing to a big lake would be little rivers and ponds! Besides the beautiful people I’ve met here in Michigan, I’d have to say my favorite element about this state is the gorgeous Lake Michigan.  I know that sounds like a typical answer from most people who live on the west side of the state, but for me, there are so many meanings and memories tied to this blue body of water.

The first time I visited Michigan was back in my high school days.  I paid a visit to a friend who was currently attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan and I was instantly swept away by the friendliness of the town, the quaint downtown, and of course, the shores of Lake Michigan.  Even though it was nearing winter, the waves crashing onto the pier that day were so beautiful and made me want to stay for summer. After another visit the following year, I decided I wanted to come here for college. The funny thing was, I didn’t apply to any other places, I knew I wanted to be in Holland, MI...I like to think that the Lake chose me.

Holland, MI

After three years of college, I met Zachary.  I had just came out of a bad breakup and wasn't looking for another serious boyfriend, but Zach won me over.  I will never forget the first time he told me he loved me... we drove out to a special spot on the Saugatuck Dunes, overlooking Lake Michigan. He had brought sandwiches, a bottle of wine, and sour patch kids (my favorite candy). As we sat watching the waves roll in, he told me he had a present for me.  Speaking such sweet words as he put a necklace around my neck, telling me how much he cared for me and how I meant the world to him, I knew I wouldn't let this guy go.

Saugatuck Dunes

Fast forward another three years as Zach and I both stand before the shores of Lake Michigan again, this time as husband and wife.  From the moment we started talking about where to get married, the conversation always lead back to the Lake.  

Our Wedding - Photography by Bryan & Mae

There has been so many amazing memories on the shores of Lake Michigan, I can only imagine how many more will fill our lives and hearts. 

Feel free to stop by my blog or find me on Twitter, I love meeting new folks!

Thanks Cat for letting me guest post about my favorite part of Michigan! 

-Kate 

Waiving Goodbye to the Mitten

Well, this is it guys, my last post from Michigan! Jon and I moved here from Chicago a year and a half ago. We had a good run while we were here, but it's time to move on and pursue our careers. While we're looking forward to our new adventure together, we're both really going to miss our friends and family. I'm so glad we came back when we did though so that I was able to spend time with my dad during his last few months. It's been great being with family, having a job I love, and making new friends. I have a lot of great memories to take with me.



Our 37 hour journey starts on Saturday! I've always wanted to drive across the US so I'm super pumped about it. Of course, with the cats we won't be able to do any sightseeing. So that's kind of a bummer, but I think just the drive alone is exciting! My best friend and I used to plan these elaborate US summer road trips when we were in high school. Of course, we weren't old enough to rent a car and on $20 a week allowance we certainly wouldn't have gotten very far, haha.

Our first day will be the longest drive, which is 14 hours to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sunday will be Tulsa to Albuquerque, New Mexico (where of course, knowing Jon & I we'll be "breaking bad"), and then on Halloween we'll be in San Diego! We'll be driving through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and obviously California.



For now I've decided to keep my blog name as "Midwest Mayhem." At least until I get a better idea of how long we'll be in California and what the future looks like. It's not only about the physical location either. I've lived my whole 28 years in the midwest -it's all I know! So I look at it as bringing a midwest mentality to the west coast! My biggest fear when I get out there is culture shock. Jon isn't too worried, and he has a good point that we'll be meeting people from all over out there, not just people from the west coast. When I moved to Chicago I lived in a co-op with people from all over the world, so I was immersed in a huge melting pot from the get-go, which I loved. At the same time though just being out and about most people I'd run into on a daily basis (fellow students, customers at work, people on the bus...) were from Michigan so as much as my life was diversified it also felt very much the same. What this all comes down to is that I don't want to be around fake people or as Holden Caulfield would say, "phonies". I feel that Southern California is stereotypically the land of phonies. But hey, if you want to be in the film industry there's really no way around it. Either way it's a new adventure and a new chapter in my life and even a bunch of brainless phonies can't take that excitement away from me. :)

Haha, okay I'm done with my rant now. I'm sure we'll be fine out there and meet cool people and all will be well.



Starting Friday I have an awesome group of guest bloggers lined up to keep things going around here while I'm on the road, so make sure to check back for their posts!


The Breakdown:

Outfit:
The Kids Are Alright Tee: American Apparel/Work Shirt
Skirt: The Gap, Gift
Tights: Thrifted
Flats: Target

Accessories:
Sunglasses: Meijer
Necklace: Forever 21
Hat: Thrifted



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Last Day of Work

Today was my last day of work at the theatre! This is what I wore:









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