Michigan in Pictures

**Photo obtained from History.com

My very Web-savvy and native Michigander Aunt Lynette (who currently soaks up the sun in Florida) introduced me to this awesome photo blog, Michigan in Pictures. 

It's produced by the same guys who created Absolute Michigan. The purpose of the photo blog is "to showcase the state of Michigan through visual means." I've only been following this blog for about a week now, but I can already sense that the photographers seek to capture the unique and untold stories of Michigan. Many people don't have the first clue about how naturally beautiful Michigan is, so it's up to us natives to spread the word through visual blogs such as Michigan in Pictures. I'm not one to talk about not truly knowing the beauty of Michigan because I've yet to travel north of Petoskey. No worries, a trip to northern Michigan and the UP is at the top of mine and MAL's agenda this summer - now that we don't have to worry about five summer weddings like last year!

So check out the blog and give a shout out to these creative and talented photographers.

Kid Rock Gets Creative With Launch of New Craft Beer

**photo obtained from NBA.com

Cheers to you, Kid Rock! Way to take our poor economic situation into your own hands by coming up with a creative way to pump some life into the mitten state. Most celebrities create a clothing line, jewelry or perfume. But not Kid Rock. He's staying true to his nitty-gritty roots and creating a line of his own beer, with the help of the Michigan Brewing Co.

According to this Detroit Free Press article, Bobby Ritchie is calling all the shots regarding the name, design and pricing of the beer. But the best news of all is the creation of almost 400 new jobs in Michigan. Governor Granholm should be thrilled to hear that!

The Kid Rock branded beer is expected to hit shelves this spring. MAL has high hopes that Kid will introduce his new beer at his favorite bar, the Clarkston Union. We shall see...

Not All Talented Young Pros Leave MI

Contrary to the fact that a recent study says Michigan can't retain highly-skilled, educated workers, one Royal Oak company is doing just that -- pulling in young, talented workers from across the country. RTT USA, Inc. is a German-based company specializing in 3D visualization software that creates computer-generated renderings of products that are used in industrial design, marketing and advertising. This uber-cool company is rapidly making a mark on Oakland County and Michigan as a whole.

This is the type of story that needs to be told more often -- one that proves that Michigan is a desirable state for young, educated workers (especially in the tech/design industry). So if you're like me and are beyond exhausted of reading stories about Michigan's economic woes (or the 138595 billion stories about Detroit's mayor that you can't hide from unless you live under a rock), make an honest effort to read the positive stories about companies in our state that are thriving and prospering. You'll be surprised to find that there are an abundance of companies like RTT -- and many more whose stories have yet to be told.

Michigan Mittens

If you were to ask any given long-time resident of Michigan if they've ever used their hand to represent the state and point out where they're from, I can pretty much guarantee you they would say yes. I know I'm guilty of that on several occasions! Well, fellow Michiganders, there's no need to resort to turning your hand into a map anymore to proudly show those out-of-staters where you reside. Let me introduce you to Michigan Mittens, created by Erich and Connie Hahne from Clarkston.

The couple dreamed up this crazy-idea-turned-reality while driving home from a weekend at their Upper Peninsula cabin. The maps are embroidered into the palms of the mittens - the Lower Peninsula on the right and the Upper Peninsula on the left. They sell for $20 on the Web site, www.michiganmittens.com. The mittens are made from Angora wool (perfect for those bitterly cold, dead-of-winter days). Read more about it in this Flint Journal article.



I think this is a fantastic way to give tourists a token to take back with them and Michiganders a fun and unique way to sport their pride during the harsh winter months. It also gives hope to other Michigan entrepreneurs who want to jump-start the economy and prove why small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy. Kudos to you Hahne family!