PRIDELY ~ Central Michigan

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TOP 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your

Next International Trip

OVERPACKING OVERSPENDING NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH CARRYING VALUABLES NOT NOTIFYING THE BANK

Whether it’s your first international trip or your fifth, traveling is all about discovering the unknown. It’s no surprise that there can be problems along the way. Extra planning and learning from these common travel mistakes can help you focus on enjoying your trip without worrying.

Mistake #1 is overpacking - too many packed items can be hard to organize and be uncomfortable to travel with. Mistake #2 is overspending - sticking to a realistic budget and leaving room for unexpected expenses is always best.

Mistake #3 is not doing enough research - it’s always safe to do extra research when traveling abroad including weather, laws, and international costs. Mistake #4 is carrying valuables with you while exploring - pick pocketers are notorious for targeting tourists, so keep your valuables locked away safe in your hotel if possible. Most importantly, mistake #5 is not notifying your bank of your international travel plans - otherwise, your debit or credit card may be blocked due to “unusual activity” unfortunately if you don’t do this ahead of time.

Restaurants

Bomber Restaurant

Mom-&-pop brunch diner adorned with model airplanes famous for an enormous breakfast platter.

306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Phone: (734) 482-0550 | Web: www.bomberrestaurant.net

Spencer

Hip, laid-back spot featuring seasonal locavore fare, plus curated wine & cheese lists & craft beer.

113 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Phone: (734) 369-3979 | Web: www.spencerannarbor.com

Aloha Cookin’

Family-run restaurant specializing in local-style Hawaii cuisine—a melting pot of flavors.

350 Albert St, East Lansing, MI 48823

Phone: (517) 657-7963 | Web: www.alohacookin.com

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Bellflower

Contemporary spot with a patio offering a seasonal, locally sourced dinner menu & cocktails.

209 Pearl St # 202, Ypsilanti, MI

The Chop House

Chophouse decorated with elegant gas lamps offers premium steak, wine & interactive tablet menus.

322 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI

Altu’s Ethiopian

Low-key, independently owned outpost for traditional Ethiopian fare & combo meals.

1312 E Michigan Avenue, East Lansing, MI

The People’s Kitchen

Creative comfort foods & craft cocktails served amid colorful industrial decor, plus weekend brunch.

2722 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

La Torre Taqueria

Laid-back, family-owned operation serving classic Mexican fare such as tacos & burritos.

1525 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI

Knight’s Steakhouse

Old-school outfit serving a variety of steaks, seafood & burgers in a comfy setting with a full bar.

2324 Dexter Ave, Ann Arbor, MI

Soup Spoon Café

Colorful & cozy cafe offers a diverse menu of home-style eats & regional beer.

1419 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

Frita Batidos

Stark white space with picnic table seating serves colorful cuban street food & tropical cocktails.

117 W Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI

Casablanca

Relaxed, halal mainstay preparing Moroccan & Middle Eastern recipes along with smoothies & desserts.

2333 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI

Piazzano’s

Unfussy bar/eatery serving pizza & Italian fare, plus Mexican grub, sandwiches, burgers & breakfast.

1825 N Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI

FEB 11

Mid-Michigan Women’s Expo

Invite your friends and join the fun! Explore a variety of exhibits, seminars, shopping and fun that aim to provide a weekend of entertainment, education and enjoyment tailored to women and their families. Learn more at kohlerexpo.com.

MAR 17

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

If you have Celtic Pride or just want to see a Wee Bit of Irish, come on down to Bridge Street and take in the sites and sounds of the parade. If you want to have the taste of the culture, there are so many things to do like, bagpipe players, pub crawls, green rivers and green fountains in Lansing. Learn more at lansing.org.

APR 28

36th Annual Freeland Walleye Festival

The four-day event features a walleye fishing tournament, community-wide garage sales, high-stakes poker tournament, parade, carnival rides, beer tent and more. Learn more at freelandwalleyefestival.com.

MAY 21

East Lansing Art Festival

The East Lansing Art Festival’s mission is to enhance the sense of community and appreciation of art, culture and creativity in East Lansing and the greater Lansing region. Learn more at elartfest.com.

JUN 25

Flint Pride Festival

Join us for the 12th Annual Flint Gay Pride Festival! Flint Pride is an annual community festival that features live music, entertainment, food, educational information, merchandise booths, pin-up contest, children’s activities, and plenty of fun & dancing. Learn more at michiganfun.com.

FOUR TIPS to help you boost your retirement savings

1. CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR 401(K)

If you happen to have the benefit of a traditional 401(k) plan through your employer, you may be able to contribute pretax money. This can be a huge advantage to your retirement savings plan.

2. OPEN AN IRA

It is a good idea to establish an individual retirement account (IRA) to help invest in your future. You can do either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Take some time to research both options and see what’s best for you.

3. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS

A good idea to help you increase your savings even more is to set automatic payments each month. This will help you grow your money without even having to think about it.

4. SET A GOAL

Understanding and planning ahead of time how much you may need in the future not only can help you better understand why you’re saving, but it also can make the process more rewarding.

6 Most Profitable Blog Niches

Making money online with a blog has never been easier.

There are so many areas you can explore when developing content for a blog. Making a profit from doing this is definitely possible, but it is essential to make sure you are creating high-quality content to help you monetize. Here are some quick tips and ideas to help you get started.

1

Don’t overestimate the value of digital marketing in today’s businesses.

SEO, email campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing are just some of the broad range of strategies used in digital marketing.

2

Digital Marketing Blogging for Profit

There are many valuable ways to write and help people make money online.

Some of these blog topics include freelance writing, working as a virtual assistant, and even starting your own online business.

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JUL 5

Tunes At Noon Festival

An eclectic line-up of local musicians provide lunchtime concerts in downtown Flint. Bring lunch and a chair as there will be limited picnic tables available. Learn more at exploreflintandgenesee.org.

AUG 2

Saginaw County Fair

Over 30,000 people will be attending to enjoy rides and food vendors. Our daily admission price includes entrance into grandstand events. There is no additional charge to see grandstand shows. Learn more at saginawcountyfair.org.

SEP 17

Road Rally

Cars will begin lining up at our “Brought to you Sponsor” Shea Automotive on Corunna and Linden Road in Flint. Come on out, enjoy the warm, fall weather, and being “on the road again” with your classic car! Learn more at backtothebricks.org.

OCT 1

Fall Harvest Festival

Fall Harvest Festival celebrates everything that makes Applewood special: A place where family and friends can enjoy nature’s beauty, have fun, learn about history, eat locally grown food, and acquire a new skill. Learn more at ruthmottfoundation.org.

NOV 13

Smetanka Fall Craft Shows

If you want to experience a large scale craft show with over 100 quality exhibitors at a nice facility, you’ll want to attend this Smetanka Craft Show. For more than 30 years, this event has brought together artists and artisans of all kinds from throughout the Midwest. Learn more at smetankacraftshows.com.

OZONE HOUSE

Ozone House helps youth lead safe, healthy, and productive lives. We are the only agency in Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and the surrounding areas) that provides free, confidential, and voluntary shelter and support services to homeless youth including runaways and high-risk youth ages 10-20 and their families.

Web: ozonehouse.org

YPSI PRIDE

Ypsi Pride aspires to unite the people of Ypsilanti through a celebration of LGBTQ+ Culture by reaffirming our visibility and inclusivity across this community.

Web: www.facebook.com/YpsiPride

SALUS CENTER

Salus Center serves Lansing’s LGBTQIA+ communities as a gathering space and information hub. We advocate for the rights of our community members by honoring and affirming the interconnectedness of oppression. Web: saluscenter.org

PFLAG

The mission of PFLAG is to build on a foundation of loving families united with LGBTQIA+ people and allies who support one another and to educate ourselves and our communities to speak up as advocates until all hearts and minds respect, value, and affirm LGBTQIA+ people.

Contact: GreaterLansingPFLAG@gmail.com | Phone: 517-925-1125

STAND WITH TRANS

Stand with Trans is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to provide the tools needed by transgender youth so they will be empowered, supported, and validated as they transition to their authentic life. Web: standwithtrans.org

QUEERING MEDICINE

Queering Medicine is a grassroots advocacy organization made up of queer people working to improve health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people in the greater Lansing area using science-informed knowledge and practice.

Web: www.queeringmedicine.com

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Health &

Fitness

Online fitness classes have become more and more popular over time.

There are many areas of fitness content to include such as workout videos, fitness courses, and one-on-one training sessions.

4

Finance & Investing

People are constantly seeking ways to manage their money better.

You can help people manage their money wisely in ways like saving for retirement or making the right investments.

5

People love to learn about quick and easy meals and diets.

Getting creative with this is the fun part as you can put own twist on popular dishes or share innovative recipes.

6

Food Recipes Self Care

There are so many beneficial topics to create content on inlcuding routines, stress management, mindfulness, and journaling.

Now more than ever, people are tapped in to their mental wellness.