"Rock Your Jeans!" with Ageless Style

Ageless Style is a monthly style challenge and link up for women of all ages.   Each month we pick a different theme and style an outfit based on that theme.  This month's theme is "Rock Your Jeans" and was picked by Rosemary..

Welcome back to Ageless Style.  We took last month off due to the holidays but we are back in full swing showing off our jeans.  In years past, it always seemed only one type of jeans were in style and if you wore anything else you were considered out of style.  But now, it seems anything goes when it comes to jeans.  You can wear wide leg, bootcut, flare, straight leg, whichever style you prefer and you are still on trend.  Even skinny jeans are still being worn, although they are trending out.

For this theme, I decided to show two new-to-me jean styles.  I was growing tired of the skinny jean trend last year, so I went shopping and purchased a pair of wide leg jeans (the light blue pair on the left) and a pair of straight leg jeans (the black pair on the right).  I really like them both, and I am more than happy to say "goodbye" to my skinny jeans.  

Wide Leg Jeans                                              Straight Leg Jeans

First let's talk about the wide leg jeans.  These are a light wash.  I have recently read that dark washes are more on trend so if you're going to invest in a new pair of jeans I would purchase a dark wash.  However, I am happy to have a light wash option, especially in the spring.

The jeans are straight and wide right down to the framed hem.  They have a looser fit, and are super comfy (unlike those tight fitting skinny jeans).  The brand is Mavi.

I paired my light wash jeans with a complimentary color:  periwinkle.  Light wash jeans look great with navy, purple, pink, and light neutrals such as oatmeal, grey, white, and camel.  

My second pair of jeans is a pull-on straight leg jean by Liverpool.  These are also super comfy.  If you're having a had time transitioning out of your skinny jeans, straight leg jeans will help ease the transition.

I'm wearing the same black Mia Jody Chelsea Boot with both my light wash wide leg jeans and my straight leg black jeans.  The fact that I can wear the same style and color of boots with two completely different pairs of jeans shows  how versatile this bootie is!

I wore this outfit when it was -25 degree windchill outside.  The straight legs help balance out the oversize sweater.  Wide leg jeans worn with this large sweater would have made me look like the Michelin Man 😂

So what about you?  What style of jean is your current favorite?  Are you still wearing skinny jeans, or did you ditch them?  I'd love to hear from you!

Now be sure to visit the other ladies in our group and link up with us as well!

Have a Great Day!  Amy

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Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits

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Bo ~ Bo's Bodacious Blog

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Joanna ~ My Slice of Life

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Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style

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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle

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Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

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Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style

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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Boat Tour

This post is part four of a travel series to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.   To start at the beginning go  HERE.  The remaining posts in consecutive order are HERE , HERE, HERE,  HERE, and HERE!

If you are ever fortunate enough to visit Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the number one thing to do is take a Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Boat Tour.  The tour highlights what the area is famous for:  it's glorious, unique pictured rocks!

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is 42 miles along the southern coast of Lake Superior between Munising and Grand Marais.

Although you can get a glimpse of the pictured rocks on a few hikes and overlooks, the best way to see them is by boat.  There are a variety of boats available through Pictured Rocks Cruises.  We took the Spray Falls Cruise because we wanted to see the waterfall.

Miner's Castle

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features sand stone cliffs, sea caves, and formations that rise 50 to 200 feet above Lake Superior.  

Bridal Veil Falls

Another great way to see the Pictured Rocks is by Kayak.  You can bring your own, rent one, or take a kayak tour!

The rocks are stained these interesting patterns and colors because of the minerals in the water.

The tours last between 2-2 1/2 hours and cost around $50 per adult.  Not a bad price if you ask me!  Please be advised it is FREEZING on the water, even if you go on a 90 degree day!  The best place to sit is up on top, but that wind is a killer!  They do have an indoor area to sit, but the views aren't as nice.

Painted Coves

The huge sandstone walls and coves of the seashore are an incredible sight to behold! The colors of the coves are constantly changing through time.  Minerals like iron, copper, and lime leak out of its sandstone walls and trickle down its face creating this marvelous work of art.

The force of Lake Superior waves splashing on the walls create caves and arches over time.

Caves of All Colors

"Lover's Leap" is an arch that extends from the shoreline out to an outcropping directly in Lake Superior. Folklore says it's named for lovers who jumped off the rock and into the water to declare their love for one another.  However, this is ill-advised today as the water is too shallow.

Lover's Leap

Rainbow Cave is a mammoth cave cut deep into the lakeshore with mineral stained walls that remind one of ancient hieroglyphs. Moss coats the cracks high on the cave walls.  The colors of this cave are very unique,

Rainbow Cave

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is ever changing.  Here a huge section of the cliff fell into the water not too long ago.  Back in 2021 boaters watched with fear as the cliff collapsed.  See the video HERE!

This rock formation got its name because viewer's thought it resembled an Indian's head. 

Indian Head

Grand Portal is another suspended archway but unfortunately is partially blocked by another rock fall.

Grand Portal

Chapel Cove

One of the biggest highlights of the boat tour is when the boat guides you inside this unique cove and turns off its engines..  You are surrounded on three sides by the sandstone cliffs!  It's so much fun!

The pictures above and below are taken from the back of the boat

Here is the cove we drove into.  It can't happen on any tour, the weather has to just perfect for the boat driver to achieve this miraculous feat!

We got a little preview from the boat of where we would be tomorrow on our 10 mile Chapel Loop hike!  We ended up sitting near this very waterfall and walking across the bridge.

Chapel Rock was another highlight of our trip that we saw on both land and from the water.  It has a tree growing on the top of the rock formation!

Chapel Rock

Spray Falls is the biggest highlight of the boat tour.  It's not too often you see a waterfall falling over a sandstone cliff and into a lake!  It is 70 feet tall.

Spray Falls

I just loved this photo of the American Flag in front of the sandstone cliffs.  So beautiful!

I would be a nervous wreck kayaking on a huge lake like Lake Superior, but there were certainly a lot of kayakers out there when we were visiting.

This old lighthouse is a highlight of the tour.  Built in 1868 as a guide for boats traveling in from Lake Superior to the east channel of Grand Island and in to Munsing Bay.

East Channel Lighthouse

After our boat tour, we were starving so we headed out for dinner.  We went to Pictured Rocks Pizza.  We loved the fun, quirky atmosphere.  You could eat indoors or out, we chose inside as it was hot outside.  

The pizza was great, but they have more to offer other than just pizza like this Alfredo pasta dish!  All was yummy!

 I hope you enjoyed my Pictured Rocks Boat Tour!  Next week,  I will take you on the hike of a lifetime:  the Chapel Loop!  10 miles of adventure of forests, rivers, bridges, waterfalls, beaches, and sandstone cliffs!  Stay tuned!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Waterfalls and Scenic Views

This post is part four of a travel series to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.   To start at the beginning go  HERE.  The remaining posts in consecutive order are HERE , HERE, HERE, and HERE!

On day four of our visit to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we planned to have one of the biggest highlights of our trip:  a boat ride to see the Pictured Rocks!  The boat ride wasn't until 2:00 pm so we needed something to fill our morning and we decided it was a good time to explore Munising's waterfalls and other scenic views.  All the waterfalls and views were in relatively short driving distance and involved short, easy hikes, so it wasn't difficult. 

But before I show you all of that, I wanted you to see the view from our hotel.  This hotel didn't have a private beach like our hotel in St. Ignace did, but it still had great views and you could eat breakfast outside and enjoy these views too!  This hotel is the "Holiday Inn Express Munising-Lakeview".

Miners Falls

The first waterfall we went to was "Miner's Falls".  It's an easy .6 mile one way trail that ends at the falls.  There are 77 steps leading down to the viewing platform  at the falls.  Pictured below shows the first part of the hike which offers a nice flat gravel path through the woods.

I saw a lovely field of blue flowers.

The falls cascade fifty feet over a sandstone outcrop.

I have a short little video showing Miner's Falls in action.  Sorry for the sideways video.  For some reason I thought I could turn the camera sideways while operating it, but I guess not.

Miners Castle Overlook

Next, we got a taste of what this area is known for:  it's Pictured Rocks.  We will be seeing a lot more on our boat ride, which is the best way to see the Pictured Rocks, but it was nice to see them from above too.

This view is from Miner's Castle Overlook.  The rocks are colored from mineral stains.  Miner's Castle is located about 5 miles from Munising and is the only cliff area in the park accessible by vehicle.  So if you want to see the Pictured Rocks without boating or hiking, this is the way!

There are two breath taking views overlooking Lake Superior and the Grand Island.

Miner's Castle got its namesake from the rock formation below.  There used to be two points, but one fell off in 2006.

This trail is an easy 0.5 mile with some stairs to the overlooks, but the stairs are so pretty you don't mind!  There is also a trail to Miner's Beach from here, but we didn't take it.

Munising Falls

Next, we went to my favorite waterfall in Munising:  Munising Falls.  This waterfall is just a short walk from the Visitor's Center, but it is such a beautiful, magical walk it was almost more enjoyable than the waterfall!

Once again, I was greeted by these beautiful blue, spring flowers.

A lovely bridge leads across a creek.

The trail is only 1/4 mile and is fully accessible to the central falls viewing platform.  From there, there are two sets of stairs that lead to elevated platforms enabling views of the 50 foot waterfall which drops over a sandstone cliff.

These falls aren't as dramatic as Miner's Falls, but they are located in such a peaceful, lovely glen.  I kept expecting a fairy to pop out at any moment.

One of the advantages of traveling in the spring is seeing all the spring flowers;  like these Marsh Marigolds.

Wagner Falls

We next went to see Alger Falls, which is a roadside waterfall.  Sorry, no photos of that one as it was hard to get while driving on a busy road.

Wagner Falls is nearby Alger Falls and that one we were able to park and hike into.

This is another short 0.2 mile trail that leads to a boardwalk and eventually a viewing platform of the falls.

Wagner Falls is 20 feet tall.  When we were there, fallen trees ruined the view of the falls.  The falls looks much prettier on the U.S. National Park Service website without the trees.

Here's another short video showing you the falls in action.

After viewing Wagner Falls it was about time for lunch.  The area is known for its "pastys", you will see signs advertising pastys everywhere.  We decided to try the local cuisine at this local establishment, which is a grab-and-go.

A pasty is sturdy crust folded over meat and veggies.  It is said that miner's took one to lunch everyday.  The pasty was wrapped in a napkin and fit nicely inside the miner's pocket.

I'll be honest, we didn't particularly care for them.  My husband felt it needed gravy, and the locals must hear that a lot because you also saw a lot of signs that said "Pastys don't need gravy".  😀. Apparently, they refuse to even sell them with gravy.

Grand Island Harbor Scenic Overlook

Not far from our hotel were signs for a scenic overlook so we decided to check it out.  The road takes you to the top of a hill and a small parking lot.  From there it's a short 0.1 mile hike to this view.

The map below shows where I was standing when I took the photo and all the sights to see.

By now, it was time for our Pictured Rocks Boat Tour!  We were so excited!  But I will share that part of our day next week.  See you then!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!