Lansing Residents Giving Back with Pictures

As we approach the holiday season, there is a sudden hum of anticipation amongst shoppers getting presents for gift exchanges, people planning visits to see their families and friends, and right about now we start anticipating the embrace of a new year. Breaking form the norm, this upcoming weekend,  65 Lansing residents will spend most of their Saturday volunteering their time to give back to the community. A few incredible community volunteers have come together to organize one of my favorite Lansing events; HELP Portrait.

Help Portrait was founded by Jeremy Cowart, a revolutionary Nashville photographer. The project is based on the idea that pictures are for giving. Even with the omnipresence of the digital camera in our day-to-day lives, many people never get the opportunity to have professional photographs of themselves and their families.

These portraits are not for your portfolio, website, or for sale. Money isn’t involved here. This holiday season, you have the chance to give a family something they may have never had before—a portrait together.  -Jeremy Cowart

Help Portrait transcends the question, “May I take your picture?” to  ”May I take your picture in a studio, edit it, print it, frame it, and give it to you for free?”. This idea has created a worldwide community of photographers and volunteers working towards a goal to give people free high-quality pictures.

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Posted in #LansingLover, City Life, Events, Organizations and Clubs | Tagged | 2 Comments

Not to tease…

… but we’ve got a BIG FUN interview in the works!!

Who are you interviewing, Lansing Collective?

Here’s a hint: Yep. We’ll be talking to a very special someone, whose name starts with B, with a big spirit and a penchant for community action, mind-body fitness and philanthropy. Stay tuned next week! Can’t wait until next week? Join me for some Thanksgiving Day yoga and get to know the force behind Just B well before the article is published.

BOOM! Flexed.

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Posted in City Life, Events | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

‘Tis the season… to buy local! My top 3 reasons to shop Lansing and great holiday gift ideas!

As we all prepare for the holidays and “Black Friday” just around the corner, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the greatest power we all possess as individuals, and society as a whole- consumer purchasing power!

Purchasing power is huge.

Buying items, for oneself, or for others as we spread the joy of the holidays and search out that perfect gift to bring a smile to a loved one’s face, is more than just dropping a few bucks here or there. It is an investment and a show of support for the type of economy we want to thrive. Where we decide to spend our money is one of the most significant ways we can build up an economy and create the type of society we want to live in. Continue reading

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Posted in City Life, Dining | 1 Comment

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Lansingites. It’s been awhile, no? This Lansing lover has been mad busy this Fall. As we all know from previous posts, I am what some friends refer to as a “nomadic twenty-something”, always looking for my next place in life; and this Fall it has taken me from downtown Lansing to the east side. That’s right, after fourteen months of calling downtown “home”, I decided to make another move. This time, to a beautiful house on the east side with two housemates.

Moving to a new location has led to many revelations for me, but the biggest being the realization that neighborhoods can offer a sense of community that can make the greater Lansing community not only a safer place for us all, but a happier place as well.

Let me go back a bit and refer to a NPR story I heard a few months ago on the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association. This Association was featured on the “What’s Working” segment of the NPR radio show, in which “Michigan Radio has been spotlighting people and organizations that are trying to improve life in Michigan.” Continue reading

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Posted in City Life, Organizations and Clubs | 6 Comments

The Road Less Traveled

Lansing lovers. Its been awhile. I’m home for the next four days, and then I’m gone again. Since the beginning of October I’ve been home for a total of maybe a week and a half. I’ve been in New York, Boston, Providence, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Chicago. Its been amazing to visit the East coast, travel my yoga, and work my political know how in my power suit. But at the end of the day, I miss Lansing. My recent escapades have made this more known.  My last trip consisted of a week in Detroit and a weekend in Chicago. As I finished out my crazy week and weekend, I felt really excited to merge onto I-496 where I soon arrived at my home in REO town. 

After being gone for a week, I immediately went to Hilltop and embarked on a 2 hour guided meditation class with studio owner, Hilaire Lockwood. I’d been sitting in my car for the last four hours, but I didn’t mind sitting for another two. She guided me through beaches, the road less traveled, my family history, and dedication. I smiled, I cried, I felt grateful for everything in my life.

Next, I bicycled back home along the river trail, taking in the sight of the fallen leaves, kids throwing rocks into the river and neighbors walking their dogs. 

I make it home, say ‘what up’ to my cats, unpack my suitcase for the 4th time this month, enjoy a glass of mango orange juice with my housemate and then off to a friend’s house to make fajitas, catch up and have a group study date.

It feels so good to be home because I feel the love in this city.

As I travel the eastern seaboard, sometimes thinking I’m missing out on what the rest of the world may have to offer, I realize that every time I come home from weeks of travel, I’m always back where I need to be.

Even though I’m here for less than a week before my next adventure, I’m excited that my days are already filled with a birthday celebration at the local Irish pub, a visit to my favorite local bicycle shop, Spin Cycles, a meal at the new local artisan diner, A Fork in the Road, teaching yoga to the sunrise at Just B Yoga and a yoga asana practice to live music with artist Girish at Hilltop.

Thank you Lansing for everything you have given me over the last year. Taking me in, providing me the opportunity to make a home here, and having me feel proud to call this place my home, no matter what metropolitan I may find myself in. 

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