Sleek Design & Quality Ingredients: The Good Egg Breakfast Cafe, Oxford, Michigan

This was a must-try spot if I ever visited Oxford, Michigan again! Today, I’m excited to share my experience at The Good Egg Breakfast Cafe—a trendy, beloved local gem known for its simple yet delicious ingredients.

And I already had my order locked in. 🤭  I went with the ultimate American classic: a burger and French fries.

Look at these beautiful fries! 😍 The fries here are absolutely my style. I love simple fries without any extra batter.

When asked what to pair with my fries, I requested mayonnaise. They didn't seem to have it, but kindly suggested ranch as an alternative.  📝 Note to self: "ranch" is the go-to answer in the US! 

THE GOOD EGG BREAKFAST CAFE

51 S WASHINGTON ST, OXFORD, MI 48371, US

Phone: (248) 572-4315 Open 7 days 8 AM - 3 PM

Actually, I read that they don't cook with any seed oils here. They use tallow in the fryers, and avocado oil, olive oil, and butter everywhere else! No wonder the fries taste so clean and tasty.

I really admire their dedication to serving food with that level of care and quality.

They seated me at a cozy table in the back. The restaurant gave off a sleek vibe with its black and brown design, both inside and out.

WPCR Coffee

This picture shows the view looking out toward the back. I took one from the opposite side just for the memory.

The coffee was amazing, too, and I loved that it came with free refills!

They use beans from White Pine Coffee Roasters—a beloved local roaster who carefully roast their own beans. whitepinecoffee.com

Biggie Max Burger

Two Angus smash burgers with American cheese, lettuce,

pickles, onion, and special sauce on a brioche bun

Look at this chunky texture! 😍 Unlike perfectly round, factory-made patties, they use 100% Angus beef smashed right on the grill. It has that amazing, rustic homemade feel.

Both the burger and fries here are definitely something else! It’s exactly as they say on their website: a place that serves thoughtfully made brunch and classic comforts with warm hospitality. Tucked right in the heart of downtown Oxford, it’s truly the kind of spot you'll want to come back to—again and again.

As I was walking up to the counter to leave, I told the lady, 'I really loved your coffee.' She smiled warmly and said, 'Oh, gooood!' 😊✨

I hope to come back here with Collie someday. I’m already dreaming of having that burger and French fries again—and of course, that flavorful coffee!

A Cozy Morning Alone: Sweet Overnight Oats at His Place

So, this is me enjoying my time at his house in Michigan. On mornings without him, this was pretty much my standard breakfast. 

I had brought the oatmeal with me from Japan. He had kindly bought me some Greek yogurt and soy milk at a local supermarket, so the night before, I prepared some overnight oats in the fridge for the next morning.

He also got me some organic frozen blueberries and cut fruits. Blueberries aren't really his thing, but he loves eating these cut fruits with me at home. It seems like picking up fresh cut fruits is just a natural part of his daily life.

This breakfast is a little low on protein, but I make up for it by adding collagen powder to my coffee. 

I highly recommend this iHerb collagen powder because if you pour coffee over it, it dissolves completely without even stirring!  https://iherb.com/c/california-gold-nutrition/collagen

Feel free to use my referral code PKD185 for a little discount on your order. 😉

Currently, I’m taking a break from Greek yogurt and soy milk for SIBO management. This is a snapshot of my time in Michigan last year—a sweet record of how I was doing my best to look after my health back then.

Inside Meijer: Sweet & Funny Moments of Grocery Shopping with Him

One of my favorite things to do in Michigan is visiting a giant local supermarket like Meijer. The store is massive, and it’s packed with so many colorful American items!

Even a simple grocery shopping trip becomes a special memory with him. 🍓

Collie took the mission very seriously.

I told him that I wanted some shrimp to cook at home, so he was carefully choosing the best one for me. He looked so serious! 🤣  He explained to me that pre-cooked (boiled) shrimp is safer than raw shrimp to avoid food poisoning.

I just couldn't resist following him and snapping photos of his back profile. 🤭

Inspecting every single detail...

I caught this adorable moment of him staring at the items so intently. 🥰  Look at him focusing on choosing the best one! 

He was actually looking for a convenient sensor light for me to use during my stay at his house. He wanted to make sure I felt comfortable every night.

However, we had completely opposite ideas about safety! I thought having a light on would be safer because it scares away bad guys, but he said that a sensor light actually makes it easier for them to see inside the house.

Meijer is definitely a very helpful place for us. Collie took care of me so well, going back and forth between his mom's house—whom he always cares for—and his own house where I was staying. He is just so adorable and reliable.

Rose🌷

A Charming Mishap at HomeGrown Brewing: My Dream Spot in Oxford, MI

Oxford hides some incredible gems, and there was one specific brewery-restaurant that I'd been dying to check out. Once Collie returned from work, he was sweet enough to take me there.

It’s a family-owned local spot that uses Oxford’s own water to brew their craft beers.

HomeGrown Brewing Company
28 N Washington St. Oxford, MI 48371

I actually checked out their menu while I was in Japan to find the perfect brew for me. My favorites are hazy, smooth, and light-colored beers. So, I started with this beautifully pale, fruity glass.

Polly Ann Witbier

It’s a gentle Belgian-style wheat beer with subtle hints of citrus. With its lower ABV, it was the absolute perfect starter for the evening.

Their special brews bring together the world's finest hand-picked hops and Oxford’s own pure water. Crafted with love by a local family right in the heart of downtown Oxford, each is a truly unique pint you can only experience right here.

When the server came over and asked how I liked the beer, I told him it was amazing, adding, ''I'll order another one later!''　

As for Collie, he didn’t order any beer at all and just had water. Part of it was because he was driving us around, but he’s never really been a big fan of alcohol anyway.

That evening, fresh salads were our dinner of choice.

Collie's choice: Farmhouse Salad (GF)

Romaine, roasted chicken, bacon, corn, tomatoes,

peas, cucumber, carrot, shredded cheese, w/ranch 

Rose's choice: Power Salad (V, GF, Vegan without cheese)

Mixed greens, quinoa, pistachios, red onion, chickpeas,

cucumber, feta cheese, w/lemon vinaigrette + Salmon

True to their 'Locavore' philosophy, this restaurant focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. You can really taste the freshness of Michigan in every bite.

But then, the unexpected happened. Right as I was finishing up my first glass, the same server swiftly showed up with the exact same beer again! Both Collie and I just froze, our eyes wide with surprise, like, ''Wait, what?!''

Clearly, the server took my words to mean I wanted a refill of the exact same beer. But in reality, I was actually excited to order the real one I'd been dying to taste. In any case, I never in a million years imagined another glass would just appear before I even said a word. Still, it was a very sweet gesture on his part.

Zephyros NE IPA on the left 😂

Two pints is my absolute limit anyway. Thankfully, he let me know that they offer small tasters to sample the beers. So, I finally got a tiny pour of the Zephyros in a little glass—the exact beer I’d been longing for ever since doing my research in Japan.

The Zephyros NE IPA is the ultimate Hazy Double IPA! The aroma is incredibly rich and full-bodied, just like you'd expect from a high-alcohol beer. I just never thought I’d end up tasting my dream beer in such a small amount... 😭

After a few precious tastes of the Zephyros, I filled the rest of the small glass with Polly Ann. Too cute not to capture for the memories 🤍

I didn’t want that second pint poured for me to go to waste, so I told him, ''Don't worry about it, I’ll definitely be back!'' 

But later on, Collie asked me, ''You said you'd be back, but are you really going back there again?'' Since he’s not much of a drinker himself, he seemed genuinely amazed that I was already planning my next beer trip. 😅

Honestly, I was secretly planning to try a solo brewery run while in Michigan! I thought to myself, ''It's such a welcoming spot that next time I can pop in alone right after they open.'' But in the end, that opportunity never came up.

I’m so happy I got to tell you all about this awesome hidden gem in Oxford today. If you're a beer lover and find yourself in the area, make sure to enjoy your favorite pint for me! 😉

The Hidden Language of My Michigan Flowers

Sipping Coffee on My First Morning at His Place 

The next morning, the flowers are glowing in the morning light on the dining table. 

Whenever I visit Michigan, he prepares flowers for me—smaller ones for what I secretly call "my room," and a larger arrangement for the dining table.

Now that I'm back in Japan and reflecting on my trip, I have explored the language of flowers again, just like in my last post. 🤭

🌼Yellow Marguerite: Beautiful appearance / Happiness / Affection

🤍White Marguerite: Sincerity / Pure love / Secret love

🌹Red Rose: Passionate love / I love you　　🌻Sunflower: Looking only at you / Adoration

There’s no single, universal phrase for this specific combination of flowers. However, according to the Western tradition of Victorian "floriography" (the language of flowers), the symbols of each flower blend into a powerful, positive message of deep love: 

"With a pure and sincere heart, I love only you passionately, and I will make you happy."

Oh my goodness! I bet he bought these flowers pre-arranged as a bouquet at the shop. But does this mean the florist intentionally designed the bouquet with this beautiful meaning in mind?

On my first morning there after he had already left, I chilled out over a light meal. I opened a cute box of treats—a thoughtful souvenir from a couple we had visited together—and also tasted my favorite pecan nuts alongside a fresh cup of coffee.

Since Collie doesn't drink coffee, I made sure to bring my own coffee beans from Japan. I always put collagen powder in my first coffee of the day. Usually I do it beforehand, but oops—I forgot and added it after!

I had absolutely no idea about the language of flowers back then. Now, here in Japan, I’ve discovered that their💐message was as pure and deeply passionate as a marriage proposal. He likely just grabbed a pre-made bouquet, but it makes me feel a little flutter inside. ☺️

What Does It Mean When Your Partner Gives You Yellow Carnations?

Yellow Carnations: Sweet Friendship or a Hidden Warning?

I finally arrived at his place🏡, and when I went into 'my room'🤭, I noticed he had fresh flowers as usual. He always does this whenever I visit, which is incredibly sweet. But this time... 

They were carnations. And wait, they’re YELLOW?! Ummm... okay, hold on a second...

Tied the Astoria string on the vase myself on my last visit.

According to the language of flowers, yellow carnations basically have these three main meanings...

1. Sunny Vibes ☀️

He definitely wanted to brighten up the room and make it cozy for me.

2. Friendship 💔

Wait... Is he putting me in the friendzone?!

3. Jealousy 😬

This makes absolutely no sense.

Later, he told me, "Is there something wrong with yellow flowers? I just bought them because they look bright and beautiful."

In American and Western culture, decorating a room with yellow flowers seems to carry a purely positive meaning. Generally speaking, most regular Americans probably don't think about the language of flowers when picking them out. Most of the time, it's simply because "they look cute and pretty."

Did some studying here during my alone time.

As for my reaction? Let’s just say I didn't go as far as saying, "They really make the room look lovely!" Of course, I thanked him. But then, I had to educate him a little bit and said, "You know, yellow actually means jealousy..."

But seriously, why would he give me flowers that mean jealousy anyway? It makes no sense. And as his partner, the meaning I should actually be worried about is "friendship."

Friendzone...💧 Ugh. 😑

To be completely honest, I actually just looked up the whole language of flowers thing while writing this blog post. So back then, I didn't even know yellow carnations meant 'friendship.' But I did vaguely know that yellow flowers, in general, could mean jealousy.

Well, since he bought those yellow carnations without thinking too much about it, let’s just pretend he meant 'my best friend and partner in crime.'

— My partner is my best friend. —

Right? 😉

Gentle New Start: Cozy Days in Michigan with Founders Mortal Bloom

Today, I’m sharing a few things I picked up at a local grocery store, with a special focus on a regional Michigan beer. As my stay at his place quietly begins, after spending my first few days at a hotel, I wanted to share these little local discoveries that are making the start of our time together feel warm and grounded. Though, truth be told, he was the one who bought everything I needed!

I hope you enjoy a glimpse into my cozy evenings. It’s a gentle fresh start to my trip to Michigan.

Delightful grocery store find: Founders Mortal Bloom

About the taste of Mortal Bloom, the Founders Brewing Co. website reads "Citrus and tropical notes of pineapple and mango. Moderately hazy, low bitterness, soft mouthfeel..."

I was thrilled to spot this beer at the grocery store! I first tried it when Collie and I visited a couple we're friends with in Michigan, and I absolutely loved it. Collie doesn’t usually drink much beer, but he told me that Grand Rapids, where this beer is brewed, is famous for its IPAs. I learned that Grand Rapids is even known as 'Beer City, USA'!

This Hazy IPA is packed with juicy hop flavors, but has a beautifully smooth, velvety finish. It instantly became one of my favorite beers. The floral package design is also quite unique, don't you think?

Along with the beer, we got Dave's Killer Bread, pecans, bananas, and mandarins. The frozen organic blueberries and soy milk are already tucked away in the freezer and fridge, but basically, everything was completely tailored to my liking! Haha.

Here is a bonus photo of the little potted plants at the store. Out of all of them, I think the small red roses in the top center are my favorite. I couldn't quite bring myself to ask Collie to put them at his place, so I just admired them from afar. 

I packed a few cans of Mortal Bloom into my suitcase when heading back to Japan. Back home, I treasured those beers, keeping them in my fridge for a long time, to save that special feeling and savor the taste again like I was in Michigan.