Joy Shantz
Joy is a wife, mom, friend and neighbor who lives in the City of Lansing and loves it! She gets excited about the outdoors, cold brew coffee, international cuisine and meeting new people. You can follow her Lansing area adventures at her personal blog @hometownfound on Instagram.
Go Out For Girls Night in Lansing This Fall
I had two babies in the past four years, which made life wonderfully busy. Amidst the beautiful, messy, and noisy days parenting toddlers, there are some things I missed. One of those things is...
Best Ice Cream Shops In + Around Lansing
It's finally summertime, and that means one thing and one thing only -- ice cream every day! Okay, maybe not every day.
There are so many different places to indulge in tasty frozen treats across...
Lansing Mom’s Guide to the Manistee River Area
A few weeks ago my husband and I left our kids with their grandparents for the first time and headed Northwest toward the Manistee River. Granted, a weekend without the kids in our own...
Plan a Friend Trip in the New Year
Last spring I spent the day with one of my best friends in Grand Rapids. We had a delicious brunch, went shopping, got our nails done, and ended the day with a fabulous community...
Festive holiday events across Lansing
This week we got our first snowfall of the season, which brings my holiday spirit to a whole new level! I'm so excited to celebrate the holidays with my kids, as this year they're...
Welcome Spring with these Spring Events In + Around Lansing
Spring is here, and it's about time! At least in our house, we are so ready for more sunshine and fewer layers. As we adjust our eyeballs to colors beyond white and gray, we're...
Manitou Islands| Lansing Mom’s Guide To Michigan Vacation Destinations
Much to my surprise, I married a camper. Not just a camper, but a backpacker. And so I found myself, four months into marriage, backpacking across South Manitou Island, one of the two Manitou...
Celebrate Galentine’s Day from Afar This Year
If you have never celebrated Galentine’s Day, you’re missing out. It may be a fictional holiday, but it’s one you will want to add to your spring calendar, for real—and for good!
Celebrated on...
Holiday Baking with a Toddler
I decided to recreate one of my top holiday recipes from last year—but this time, to try baking with my toddler by my side and to capture the process on video! The video shared...
Making Music as a Family
I grew up making music. My mom insisted on piano lessons as soon as I could read. I sang in church and all through school. In middle school, I decided the flute was not...