Tameko Richard wanted to create a place in Lansing where people could buy healthy smoothies. After five years of development, she and her husband, Vernon, opened Juice Nation. Just last month, the smoothie shop celebrated their one year anniversary and introduced new menu items — including some new smoothie flavors — and their new name. The shop, formerly known as Eden’s Juice, provides a wide variety of unique and colorful smoothie flavors including Richard’s favorite — Mango Read more [...]

It’s always interesting to me when I hear from younger people that they just don’t know what they want to do with their lives. I’ve always had the exact opposite problem. I want to do too much and am always dreaming big. In fact, my friends and family are consistently reminding me that it’s okay to say “no” — every now and then. It’s hard for me. I love to try new things and I certainly want to seize opportunities that will broaden my horizons or give me a new perspective on the world. Trying Read more [...]

I’ll just put this out there: I’m not someone who’s all that fond of taking risks or switching up my routine. So when I decided to go back to school to earn my MBA at the age of — well, we don’t need to get specific, but let’s just say it’d been a little while since I’d last attended college — I knew I was in for a major challenge. But I’m proud to say that I now hold an MBA, and I lived to write about it. Here is some advice from someone who’s been there and done that for those Read more [...]

I am not good with money. Wait, let me rephrase that. When I have money I am super great at spending it. The concept of money and — more importantly — a budget, however, has always been kind of lost on me. I see, I want, I buy. So, it’s really no surprise that when a professor my freshman year of college warned a class of about 200 future journalists that we’d only be making about $10,000 our first year out of school, I didn’t even blink. What was money? Being a journalist was Read more [...]

As the unofficial travel columnist for CAWLM, it seemed only fitting that I would travel with Motion Marketing & Media on an 11-day, 83-county road trip to visit businesses and tourist destinations across our great mitten state. The purpose of the “#MeetMichigan with @m3_group” road trip was simple: to promote positivity in Michigan through the use of social media. We tweeted, Facebooked and blogged from every corner of the state, from Tuesday, June 28 to Friday, July 8, all in the name Read more [...]

It all ends. For Harry Potter fans all over the world, this film marks our last big hurrah. I was privileged to be part of a generation of children who grew up right along with the characters. When book seven was released, we still had the films to look forward to — that little bit of hope to keep our imaginations alive, and hold onto our childhoods. Now our wait comes to a bittersweet end. One will need comfortable seats for this ride, along with arm rests suitable for clutching. Clocking Read more [...]

NOW THROUGH AUGUST — Gemstone Mining, St. Johns. The kids will enjoy mining for their own gemstones at Uncle John’s Mining Company alongside the 40-foot operational slues. To enjoy this activity, kids will need to purchase a mining bag. Two bag sizes in the gift shop: $4.50-$6.50. Visit www.ujcidermill.com. AUGUST — Just be Yoga, Lansing. Have you ever wanted to try yoga? Here is your chance. Come to 106 Island Ave. to learn how to relax and rejuvenate. Call (517)488 4260 or visit www.justbyoga.com. AUGUST Read more [...]

From the kitchen of Jennica Janke of Lansing 1 can corn (white and yellow, super sweet) 1 can cream-style corn 1 cup sour cream 3-4 tbsp butter 1 egg 1 box Jiffy Mix corn muffins Set oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together in a 2 quart casserole dish. Cover and bake for 1 hour. Read more [...]

Dream (noun) — a succession of images, thoughts or emotions passing through the mind during sleep. Daydream (noun) — a visionary fantasy, especially one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions, imagined as coming to pass and experienced while awake. After reading the two definitions above I asked myself, how can you follow your dreams? You see, I’m the least literal person you will meet. So, when my editor said the theme of this issue was “follow your dream” it got me dreaming, Read more [...]

Blondie’s Barn is kitschy and cute, but the real buzz is their fantastic breakfasts. Located in Haslett, Blondie’s Barn is just that, a red barn mashed into a suburban strip mall. You walk in and you feel like you levitated to Texas — a back road diner in small town Texas. I mean this in a good way. Some of the décor is so bad it’s brilliant. It is homey, off-beat and fun: murals of farmland, checked table cloths, signs made of rope, etc. Once seated, you are given a menu made Read more [...]

On a daily basis, I typically think of maybe 20 things I would love to be doing. And our “would love to be doings” don’t always turn into our “must dos.” When I am able to accomplish one of these fleeting thoughts, it is almost always because it made it to one of my lists. Turning my thoughts into a visualization helps me follow it through. This wall art/idea board/goal catcher can put our ideas in front of us every day and remind us to do what we love. Supplies 3 various sized Read more [...]

While an international organization, there are many traits that make the local district of the Lions Club special. St. Stephen’s Community Church in Lansing is home to the District 11 C-2 branch of the Lions Club in Michigan. Chartered in April 2002, this district of the Lions Club is the only club with an all African American membership. “I believe we are one of the only African American clubs between here and Detroit,” said Lions Club member Valerie Benjamin-Glover. Their club is Read more [...]