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Our Favorite Spring Activities

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Pink spring flowers in front of a blue sky

Spring has arrived in Michigan to a flurry of snow, rain and sleet. Spring is drunk, but we’re excited anyways. In true 8THIRTYFOUR fashion, we’re sharing with you our favorite spring activities, not because you asked, but because we feel like it.

Take a Deep Breath

Going for walks outside and soaking in the sunshine is pretty much the best part of warmer weather.  We can finally shed the layers of winter that we built up over the last three…who are we kidding five months. Take the dogs/cats/rabbit/hamster for a stroll around the neighborhood, breathing in that fresh air is great for your mental health. Commit to a 30 minute walk a few times a week, it’ll help with sleep and stress. 

Get Active

It’s time to bust out the clubs (golf clubs you weirdos). While you can catch the occasional warm December day for golf (looking at you Mines), the golf season in Michigan officially spans from April 1 through October 31. 

West Michigan has a number of courses available to all skill levels. If you’re looking for something quick, check out Sand Creek or Gracewil Country Club. If you want something a little more challenging, look to Thornapple Pointe, GVSU’s Meadows, The Mines, or Kent County’s Kaufman. Don’t forget to bring your birdie juice!

Grand Rapids also has the sport and social league, if you’re into kickball, volleyball or anything with balls, it’s the place to be. 

All the Yummy Food

When it comes to simple joys, few things are better than good food, and spring couldn’t agree more. This is the time to set up your garden, see if those garlic really did overwinter, and to tell yourself you’re really going to remember to water the tomatoes this year. 

Half of our team already has seedlings started indoors, and the other half are trying to figure out how many pre-potted flowers they can shove outside to make it look like they have a green thumb. Can’t grow anything to save your life? Fret not, friends. This is the season of farmers markets and foraging. Get out there and find something tasty (and not poisonous) to chow down on.

Explore

We have so many parks here, like have you guys even checked them out? From county parks to city parks, there is so much to explore. Whether you’re trekking through Provin or rollerblading Riverside Park, take the time to visit them all. This is a bucket list item for us along with all of these activities

Whatever you do, get out in your neighborhood, parks and trails. There is NOTHING like Michigan in the spring, summer and fall. It’s spectacular. We’re thinking of starting a jazzercise group, let us know if you’re interested.

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Recent Musings

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FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973. 
Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store. 

Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch. 

@crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary
Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet?
If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves.

This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore.

Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk.

Listen now at the link in bio.
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up.

We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. 

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared.
Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan 
Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.
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Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership.

Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it.

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You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are.

Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
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