Join Me: Tree-Lined Paths of Birmingham MI's Charming Neighborhoods

Care to join me for a crisp morning walk in Birmingham's quiet neighborhoods? Care to...? Then, let's step out together from this cozy house right here♪

Today is Saturday, and I have lunch plans with Collie. So I figured I'd spend the morning strolling around the hotel neighborhood. 

Look at this spot—An ideal porch offers just the right shade from the roof while letting you bask in the sun, doesn't it?

I've walked these Birmingham streets several times, but strolling again feels like a simulated experience of actually living here. If I lived here, morning walks like this would undoubtedly become my daily routine!

Walking down Poppleton Street, one house always catches my eye. With a touch of Tudor style, this house leaves such a memorable impression on me.

As we wander down various streets, Michigan's Birmingham weaves its magic—strolling past these dreamy homes feels just like a tourist attraction.

I spotted a dark red leaf fallen on the ground—perfectly matching my socks! Such a fun little discovery on our Birmingham stroll 🍁🍁🍁

We've come back to that pink house I mentioned here too. ^^

The pink house makes Birmingham feel even more like a picturesque town, doesn't it?

Brief chats with passersby added charm to the walk. After exploring a little farther, we're heading back now. The light has shifted to sparkling sunshine. We can peek at a beautiful house through the dangling branches laden with red berries—it's enchanting!

Look—a black squirrel appears on the sidewalk! These little locals make every step lively, right?

Shall we head back down this tree-lined path? The light is dazzling! Among the green trees, a few are starting to show red and golden leaves. I can't stay here until Michigan's full fall foliage season, still, I'm glad I caught the first hints of it. Soon you'll be in full autumn glory—please remember me.

I'm grateful you joined me strolling Birmingham's neighborhoods today.   Rose

Hot Biscuit Happiness at Holiday Inn Express Birmingham, Michigan.

Personalized “GOOD MORNING” message + breakfast bliss!

During my stay at Holiday Inn Express in Birmingham, Michigan, I noticed a welcome message on the TV screen that said “GOOD MORNING” along with my name. It made me feel kind of happy and appreciated, so I took a photo of it to show Collie, since I’d already told him what a nice touch it was.

While it was still a bit dark outside, I headed down to the breakfast area, feeling warmly welcomed — but only after finishing my usual morning workout!

Breakfast time at Holiday Inn Express is a simple pleasure to begin the morning🥰

This morning, I tried my favorite way to eat the hot biscuits again. I split the biscuit and sandwiched a grilled sausage patty inside. I settled at the window-side counter seat to savor my breakfast.

Hehe, it kinda looks like a cute little burger, doesn't it? ^^  And it pairs so well with coffee! ♡

Of course, the biscuit is also delicious with butter and syrup ♪♪♪

The cinnamon rolls, diced potatoes, omelets — everything pairs so well with coffee, making it a morning full of treats!

This time around, I zoomed in on the hot biscuits — one of Holiday Inn Express's warm food highlights.

After enjoying breakfast as usual, I returned to my room. The personalized “GOOD MORNING” message is still on the TV screen. Let me take a commemorative photo!

On the upper right side of the wall, you can see the slightly wrinkled wallpaper that I cropped out in my previous room photo post.

As I mentioned in that previous post too, fixing this wallpaper crease would cost almost nothing and dramatically improve the hotel's image. It's such a shame because the room has such a nice, calming atmosphere otherwise.

Little details like this can make such a big difference. Even so, I had a wonderful stay — stay tuned for my Birmingham walking tour next😊

Rose (Eiko)

Soft Snow, Soft Slippers, and a Soft Heart

❄️ A Gift Waiting in the Snow

When I visited Collie in Michigan last year, I saw his old pair of slippers at home — they were completely worn out, with some parts almost coming apart. They were the men’s house slippers I’d bought at a shop in Narita Airport ages ago. Collie smiled and said, “I really like these, you know.^^”

I was so touched that he’d kept using my gift for such a long time🥺  But… it’s been, what, 17 or 18 years?? Can you believe it? So from Japan, I searched online for a pair of men’s slippers as similar as possible and decided to send them to him.

He said, “You don’t have to get. I still use the previous slippers you got me, even if they’re old.”  I couldn’t find the exact same ones, but I told him, “Wear the old ones as long as you love them, and then enjoy the new pair whenever you’re ready😊”

And that’s how the slippers I ordered through Amazon.com finally made their way to Collie’s home.

Collie:

I haven’t been home for a few days. Today, I came back just as the sun had set. It was the first day above 0 degrees Celsius in about 22 days. The snow was soft, so I started shoveling because it would freeze again at night. While I was by my rear door, I happened to notice a package there. An unusual spot... but when I looked closer, I realized it might be from you.

Rose:

Your slippers must be happy to have been found by you. Were they resting near the rose bushes? Maybe the Amazon delivery person thought that, with all that snow around, the spot would be a little more hidden from the street.

Thank you Rose! 🤗

They are great👍🏻 !!!

Collie 🙋‍♂️⚘️

A few days had passed since the delivery, but I was so happy to know the package finally reached him safely. I didn’t tell him right away—it was snowing so much in Michigan, and I didn’t want him to have to go all the way back just for that.

I'm so touched that he's used those slippers for so many incredible years. And I also think the new ones would make a lovely next chapter.

But apparently, Collie hasn’t even cut off the tag yet...😅  Maybe the transition to his new slippers will take a little while—and that’s okay.

Collie... From now on, all your slippers will be there to welcome you home every time you return.

Love isn’t about grand gestures, but about

the little moments that keep our hearts connected.

May your Valentine’s Day be filled with warmth, kindness,

and the simple joy of loving and being loved.

Collie's Sweet Outdoor Pick at sweetgreen + My Paired Decaf Idea

It’s Friday evening, and we’re having a healthy dinner full of veggies at a charming café in Birmingham, Michigan. I’m on a date with Collie! I've already decided on my order—sweetgreen’s Autumn Harvest Bowl, hands down.

The brown building on the left is sweetgreen. https://www.sweetgreen.com/locations/birmingham

Featured Menu: Autumn Harvest Bowl 

Close-up of sweetgreen's 2025 Autumn Harvest Bowl: roasted chicken, maple-glazed Brussels sprouts, organic shredded kale, roasted sweet potatoes, wild rice, goat cheese, roasted almond, apples, and balsamic vinaigrette.  It's more packed than I expected—such a generous portion!

My blue one is their eco-friendly still water in an aluminum can; Collie's orange Spindrift Grapefruit is bubbly seltzer with zesty grapefruit (his looks way more tempting...😅).

Customized for Meatless Friday Tradition

Following Catholic Friday no-meat practice, Collie customized his salmon bowl with two kinds of cheese, broccoli, and other veggies. 

Collie said he loves how you can customize your own unique dish just how you like.

Great that my research paid off—finding a spot Collie would love!

But I just realized I'd forgotten my own Friday abstinence and ordered the featured chicken dish...😂

Autumn Harvest Bowl & Customized Meatless Friday Bowl

eco-friendly still water & bubbly grapefruit seltzer

It turned into such a lovely Friday date because, although we first tried to grab seats inside, Collie suggested the outdoor table—what a great idea! Enjoying dinner with a Downtown Birmingham view in that comfy weather was pure bliss! 

Sweetgreen shines by offering fresh, seasonal ingredients in an easy yet delicious way. Healthy salads, bowls, and protein plates—you should try them too🎵

❤︎　❤︎　❤︎

I suggested we enjoy decaf coffee together at the Holiday Inn Express. It's in the breakfast area, but the coffee machine is available 24/7 for both regular and decaf options. When it's dark, sensors turn on the lights. Freshly brewed cup by cup and available anytime—love that convenience. Sharing these hotel perks with Collie makes me so happy.

❤︎

In the end, Collie and I never once got to share breakfast in that area. His top priority was helping his mother, who now lives alone in a wheelchair. I totally get it, but it leaves a slight tinge of sadness... Still, our brief date during his busy schedule was special. We chatted for a while, and that coffee we sipped together was delicious—just as I'd hoped he'd enjoy it when I recommended it.

◆ Quick Update ◆

To save money, I'd been skipping AC heating in favor of a mini heater. But I learned even a small one costs more after an hour or so—modern ACs in auto mode apparently use less power. Now I limit the mini heater to under an hour and run the AC heat at a low temp for a few hours a day. First time using it since moving into this apartment! The room's softly warm this winter, making my heart feel a touch richer😊

Revisiting Birmingham: Keurig Lessons & Dreamy Homes

After finishing my morning exploration at Kroger, I was relaxing in my hotel room when I heard a knock on the door.

It was one of the hotel staff members. He energetically said he’d show me how to use the Keurig.

The thing is, earlier I’d tried using the Keurig but it wouldn’t work properly, so I thought it was broken. I'd gone to the front desk with Collie, who explained the issue to the receptionist. This staff member must have been contacted by the front desk and came to help, demonstrating step-by-step while brewing me a fresh cup of coffee.

The Keurig worked perfectly, as if nothing had happened😳 Huh, that’s strange—when I tried following the instructions earlier, it wouldn’t start at all😥... Plus, he didn’t come just to check on it; from the get-go, he jumped in and said he’d teach me how to use it.

Maybe before he came, he or someone else had already checked it and found it wasn't broken, so he came back to give me a proper lesson? It worked so flawlessly—like a completely different machine—that I felt a bit embarrassed.

I thanked the lively staff member and enjoyed the coffee. It wasn't quite as tasty as the brew at the hotel's breakfast area, but being able to have coffee anytime in my room is pretty nice..😅

So, with that little coffee adventure wrapped up, I headed out for a walk. This time, I strolled along the street behind the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham, Michigan.

What kinds of houses can I spot around here? Walking through Birmingham and admiring these dreamy homes is such a refreshing and delightful experience.

Revisiting those moments makes them feel fresh and alive again, like I'm living a brand new story right now. That's the magic of travel blogging! My Birmingham strolling journey has that perfect "next chapter" vibe—hoping you're going to love following along!

Later, I told Collie that the Keurig coffee machine hadn't been broken after all, and we tried to go apologize to the front desk staff. But the guy who was there at the beginning had been replaced by someone else, and we never saw him again during my stay.

Maybe I'll try brewing coffee with the Keurig in the hotel room again some other day—while I still stay here. This time, on my own 😌

Join me Kroger shopping in Birmingham, MI—then what?

Hello there! :)

Welcome back to Rose’s blog, where I share glimpses of life alternating between Michigan and Tokyo. This time, it’s Michigan’s turn!

Today, I’ll take you along on a little shopping trip to Kroger in Birmingham, Michigan. 

Kroger supermarket exterior in Birmingham, Michigan

One of the joys of traveling abroad is checking out local supermarkets. Just seeing what kinds of foods they have gets me so excited and makes it such a fun experience😊♪

Wow! So many organic bananas! They're so vibrant and beautifully fresh. The price is super reasonable too.

Kroger Mini Cinnamon Rolls so cute I couldn't resist snapping a photo!

Adorable Mini Cinnamon Rolls😍 Just looking at it makes me imagine bringing them to the office and saying, "Enjoy these with your coffee break♪" But since I'm already savoring the Cinnamon Rolls at Holiday Inn Express Birmingham, these little ones are just for admiring today.

Dave's organic bread looks like something I'd definitely buy regularly and use for sandwiches if I were living in America. There are so many varieties, so I'd probably try them one by one. Unlike Japanese shokupan (sliced bread), the thin slices are perfect for me as a sandwich lover.

Holiday Inn Express exterior in Birmingham, Michigan

A brilliantly sunny day—almost dazzling! Having Kroger so close to the hotel is a huge plus. It's so convenient to just pop over whenever I need something.

Kroger-brand sea salt roasted pecans are something I always crave in Michigan—they're absolutely delicious! Plus pistachios that were on sale, and these cute little water bottles for the hotel that I was just drawn to.

Holiday Inn Express Birmingham room:

Delta blue slippers perfectly matching the blue wall by happy coincidence.

Back from shopping and unwinding in my serene room. The window lets in gentle sunlight, the white bed looks super comfy, and my Delta blue slippers blend aesthetically with the room.

So, what do you think I should do this afternoon, more exploring or just chilling? Now I'm wondering... The day is still young🌷

My Favorite Way to Enjoy Hot Biscuits: Day Two Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Birmingham

Here’s a look at my Day Two breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express in Birmingham, Michigan!

I grabbed a cinnamon roll, a biscuit, hash browns, a sausage patty, and omelets (one egg white veggie, one regular). A banana too! Fresh coffee is a must ❤︎ of course, and a little orange juice.

♪ A plate loaded with all my handpicked favorites ♪

Here’s the post that really focuses on the signature cinnamon roll from Day One.

→Holiday Inn Express Breakfast Day One—Plus the Sweet Story Behind the Cinnamon Rolls

Right now, let me show you my favorite way to enjoy this breakfast. I love making a little sandwich by putting the sausage patty inside the warm biscuit. The mildly sweet biscuit with a bit of syrup on top plus the savory sausage makes a sweet-and-salty combo absolutely irresistible.

I’ll keep enjoying my style of having a warm biscuit with a sausage patty inside😊

+*+*+* A little side story +*+*+*

I had three different mini chocolates from Whole Foods on the dresser, just for the cuteness, planning to enjoy them one by one… but somehow, one of them mysteriously disappeared.

The one that went missing was the blue coconut milk chocolate, which was such a letdown for me. The only small silver lining is that coconut isn’t really my favorite, but still, coming back to the room and finding it gone was a total shock😳 When I told Collie, he was surprised too and said it might be because I didn’t leave much of a tip—though of course, that still doesn’t make it okay. I even asked AI about it, and it said that small treats sometimes get eaten by the housekeeping staff, so if you don’t want them to disappear, it’s best to put them away… which honestly left me with mixed feelings😔

I once read that in a survey of Americans, about 70% said they don’t leave a pillow tip, so I figured even one dollar would be better than nothing. Still, the next day I decided to leave two dollars. Collie said I really should leave at least three dollars, or even five, but coming from Japan, where there’s no tipping culture, two dollars seemed like all I could manage.

So, I’m off to Kroger now.  Stay tuned for my little exploration report next time!

Come to the Table: PIME Missionary Fr. Piero Masolo's 'From Heart to Heart' Story

Before I left Japan for Michigan, Collie came up with the idea that I might like to go to a fundraising dinner. When I told him I’d love to, he bought two tickets in advance and made a reservation for us. I had never been to a fundraiser in the U.S. before, so I wondered what it would be like.

I’d be talking with the other guests at the table, I realized. I should be ready to respond naturally in English. I’d like to leave a good impression as a Japanese person, if I can. Would they welcome me warmly, I wonder?

The dinner was scheduled for my second day in Michigan! As evening approached, Collie came to pick me up by car at the back entrance of the hotel. We hadn’t coordinated what to wear, so I just went with the outfit I had planned myself.

He complimented my outfit—phew😌. And I finally had a chance to wear my very first pair of about 3-inch heels, which had been sitting in my closet, waiting for a special occasion like this with him.

The PIME fundraising dinner on October 2, 2025, was held at the San Marino Club in Troy, Michigan. We arrived early and helped ourselves to a little bit from the appetizer corner before taking our seats.

The tables were round with assigned seating like this. I was nervous, but Kathy from the ITALIAN TRIBUNE, sitting to my right, was such a lively woman and spoke to me very friendly. The two men sitting across from me also welcomed me warmly. I introduced myself, saying I had just arrived in Michigan from Tokyo yesterday when I shook their hands, and surprised them.

And to my left was the reassuring presence of Collie. I couldn't quite keep up with the local topics between the locals...💦, but there I was, feeling relieved.

One of those cheerful men across from me was Fr. Piero Masolo, a PIME missionary. He even came over to me to talk and scrolled through his phone to show me photos of his friend—a Japanese woman living in Japan. He also showed me pictures of the girls he cares for so dearly. I was truly moved to see this priest enthusiastically searching through his photos just to share them with me.

The meal was served family-style, with large platters brought out one by one for each of us to share.

After returning to Japan, I read an article written by Fr. Piero Masolo in the PIME quarterly magazine MISSION WORLD (September/October 2025 issue) I had received that evening.

It was about his experience at 17 in Bogliasco (a beautiful village near Genoa, Italy). There was a woman named Maria Teresa, a friend of his relatives. She was kind, but there was something else, something special about her. Even though they were meeting for the first time, he felt like she already knew him. What she said applied perfectly to him, even though it wasn't directed at him specifically. This is weird! Maria Teresa was about to leave that place soon. He offered to accompany her to her car in the street—because he wanted to figure out why she seemed to know him so well. When he asked, she just smiled and handed him a book she had written.

He was curious and puzzled, so that same night he started reading it. It was entitled "From Heart to Heart." And that book brought him to tears—he sat there reading and crying. For the first time in his life, he felt Jesus' presence. His Heart was finally talking to his heart through Maria Teresa's words, and his heart started burning. Meeting Maria Teresa changed his life.

Fr. Piero Masolo likens his experience to the two disciples devastated by Jesus's death. They didn't realize the traveler walking and talking with them was Jesus himself. However, when the three sat down at the table together and the traveler took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, those two recognized him. This became proof of the Lord's resurrection. The first effects were their burning hearts. For Fr. Piero Masolo, the theological journey of those two disciples in the Gospel of Luke was embodied in his encounter with Maria Teresa.

Sad that my first-time event 3-inch heels are missing from the shot!😅

Back in Japan, I took another look at the PIME quarterly magazine and became curious about "From Heart to Heart" written by Maria Teresa, so I searched for it—but I couldn't find the book anywhere.

One of the cheerful men sitting next to Fr. Piero Masolo came over to me as the dinner ended and we left the table. He complimented me, told me to enjoy my time in Michigan, and shook my hand.

I'm so grateful to Collie for giving me this wonderful experience. If I ever have the chance to meet Fr. Piero Masolo again, I'd love to talk with him about "From (Jesus') Heart to (your) Heart."

"Were not our hearts burning while he spoke to us

on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Luke 24:32

The PIME U.S. Mission Center    www.PIMEusa.org 

27405 West 10 Mile Rd Farmington Hills, MI 48332

A sweet little lunch, sweet mistakes, and a warm cup of coffee ☕️

A small, happy moment at Holiday Inn Express, Birmingham, Michigan

After my morning exploring downtown, I headed back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, the storage space and shelves were dusty, so I had to wipe off the dust myself before I could put my things away and arrange them on the shelves. Since I’m staying here for six days, I want to arrange my everyday items in a comfortable, convenient way.

Another small letdown was that a certain part of the wallpaper was wrinkled and quite loose (I cropped that part out of the photo). It wouldn’t be an expensive repair, and once fixed, I think future guests could enjoy a much more pleasant and comfortable stay.

Still, I was really happy with the interior of my Holiday Inn Express guest room. Sitting at the desk facing the wall, with sunlight streaming in from the side, felt so open and peaceful. Staying in the hotel room itself also turned into a lovely, refreshing change from my everyday routine.

Like this, I set up my laptop from Japan and studied here too — did lots of searching as well.  

One of the best things about traveling is that just being somewhere different makes everything feel fresh and fun.

Then I came back to the room with fresh coffee from the breakfast area — there’s a coffee machine that’s available 24/7. I pulled out the mixed berries and Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, plus the Danish and muffin I grabbed to go from breakfast (sorry, I just wanted to enjoy it here just once!).

Turns out, the Danish and muffin were super sweet — way too sweet, couldn’t finish them…😅

Lesson learned: from now on, at the breakfast area, I’ll just stick to the freshly made warm items😊

So… at this hotel, I’ll skip the super-sweet stuff and just go for the warm, fresh biscuits and cinnamon rolls "at" the breakfast area😄

Michigan’s First Starbucks Reserve Bar in Birmingham’s Ford Building

This Starbucks is on the same street as sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE. I recently learned that this impressive, historic-looking building is the Ford Building, constructed in 1896 by a local businessman named Frank Ford. The first tenant here was Levinson’s, the first department store in Birmingham, Michigan. Founded by Jewish immigrants Morris and Gitel Levinson, Levinson’s occupied the prominent corner space of the Ford Building as its main tenant.

101 N. Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009, U.S.A.

Today, that very corner is home to Starbucks, which opened there in 2017 as the first Starbucks Reserve Bar in Michigan. 

Starbucks Reserve Bar in Birmingham is an upscale version of Starbucks that focuses on high‑quality, small‑lot coffees and handcrafted drinks. Compared with a regular Starbucks, it offers exclusive Reserve beans, special brewing methods like pour‑over and nitro cold brew, and a more premium, lounge‑like atmosphere.

Historic plaque describing the history of the Ford Building

Although I didn’t get a chance to stop in this time, wandering around Birmingham led me to discover a piece of history I’d never noticed before, and now downtown Birmingham feels just a little more familiar and personal to me🌷

Scouting sweetgreen & PARIS BAGUETTE: Healthy Bites and Elegant Treats in Birmingham

After enjoying a morning stroll along Poppleton Street, it’s time to explore downtown Birmingham. Since I’ll be staying at a hotel here for several days, I want to get a good sense of the area on my own.

I wanted to get a clear picture of where sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE are because they were the first places that caught my interest during my initial research. 

Let’s start by taking a closer look at PARIS BAGUETTE😀

PARIS BAGUETTE is a global bakery chain originating from Korea. Indeed, the Strawberry Soft Cream Cake especially seems to cater to Japanese tastes, with its fluffy sponge base and generous fresh cream. Every cake here has an elegant quality to it.

I’d love to try the EGG Salad Sandwich, and the packaging’s message, "Freshly made to make your day," is really heartwarming.

Their products are also appealing because they use fresh ingredients and keep additives to a minimum.

Cozy yet chic seating area inside PARIS BAGUETTE, downtown Birmingham, Michigan☕✨

Could it be that this bakery’s philosophy to French-style methods and natural flavors is also reflected in a twist on these American-style cookies?

Since I plan to have something sweet in my hotel room for lunch today, I'm just browsing here. I’ll definitely come back again because it’s such a lovely café!　Next up is...

.. sweetgreen, right next to PARIS BAGUETTE. I thought it would be a great choice to get plenty of vegetables and enjoy healthy meals during my stay in Birmingham, so I added it to my list of places to visit. This store seems to have locations all across the United States.

Customizing everything still feels a bit overwhelming for me, so yeah, this is it! When I come for a meal, I’ll just try the Autumn Harvest Bowl😙♪

I learned a wonderful story. At that time, campus cafeterias’ fast food was convenient but not healthy, while healthy food took time and was expensive. Graduates who believed in the power of real food redefined fast food for a new era: fast, convenient, delicious, and healthy. They also made it affordable. The first store was opened by these three university students in Washington DC. Their vision is now being realized nationwide in the U.S.

I’ve checked out two great spots, sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE, and I memorized the route from my hotel. I’ll be sharing posts soon about my visits to each of these places. So please come back and visit my blog again♡