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Lucky Chanz Side Quests

@takingachanz

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🌴 Island Girl, Midwest Living
📍 Michigan | Chicago | Indy
🚗 Food, People, & Experiences
📸 @chanzcaptures

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It's never too late to manifest the life you want to live, especially when you believe in yourself 💖

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[self reflection self worth sunset] by @takingachanz

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4 days ago

Hoosier for life ♡

My love letter to one of the few places I lived that really captured my heart.

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[Bloomington Indiana BTown The Square Buffalouies Buskirk Chumley College Mall Nick's English Pub The Upstairs Dagwoods Runcible Spoon Red Clock Tower Autumn Fall Dunn Meadow IMU Memorial Union Showalter Fountain Sample Gates] by @takingachanz

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7 days ago

Street Markets 🛍️⤵️

Who doesn't love a good Street Market?!

📍@merchants.and.makers
📅 Saturday, October 6th - the last one with ArtPrize this year!

I had the absolute joy of going up to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize last weekend and while there, I found that the Merchants & Makers Street Market was in full swing!

🍃 Over 160+ vendors
🍂 Live music throughout the streets
🍃 Food trucks and tents
🍂 Stunning art throughout the area
🍃 Relaxed atmosphere

I had to restrain myself from buying too many things but I did get some beautiful leather work accessories, a puzzle, and some new pottery!

It's truly an all day event with something for everyone. I'm looking forward to attending again!

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[Grand Rapids Michigan Summers Fall Autumn Vendor Farmers Market Event Outdoors] by @takingachanz

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18 days ago

Postcards from C&C Fashion Show

📍 @grartmuseum

My second time attending a @createcollaborateevents and what an excellent time! I wasn't able to get clips of everyone walking but there are truly some stunning pieces in this show.

Fashion is truly an art form that I have always admired. There's just that extra layer of "human" that goes into fashion - since these are intended to be worn by people - that I absolutely love with my whole heart.

I loved this show, I loved it being part of @artprize week, and I love this community that @shaylin.collabs and @briella_rosela have created.

Can't wait for the next C&C event!

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[Michigan Grand Rapids Art Museum Merchants Makers Designers Runway Art Show Late Summer Early Autumn Fall Event Things To Do] by @takingachanz

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22 days ago

Huh?!

📍 Lake Michigan at Kruse Park in Muskegon

I am sure every Michigander has heard this a million times but as someone that grew up on tropical islands, swimming in the vastness that is the Pacific Ocean, right near the Mariana Trench, I was truly blown away when I first saw Lake Michigan!

Honestly, the astonishment hasn't dimmed with each visit, If anything, I only continue to be awestruck.

It's been one of the most healing things I have done for myself this summer - spending many sunsets just watching this.

All that's missing is the salty sea air 🍃💕

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan vacation holiday getaway August July September] taken in Kruse Park Dog Beach by @takingachanz

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25 days ago

Vendor Market After Dark

📍@bottleworksindy | Indianapolis

One thing I miss from my trips to Taiwan is the Night Market. Being able to go somewhere with local vendors and great food options after the sun has set is an immaculate time!

So! I was excited to see that the Bottleworks District had an "After Dark" Market. It's definitely not anywhere near the decades-long established Night Markets of Taipei but it still had it's charm!

I got to meet a handful of local vendors and learn about their businesses, there was a live band that really set the relaxing atmosphere, and the food from @thegaragefoodhall was fantastic, as always.

I would love to see more farmers market type events in the evenings!

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[visit Indy Summers Downtown Travel shop local] by @takingachanz

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a month ago

Color Walk: Michigan | 🍒 💛

I decided to match my first fit that weekend, Red and Yellow!

I have really found myself falling in love with color walks. They have helped me to be more aware of my surroundings, notice more details in my photos, and connect with the places I visit in a me intimate level.

A friend asked recently how to start a habit of remembering to take photos and videos, especially with her in them and I suggested color walks. You start simply with just choosing a color to find, at your location. Then as you develop that habit, you'll start to incorporate yourself naturally, and then you'll find yourself overflowing with content that totally doesn't sit in your folders for weeks 🫣

Featuring: Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Muskegon

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan vacation holiday travel food exploration experience]

Red 🍒 | Cider

📍 @taproot_cider_house | Traverse City

I have mentioned them a couple of times now and will continue doing so! Absolutely wonderful menu, great view of Front Street into the lake, and delicious ciders!

Yellow 💛 | Chairs

I haven't been in just yet but will absolutely be stopping by this place soon!

Red 🍒 | Bike

📍 @folgarellis | Traverse City

Incredible sandwiches and selections! Definitely recommend calling ahead for pick up!

Yellow 💛 & Red 🍒 | Cherry Lemonade

🥤: @drinkleelanau

I was genuninely so surprised at how delicious this is! I love cherry flavors and this lemonade was just perfect. Absolutely recommend picking up a bottle at @folgarellis while getting your sandwich!

Yellow 💛 & Red 🍒 | Cafe

📍 @omeletteshoppefrontstreet | Traverse City

The food here is no joke! The omelettes are massive and the pancakes are so filling. Bring a friend or two and share a stack! Peep the next photo to see the omelette!

Yellow 💛 | Omelette

📍 @omeletteshoppefrontstreet

This was the Chimichurri! Prime Rib, hash browns, mozzarella cheese, and chimichurri on top. Incredibly decadent, the right amount of acidity and tang, just a delightful way to start my day.

Red 🍒 | Old Fashioned

📍 @motu_lakeshore | Muskegon

A very relaxed atmosphere, great outdoor seating area, fantastic drinks.

Red 🍒& Yellow by @takingachanz

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a month ago

Chapter: Summer 2026 ☀️

📍 Sleeping Bear Dunes

Summer isn't quite done (thankfully) but I've been doing some reflections and felt like it was a good time to share some, since I haven't posted in awhile (whoops)! I will have a proper "Summer Send-Off" a bit closer to Summer's end and I'll do an introduction post at some point, too, but for now, some rambling!

This isn't the first time I've had to restart a large part of my life! I did a huge career change at 30 and am now finding myself alone at 35 with an even bigger life change coming - I'm moving to Michigan after being in Indiana for two decades! It's scary, exciting, uncomfortable, refreshing, and just a rollercoaster of emotions.

One thing that was part of this new chapter is solo-traveling! I did my first solo trip in July and it was a bit nerve-wracking. I've had many traveling trips alone, just never had a destination where I was truly on my own and you really learn so much about yourself. So, I wanted to share one tip that helped me navigate this new adventure
➡️➡️➡️

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan vacation sunsets lake Traverse City]

Grounding Yourself With Food & Drinks 🍷🥪

📍 @taproot_cider_house

One thing I learned through solo-traveling to help with the nerves was finding a way to ground myself. For me, food is a huge aspect of who I am and finding a restaurant that I could call my "comfort space" helped me relax.

I love finding gems beyond tourist destinations and supporting local businesses - "living like a local" as my friends and I call it. So, I joined a few online groups for the cities I was visiting to ask what the locals like and I had a few recommend Taproot to me. After reviewing the menu online, I knew this would be my kind of place and made it my first food stop in Traverse City!

I was in Traverse City for three days and made it a point to stop by Taproot everyday and it really helped me feel not so alone. The slushie cider quickly became one of my go-tos.

The staff were so kind and made me feel absolutely welcomed. The food was genuinely so delicious (everyone is right, the grilled cheese is a must have), and the owners having their own cider mill means the cider fl by @takingachanz

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a month ago

Happy National Park Day ☀️

Catching the sunset at...
📍 Sleeping Bear Dunes

I've spent quite a few summer evenings here this year and it's been remarkable every time!

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan vacation national Park great lake August views] taken in Sleeping Bear Dunes by @takingachanz

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2 months ago

Create & Collaborate Event ♡

This is just a peek into the photos and videos I took at this month's @createcollaborateevents - this event is hosted by @shaylin.collabs and @briella_rosela.

On the last Thursday of the month, they choose a fun new location for creatives of all kinds (photographers, illustrators, DJ, every kind) to gather at and meet one another, work together, and get creative (create & collaborate, if you will)!

This month was at @motu_lakeshore and then Kruse Park, all in Muskegon!

I am going to be moving to Michigan soon and was going to wait until I was in the area before trying to make some local friends until this event popped up on my feed! I am so glad I went, everyone was so welcoming, kind, and inspiring. Even being as awkward as I am, they made it so easy to join in the fun and feel like part of the creative community!

I did not take nearly as many photos as I would have liked because I was just taking it all in but what a truly lovely experience!!

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan artists pop up event] taken in Kruse Park Lake Michigan Beach by @takingachanz

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2 months ago

Can't wait to return to this, this weekend 🥹

📍 Sleeping Bear Dunes

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[Michigan Summers puremichigan vacation national Park great lake August sunset] taken in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by @takingachanz

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2 months ago

A sweet Summer Treat & A Good Book does wonders for the soul <3

📍 @milkandhoneytc
📖 Sleeping Bear Sundae

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[Michigan Summers vacation August ice cream Traverse City] taken in Milk and Honey Cafe and Ice Creamery by @takingachanz

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2 months ago