It hit me that Scott and I have officially been living in Michigan for two years this week. On October 12, 2012, we packed up our lives (and animals), took a one-way road trip up north, and haven’t looked back!
Scott mentioned it being our 2 year Michigan Move-iversary the other day, and we both couldn’t believe it’s actually been that long! Seriously.
Last year, I covered an entire year of highlights since we moved from Orlando to Rochester Hills, and I thought it would be fun to continue the tradition and be able to look back at how life changes from year to year.
Here’s what has been going on up north!
2 Year Michigan Move-iversary: A Year of Highlights
Starting October 2013…
• Started the very first Friday Favorites Link Up! (<- love you guys!)
• Celebrated Fall with a Haunted Hayride
• First trip to the dog park in Michigan (what took us so long?)
• Pistons Opening Night on Halloween
(Such a fun halftime!)
• A trip home to attend an awesome wedding and celebrate Scott’s birthday!
• Scott’s 40th Birthday!!
(Did I NOT blog about this? Geez.)
(I must have been still recuperating from that Florida trip!)
(It was fun, but pretty low-key.)
• A visit from Kelly which took us to a cider mill and Canada!
• 2013-14 Pistons Dancers Calendar Release!
• Visit from Scott’s Dad and Step-Mom and hosting our first Thanksgiving
• Halftime performance with Flo Rida!!
• Pre-Christmas celebrations with friends
• Christmas in Paris!! Parts I, II, III, IV, V & VI
(Probably my favorite trip… ever.)
• 5…4…3…2… Ringing in 2014!
• A visit from Mom and lunch in Canada
• Our first time sledding! (Oops.)
• Back stage access to see Nitro Circus Live (<- amazing experience!)
• Katie’s Bachelorette Party in Savannah: Part I & II
• Conquering my fear of skiing!
• 2 Year Blogiversary – woohoo!
• Reflecting on what I’ve learned since moving up north
• Partnering with HOOPER on court
• Another trip to Florida (with Alex!) for my Orlando Magic Dancers Reunion: Parts I & II
• Running in the snow and exploring Downtown Detroit
• New York City with a couple of my favorite bloggers: Parts I, II & III
(and getting to interview Miranda Kerr!)
• Another trip to Florida for Katie + John’s wedding in St. Augustine!
• My last time dancing at a NBA game (wahhh.)
• Easter with friends <3
• My 29th Birthday Celebrations: Part I, II & III
(Scott was out of town, so my friends did more than make up for it!)
• Making the decision to get my CPT through NASM
• Getting glasses. Ha. I actually love them. That’s why it’s a highlight.
• Another trip to Florida for Megan + Jack’s wedding in Tampa!
• Then a couple of days in Orlando visiting to all of our favorite spots. Then back to Tampa to reunite with family friends.
• Falling in love with Birmingham. <3
• Learning to love Detroit too. A lot.
• SMASH Women’s Retreat up north at Spring Hill: Parts I, II, III, IV & V
• Ohio for the day to run in the Neon Dash 5K!
• Chopping my hair off and praying it grows back healthy and long.
• Assisting HOOPER throughout the summer and getting a new tattoo.
(You can see it here.)
• Dancing in concert with Big & Rich!!
• Another trip home to Florida. This time it is to work a summer camp with our old home church!
• … And catching a dear friend’s baby shower while we were there!
• 4th of July adventures
• Girls’ Weekend Up North! (#saveoursanityweekend)
• Our 3 Year Wedding Anniversary <3
• Houston, then a weekend at the beach in Galveston, Texas with Scott and friends!
• Hanging in Downtown Rochester and stumbling upon festivals
• Blogging trip to Anaheim, California for the IDEA World Fitness Convention: Parts I, II, III, IV
• Arts, Beats & Eats festival in Royal Oak
• Visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (DIA)
• Dancing again (at church) and finding new trails
• Cedar Point Halloweekends in Sandusky, Ohio!
• Our first Pistons Family wedding <3
• Signing up for the Detroit Free Press Half and Running with a Purpose.
(Wish me luck this weekend!)
• Quick visit from Dad and a trip to the cider mill
• Becoming a NASM Certified Personal Trainer!!
***
Whew! What a heck of a year it’s been.
Since sharing last year’s highlights, I can honestly say that I am in a much better place. I haven’t been secretive about the fact that transitioning to our new lives up here has been a challenge for me, and slowly but surely I am learning to accept and love what that is.
Looking back on all of last year’s exciting events makes me realize how much life really can change in a year’s time. I’m no longer dancing (in professional sports anyways), I’m a certified fitness professional, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with blogging (often), and I’m on my way to starting a completely new career.
Life sure has a funny way of panning out, doesn’t it?
Here’s to another year of highlights to come!
I hope you have a great rest of your Thursday, and I’ll see you back here bright and early with Friday Favorites!
Questions of the Day
• Have you ever made a big move (across the country, to another country, or even just away from your family?)
• If so, what has been your favorite city to reside in?
So far, I have lived in Orlando and Tampa, Florida and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Pretty much biggest two extremes in climate you can get. While I’m not sure I would want to move back home for good (besides getting to be close to friends and family!), I would love for us to explore another area… maybe somewhere in the middle or on a coast again? I’m looking forward to seeing what the next couple of years looks like for us!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
Such a fun post! It must have been great to look back on all these highlights. I just recently moved from New Jersey to Texas! It was a huge move for me. I miss friends and family, but it has been an adventure exploring a new place.
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries
Wow! So many fun things for you guys this past year. I can relate to that transition of moving being no easy thing. It wasn’t across the country or anything, but moving out to Utah was tough for me. It took a good two years for me to adapt and make really good friends. The culture there made it even harder I think. Juuuust as I was getting comfortable, we decided to move back to Arizona where we’re from and root our own little family here. Even though we have family here (although 45ish minutes away), the transition is still a big change and feels like we’re starting over again. It’s definitely challenged me and helped me grow! Do you plan on staying in Michigan permanently? Or is that still up in the air? Or you totally don’t have to answer either! Haha. Just curious.
pieceofcaitlin
sooo many fun thing and a great way to see how the past 2 years went. PARIS is on my list! 🙂
aladygoeswest
Hi Heather! Well I’m right there with you, having just celebrated my two years living in San Francisco. You never know where life will take you, and I think change is good. I never would have guessed I’d be a blogger and fitness professional living in California, but boy I’m glad I am. You have tons of great recaps and memories document on here from the years, and that’s just another awesome reason to have a blog!! Keep it up!! 🙂
Sierra&Faith Winks and Eyerolls
Looks like you are having so much fun in Michigan! We’ve never been but hear certain parts are beautiful. One of us moved to FL (Faith) for a few semesters for college and the other across the state (Sierra) so about an hour and half away from family. We are both in the same state now but have contemplated moving and what it would be like somewhere else.
courtalkek
I just recently found your blog and LOVE it, you are so adorable! My husband and I moved from Houston to Brisbane, Australia three months ago it’s been quite a transition especially since I went from teaching elementary full time to being an unemployed housewife. Hopefully I will be finding a new, fun career path soon too!
Oh and PS I read your Houston recap and Salata is my favorite! They built one right in front of our old neighborhood and I was in heaven!
Elsie @ Sharing Healthiness
I have only been following you for a couple of months but after this recap I am so so excited for what is to come! I have moved countries several times and it is always a struggle at the beginning but at the end I never want to leave!
Heather
Aw, thanks so much Elsie! Wow, I bet you have some interesting stories and I think it’s awesome soak in all of those different cultures. You’re right about getting used to everything!
Kate @KateMovingForward
We moved to Michigan two years ago too! Crazy coincidence! We are further west, near Kalamazoo and we definitely count it as one of our best life decisions. 🙂
Heather
That’s fun! I have only been to Kalamazoo once and it was just passing through. Glad to hear you are loving it! Where are you from originally?
bsprual2011
Phew moving is life my specialty. I’ve lived everywhere from Texas, Japan, Kansas, California, and Ohio. It is tough but it always gets better in time! 😉
Marcia @MomWifeFitnessLIFE
Good luck this weekend and have FUN! I’m running the Grand Rapids half marathon on Sunday. I’ve never done Detroit because it’s either the same day or a week apart from GR! 🙂