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Divorce: Tips from A Family Law Attorney

 I am likely one of the few who decided when I was young what I wanted to do, and was able to do exactly that. I went to law school knowing that I wanted to practice Family Law, and was fortunate enough to work for a firm right out of school that allowed me to do so. I learned quite a bit during that phase of my practice, mainly that I didn’t want to be a Family Law attorney after all.

I did however gain a great deal of insight into the divorce process from the outside and would like to share some helpful advice for those who find themselves contemplating this path:

• Divorce will not solve all of your problems, especially if you have children together, they will still be there, and most likely will be intensified.

 • Divorce is not a threat to be leveraged in the heat of the moment. I know many of us have been so angry that we have launched that missile just to see the resulting explosion, but this is a very serious life decision with very serious consequences, and such a threat may result (often unexpectedly) in one party actually following through on it.

• If divorce is inevitable, shop for an attorney like you would shop for a doctor. Ask for referrals, read reviews, ask to meet with attorneys to see if you click. You need to establish a comfort level with a person because you will have to divulge more to them then you have to your closest friends.

• Your attorney is on your side, trust me!  At times they may be the only one who will advise you honestly and look out for your well-being. Attorneys are ethically obligated to represent YOUR interests once they are retained.

• You and your (ex)spouse need to discuss and decide what custody arrangement will work best for you and YOUR CHILDREN. Only you know what your kids need, and only you know what will work logistically for your lifestyle. If you leave it to the Friend Of The Court or the judge to decide, I can assure you that no one will be happy, mainly your kids.

• It is best for you and your (ex)spouse to be fully aware of all debts, assets, accounts, etc. prior to meeting with an attorney.

 • Your attorney will bill you for every document, call, email, hearing and meeting. Just as a dentist charges to fill a cavity or do a cleaning, your attorney will charge for legal services and legal advice. This is their profession and it is how they make their living. 

• Your attorney doesn’t think you are nuts, and is not judging you.  I can assure you that we have heard it all!

• Remember that your kids are the most important thing in all of this, and that they need to know that they are loved by both of you and that you put them first. It is important to show one another kindness and respect and it may be the hardest thing you have to do.

• Take care of yourself and lean on those you are close to. Ask for help when you need it and accept it when it is offered.

It may seem like the end of the world when faced with a divorce, but I promise you that it does end, and your life will return to a new type of normal, so hang in there!

 

Only Chicken Tenders, Fries & Ketchup: Managing Picky Eating

Although feeding young children can be stressful for parents, it is important to remember eating can be tough on young kids too!

Most, if not all, young children have specific food preferences and at one time or another can be selective (or picky!) about food. Young children are often reluctant to try foods that are unfamiliar or look different. Even more mind boggling, little ones quickly change taste preferences seemingly overnight. A favorite food one day can be despised the next. You often have to let your child try a food 15-20 times (if they will do it!) before they learn to like it.

True picky eating that goes beyond these patterns is a bit more extreme. Picky eaters get upset when they see unfamiliar food and will only eat a few select favorites (chicken nuggets, French fries, hot dogs are popular rotations for many picky eaters). Often it is hard for picky eaters to eat in unfamiliar places, or they prefer the food at only a specific place. For example, only pizza from Jets is makes the cut. An outing to a restaurant or a party can suddenly become loaded with stress if they don’t feel comfortable with the food options provided.

The natural response for most parents is to offer encouragement by saying “Just try it.” Unfortunately, gentle prodding is typically ineffective, and encouragement quickly becomes a negotiation of “just one bite.”

Food battles don’t work. They become battles of will versus anything about food.

SO what do you do, mama of a Picky Eater?

  • Focus on the uncomfortable feelings about the disliked food. You can’t logic the fear out of picky eating!
  • Continue to provide regular meals and snacks in a structured manner so your child comes to the table hungry.
  • Allow them freedom to choose from what you provide for each snack and meal.
  • Do your best to have regular family meals that are enjoyable and not focused on what your kids are or are not eating.
  • Go on “food adventures” by providing new foods paired with foods you know your child likes.
  • Implement the idea of “food chaining” which allows you to expand slowly on your child’s food preferences. For example, if your child only eats one brand of chicken nuggets, slowly introduce a new brand. Once that is accepted, you can then provide chicken tenders versus nuggets, eventually moving up to chicken prepared in different ways.
  • Avoid pressure to eat. Believe it or not, the statement “You don’t have to eat that,” can be a game changer.

If the picky eating continues and you are concerned about your child’s health or you see increased anxiety, it may be helpful to consult with your pediatrician or a dietitian who specializes in childhood feeding. Kristine Vazzano is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders. For more information about eating disorders, visit www.mindfullness.com or follow her on twitter at MindfullnessED.

 

 

A Few Things You Should Know About Adoption

I’m an adoptive mom, but it’s rarely something I share when I meet someone simply because it doesn’t seem relevant. When I talk about myself and how many children I have I just answer the question, two with one on the way and share their ages and their names. That’s it. It never even dawns on me to mention that I am an adoptive parent. Not because it’s not important. Not because it was such an easy process that I’ve forgotten, quite the opposite actually. Not because it isn’t always on my mind, but it often doesn’t seem appropriate to single out my adopted child from the others until someone brings it up.

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November is National Adoption Awareness Month and I never in a million years thought I’d be here writing about it with a personal story all my own, but I am.  I’m proud of my son and know this will always be a part of his story, so here are a few things we want you to know about adoption.

**I do realize that most comments and statements made to us are not intentionally mean, derogatory or negative, but they’re often times received that way. This isn’t a list of things to not say, but more of an informative peek into our side of things.

I am his real mom.

“Are you his ‘real’ mom?”
“Does he know his ‘real’ mom?”
“Isn’t he your nephew?”

These are easily some of the most hurtful comments I receive regularly. While I realize it’s often meant with no negative intention, it’s received that way and is extremely hurtful. Yes, I am his REAL mom. In every sense of the word. He didn’t choose this life and in my particular situation, neither did I initially. However, his birth into our family in an untraditional way shouldn’t dictate who are his “real” parents. I love and care for him, provide for him, snuggle and kiss his boo boos, I nurture him and am molding him into the kind, grateful human that he is becoming. If that doesn’t make me his “real” mom, then I don’t know what does.

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It’s different when you have your own.

This isn’t always brought up to adoptive parents, but it was said to my husband and I a lot during our foster care/adoption process while I was pregnant with our second child. I know that while our situation was very unique and our adoption didn’t happen due to infertility, there are a lot of adoptive parents who go on to get pregnant unexpectedly after they adopt and even more who don’t. It was said to us many times during my first pregnancy that it would be completely different parenting this child since he was “ours”.  And at the time I was confused and scared. Were they right? Would I love this child differently because he grew in my womb while our first, adopted child did not? Come to find out every single person was wrong about that. There hasn’t been a single moment where I have loved or treated my adopted child differently than my biological child. I think this is one of those things that outsiders have a hard time understanding, but I can attest that having both adopted and biological children, my love for each of them is no different or worse. They are all equally my children and all cause me to drink the same amount of wine each night. 😉

 

I am not inspirational to have adopted him.

“That was so brave of you to take him in.”
“He is so lucky to have you.”

Being adopted isn’t a privilege to my child. I was not brave or inspirational. He will never have to feel grateful that I chose him or feel a special sense of gratitude for something that is inherently ours. I am the lucky one here. I am inspired by a little boy who had zero say in the matter of how his life was chosen FOR him, yet he has never skipped a beat in loving me unconditionally. I loved him before I knew he was my son. He is the inspirational one for letting me love him and call him mine.

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A birth parent can be a selfless individual or not.

Sometimes birth parents do a very brave, selfless act by giving their children up for adoption, but not always. I will say in our particular situation this wasn’t the case, they didn’t have a say in what happened due to their own actions. However, birth parents who willingly give up their children in order to give them a better life, a better fighting chance because they aren’t able to? Those are admirable qualities. I will always have a special place in my heart for my son’s birth parents, but realize his destiny was already set in motion before the chips fell. Most adoptive parents will tell you their child was always meant to be in their family. There is a certain piece of the puzzle they fill that could’ve never been filled by anyone else. 

Yes, he knows he is adopted.

While I don’t single out my adopted child from my biological children when parenting them or introducing them, he is very well aware that he is adopted (kind of… he’s only 3 years old so we’re working on it). Don’t mistake my omission for secrecy. It’s not relevant to always bring it up to outsiders, but it is very much a daily topic in our home. It is very important our child knows that he is indeed adopted and has a separate set of birth parents. I’ve done copious amounts of research, spoken with professionals and worrying myself sick over this. Will he feel betrayed by us or his birth parents one day? Will he love his birth parents more than me if he ever meets them? These are just a couple of the questions that enter into the equation into adoptive parenting. We do everything we can to not screw it up and still worry that we’re screwing it up. 

Your continued support in our parenting decisions is extremely important to us.

Our parenting decisions will likely be different than some you may choose. Some adoptive parents choose to keep birth parents involved, some don’t. We’ve chosen the latter, but for our own very well thought out reasons. Everything we do, we do for the sake of our son and for his well being. We will always keep his best interest as a priority over other people’s feelings and emotions toward the situation. Sometimes it’s appropriate to have birth parents involved, but not always. It is so important to adoptive parents that you support our decisions, whether or not you agree with them. Chances are you won’t and that’s okay. We ask that you respect we are the parents and do not make decisions based on our own feelings, but simply are trying to be the best parents we can be and pray that those decisions are the right ones. 

Adoption is hard, confusing and stressful. But is equally amazing and unlike anything I’ve yet to experience. My forever favorite quote I often look back on is this one, “You grew in my heart instead of my tummy.” Truer words have never been written. My love grew for my son in such a different, miraculous way that can never be compared to anything or replicated. While I did not get to grow him within my womb and deliver him, his entry into our family is one we will never forget and is just as meaningful. God perfectly placed him into our lives. He was our first baby boy, our first snotty nose, our first all-nighter & our first love. 

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Windsor: Easy Family Canadian Getaway

Wanting a quick family getaway? Maybe one in another country? Well hello Canada! Spring, summer, fall or winter, families can experience an international adventure in Windsor! With a flash of a passport or enhanced license, a lot of excitement awaits you across the border.

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Wondering how easy it can be? We used Crossing Made Easy to make sure we had proper documents and also information on wait times and what we could bring across the border. We made our plans just a few days ahead and this website was hugely helpful. With our itinerary in place (of course I made it flexible with a lil guy!), my first stop was Verizon. We all wanted to use our phones in Canada and not be charged a fortune. For $2 per day, the International Travel Plan allows you to carry your data plan across the border. It ends as soon as you cross back into the U.S.! After that I packed things I never travel without – resealable bags in many sizes for snacks and meals, car toys and different toys for hotel room, special food and drinks, and a cooler. 

Crossing into Canada was a breeze in late morning traffic! Moms, if you’re traveling with passports request a stamp. It makes a great memento of the trip! Before we checked into our hotel we went straight to River Canard Canoe Co and rented a canoe (make sure to call ahead for a reservation).

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Canoe rental includes a quick safety lesson, and everything you need for a trip down River Canard. We packed snacks and water and enjoyed the quiet and the wildlife. The rental fee is for 8 hours, but you won’t feel bad if your littles only last an hour because it’s so reasonably priced! 

We spent the rest of the day at Heritage Village, a property containing more than 20 buildings from late 1700s to 1920s creating a historical walk through Canada’s heritage. They’re filled with artifacts and great signage, so you can easily do a tour on your own. I loved the cabins, and my son loved the General Store. So many things to explore!

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On the same property is the Canadian Transportation Museum, an amazing collection of antique and vintage cars.  Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, it’s an interesting slice of history!

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After our busy day, it was so nice to collapse into a comfy hotel room. I can’t recommend the Best Western Plus Waterfront Hotel enough! It sits on the waterfront and every room has a view of the Detroit River. My little guy loved watching boats and barges pass by and the Ambassador Bridge lighting up at night was a big hit. The hotel has a gym and pool with a waterfront view. And…free continental breakfast in the morning! Moms, it’s pretty nice to grab fresh fruit and yogurt for the family in a quick elevator ride.

Outside the hotel’s front door is Windsor Sculpture Park – literally a museum without walls. It’s a gorgeously landscaped walk right along Detroit River with 31 large-scale pieces of art. This was a big hit with the whole family: we discussed our favorites, enjoyed the fresh air walk and loved looking at the Detroit skyline from Windsor.

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The hotel’s location in city center means it’s surrounded by museums! We left our car in the lot and walked everywhere. Mason Francois Baby House (out the hotel’s back door) is a small museum about Windsor’s French roots and the War of 1812. Great small museum for kids and a scavenger hunt makes it a lot of fun.

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Chimzuk Museum has an amazing children’s area with lots of interactive things to do like dress up, building, crossing a mini Ambassador Bridge, and exploring how cars and boats travel between USA and Canada. Padraig loved building bridges across the Detroit River. Want to check it out? A temporary exhibit on Ice Age Mammals is running until December 31st!

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Inside the museum is Art Gallery of Windsor, a collection of almost 4,000 pieces of artwork telling local stories and also housing both temporary and permanent exhibits spanning the globe. Running until January 22 is a retrospective on Brenda Francis Pelkey

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Behind the hotel is an INDOOR waterpark! Adventure Bay is endless amounts of fun. A wristband allows you to come and go, making it easy to go to the hotel for a nap or meal. 

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After an afternoon here of water cannons, wave pools, slides, and an incredible splash zone, the whole family will sleep like babies!

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We are already planning a Fall and Winter trip to Windsor. The weather is still gorgeous for outdoor exploring! And in the dead of winter or even on a rainy weekend, we can’t wait to explore indoor museum and waterpark fun.

The question for you? Not when will you go, but what will you do when you get there?

Safe travels!

 

The Joys and Hardships of Raising Irish Twins

When I got pregnant with our second child, Cameron, it didn’t initially dawn on me what I was in for. And to be honest, it wasn’t until after Cameron was born that I realized what we had done. It most assuredly was not on purpose, but nonetheless, there we were with 2 under 2, “Irish Twins”, a very new one-year-old and a newborn. 

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WHY DID WE DO THIS?!

Like I said, it wasn’t necessarily planned to have our kids be this close in age. We weren’t even thinking of having a baby any time soon as we were in the midst of dealing with Kaiden’s foster care / adoption process. And then I realized my sporadic monthly visitor was even later than normal. Then there it was, the positive pregnancy test that launched me into a club of moms (and dads) of a special breed. 

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It was probably a good thing I didn’t know what we were getting into because I would’ve been horrified had I known. It never hit me what it would be like to keep a one-year-old from terrorizing the house as I learned how to breastfeed our newborn. One of many lessons I’ve learned along the way — sometimes things don’t go according to plan and you’ve just gotta roll with it.

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Raising “Irish Twins”, otherwise known as children 10-12 months apart in age (our boys are 13 months apart, but they’re close enough that I lump them into that group), has been a true test of brawn and willpower. And honestly, I feel like I deserve a medal (or a really good bottle of wine) for making it out alive to tell the tale. 

The Hardships

  • They’re close enough in age that when one is a baby, the other is a baby, so you’ve got two babies on your hands. But they’re far enough apart that while one is crawling (or walking in some cases) around ripping things off the table and throwing food everywhere, you’re also trying to nurse your newborn and pump in between. And forget about eating. 
  • You have two kids in diapers. Let’s repeat that — you have TWO in diapers. Some people even have three in diapers at once and hats off to them. You basically are an expert diaper changer by the end of it all and can likely hold a title in the Guiness Book of World Records for quickest butt wiper on the planet.
  • Sometimes your one year old isn’t walking yet. That was us. When Cameron was born, Kaiden hadn’t even started walking yet (and didn’t do so for several more months). So I was carrying around two babies everywhere we went. That got old (and tiresome) real fast.
  • Because they’re both still very much in the baby stage at the same time, they also enter the toddler stage at the same time at varying degrees of temper tantrums and independence. See below as to why to not attempt a doctor visit alone with two under two (yes, I tried twice and failed both times):

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  • Everything happens at the same time. They have to eat at the same time. They nap at the same time (this is a win except when they’re both too cranky to nap). They poop at the same time, which means changing many, many diapers at the same time. They bath at the same time. While I’ve never lived the life of having twins, life with “Irish Twins” is a runner up in my book.

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The Joys

  • The second child learns everything a lot faster thanks to older big sis or big bro. This can be a good and bad thing, but for us it’s been great. You already have your hands full with two babies or toddlers and your time is diminished easily. Our youngest was walking sooner, eating on his own sooner and has shown signs of wanting to be potty trained a lot sooner thanks to big bro.

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  • You go through all the stages at the same time and get them over with. This is both a hardship and a joy. As stated above you are in the trenches for basically two years, but once the baby stage is over – it’s over! And once the toddler stage is over – it’s over! You get to experience it all at once and move on to a small piece of heaven where you aren’t wiping butts or making a bottle (I’ve yet to reach the no wiping of butts stage — I’ll report back and let you know just how glorious that is).irish-twins-6 
  • The Irish Twins will never know what life was like without the other. The transition of bringing a newborn home is minimal when it comes to behavioral issues or outbursts. We had a short day or so time frame of our one-year-old adjusting to sharing life with a sibling, but then it was over and we all moved on. He’ll never know life without his brother. And that is really a wonderful thing.irish-twins-12
  • The most obvious best part? They are best friends. Because they’re so close in age they have nearly all the same interests. They are truly partners in crime (which is scary at times), but knowing they have a built in best friend is so rewarding. Seeing the two of them play together and laugh at each other makes all the really hard times so worth it.

 

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While I’m not going to say I’d recommend having children this close in age, the perks and the love shared between them far outweigh the hardships. And I’m confident they will continue to be best friends throughout their life. So if I was able to give them anything, I gave them each other. What better gift is there?

You Shouldn’t Ask

I walked into her office. This woman who I interact with a handful of times throughout the year. Most recently a week ago. when we spoke for about an hour. This time I had a purpose, a follow up to what we previously talked about. I had my words prepared. This woman is a professional, just like me, and I didn’t want to waste her time. As I knocked on her door and walked in, before I could say anything, she looked at me and asked, “when are you due?” with a smile on her face, like she was in on some big secret.

And just like that, I could feel my soul crushing and my heart sinking. I forgot why I walked into her office in the first place. I forgot my entire purpose.  I just stood there staring at her. I’m sure I looked like an idiot. Maybe I heard her wrong. Maybe she said something else. To be sure, I said “excuse me?” Nope. I heard her right. “When are you due?” Again, with that smile on her face.

I tried to compose myself and fumbled through an answer, “uhh … I just had my son” and then tried to brush past this topic and jumped right into why I came to her office in the first place. We spoke professionally about the reason I came to her in the first place. I left her office. I walked down the hall and down the stairs. I could feel my heart racing right now. I knew I was about to breakdown. I was in fight or flight mode, and all I wanted to do was flee. I raced down the stairs, made it to my car, and the tears just flowed. I couldn’t stop. I really did. Compose yourself! You are a professional woman! Don’t let this woman break you! I couldn’t help it.

The thing is …. I’m not due. In fact, my youngest child just turned one (well, he’s now 14 months, if you want to be specific).

How could this woman know that I have struggled with my weight and low self esteem my entire life? How could she know that this isn’t the first time that I have been asked this question after I had my son? Hell! It wasn’t even the 10th time! How could she know the weight (a light-hearted pun intended) those words have?

She didn’t know that a couple of my peers had a terrible nickname for me when I was in elementary school. She didn’t know that I never felt pretty enough in high school because I wasn’t skinny like the other girls. She didn’t know that my coping technique through an emotionally abusive relationship in college was to stress eat. She didn’t know that I struggled with post partum depression after I had my first child (most people don’t know that). She didn’t know that my weight-related low self esteem plummeted even more during my divorce.

But she also didn’t know that I have lost all my baby weight (from my second child). She didn’t know that I’ve lost an additional 35 pounds. She didn’t know that I now exercise weekly and make better choices with food. She didn’t know that I am finally in a place where I feel like I look the best I have in over a decade! And that’s putting me right on par with my high school self!

As much as I want to excuse her ignorance, I shouldn’t have to. I should not be the one to reassure and comfort her after an insulting comment. I should not be the one feeling ashamed because she was disrespectful. I should have told her that that was an insensitive and rude question. Her wounding question does not get to be excused because I am overweight.

You might not anticipate how hurtful the “when are you due?” question is, but that doesn’t mean you should ask. A friend of mine was telling me that she was out running errands one evening. The cashier at the checkout counter said those devastating words to her. “When are you due?” This friend couldn’t compose herself (nor should she have had to). She left her items at the counter and cried all the way to her car. Ya see, my friend still had her baby bump. But she had no baby to celebrate. She miscarried just a few weeks prior. So this question hurts her in a completely different, yet equally heartbreaking way.

Moral of the story: I don’t care if a woman is 9 days, 9 weeks, or 9 months pregnant … you should NEVER ask “when are you due?”

Has anybody ever asked you this question when you were not actually “due?” How did you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently?

Moms Night Out at Enhance [Skin. Body.Wellness]

Have you ever needed a night out so bad it hurt?!

If you are we have the perfect Moms Night Out for you at Enhance in Plymouth!  This place is not only adorable but offers an array of services that moms will find useful and intriguing to them. As a mom we know the importance of taking a night to ourselves. A night to rest, relax and reset. A night to connect with other moms and maintain old friendships or make new ones. Our Moms Night Out at Enhance is just the place to do all of these. Get ready to enjoy yourself ladies because we have an amazing night planned just for YOU!

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On November 15th we’ll welcome you into Enhance for a fun filled evening! From 7pm – 9pm the night is all about YOU. You’ll be able to make a customized Eminence Organics Take Home Facial with Kelly Ramsay from Beneficial Skin and Body Care. Enhance will have their masque bar set up so Kelly can help you mix a customized trial masque for use at home that addresses your skin care needs. 

Ticket Information

 Moms Night Out :: $15

Skin analysis with the Skin Ceuticals Skin Scope that shows sun damage and skin congestion
Open forum question and answer about services offered, skincare questions, etc
Reps on hand from Galderma (injection company) and CoolSculpting to answer any questions 
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Cantoro’s 
Eminence Organics Take Home Facial
Parafin hand dips 
CoolSculpting demos 
Swag Bags you’ll go crazy over! 

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, November 8th at 9pm. 

Make sure you join the Facebook event page to stay up to date with all of the details. If you missed our DMB Founder’s journey with Coolsculpting make sure you read more here. 

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To the left you’ll find a place to rest and relax in comfy couches and chairs.

Swag You'll Go Crazy For

Because we know how much you love swag we’ve got some pretty amazing businesses that are ready to pamper you! 

One Skinny Tee Tank

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Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

One Complimentary Spray Tan 

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Facebook | Instagram 

A Pure Barre Surprise 

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Facebook | Instagram 

Get Your Ticket Here

Make sure you don’t wait to get your ticket. Since we have a limited amount of them we dob’t expect them to last long and would hate for you to miss out. See you soon!

 

 

 

More Than Frozen Fat: My Journey With Coolsculpting… and Giveaway

My Story, My Journey

I was that girl, the girl who swore she’d never do anything to alter her appearance unless it was through diet and exercise. Everyone always talks about loving the body you have. How you shouldn’t get surgery to make your skin tighter, your tummy smaller or your boobs bigger. I’ve said that! Then I’d work out for hours, eat endless salads and do the ‘right’ things and nothing. I may lose a couple pounds but some areas just never seemed to disappear no matter how hard I worked. After my third baby I just assumed I’d have those untamed areas for the rest of my life and lets not fail to mention the little flap above my recent c-section or the two c-sections before that.

Then the lovely owner of Enhance [Skin. Body. Wellness] reached out to me. I may have shrugged off his emails one too many times before finally deciding to respond I just wasn’t interested. But lets face it, I was curious what he could possibly want from me. After several email exchanges I made the decision to venture into his office (I’m always curious what places like this really look like), meet him (if he was going to see me somewhat naked I needed to make sure he was legit) and see what this whole Coolscupting thing was all about. Seriously, a machine that freezes my fat?! No invasive surgeries. Recovery time. Additional scars. Who wouldn’t want that? His friendly personality and comfortable atmosphere had me leaving there really questioning why I didn’t want this. Besides the financial reasons what was really holding me back.

Two Coolsculpting applicators on. One of the right side and one on the left.
Two Coolsculpting applicators on. One of the right side and one on the left.

After some serious soul searching I decided I needed to not only do this for myself but for the thousands of moms (women) who struggle with their appearance on a daily basis. It may be the things that no one else can see or the things people just don’t notice. For one mom it could be the flap above her C-section that despite every effort just won’t go away. For the mom who has a double chin that she’s had her whole life regardless of her weight. For the mom with the spare tire that hangs out through every workout and healthy food choice. This is for YOU! This is for you to feel comfortable in your own skin. To look in a mirror and love the woman you’re looking at. To feel confident enough to walk around naked in front of your husband. To pull on a pair of jeans that leave you feeling sexier than ever. This is for you! coolsculptingresults

This is me being vulnerable for you! The picture I’m sharing is after one treatment. When I look at it I don’t see the results that Kyle (the owner) sees. I still see a body I’m not 100% in love with but what I do see is progress and the hope I will get there. I see the changes but they’re small to me. This is something Kyle walked me through. He explained Coolsculpting step by step and what I can expect. He didn’t promise crazy results after the first treatment. What I knew coming out of the first treatment was that I would need a second and possibly a third. He was open and honest about everything and to me that meant far more than the instant changes I envisioned in my head.

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The experience I had with Coolsculpting was far more than the frozen fat I left with. From start to finish I felt comfortable. I didn’t get down on myself for doing this. I didn’t feel like less of a woman for wanting to make this change. I felt empowered by the idea that I don’t have to live uncomfortably in my own skin. I left hoping others will realize that they don’t have to feel embarrassed or ashamed because they chose cosmetic changes. In a world of mom-shaming I can only hope that each one of you reads this and realizes this was my choice. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud of each one of those stretch marks, that flap above my c-section scar and that squishy belly I currently possess. I’ve carried 3 beautiful children and had 3 c-sections and that my friends is something to be proud of. 

Coolsculpting back application

What is Coolsculpting?

Assuming you’re a little bit curious at this point let me tell you what it is. 

CoolSculpting is a procedure that freezes and permanently removes stubborn fat. Called the liposuction alternative by celebrities, CoolSculpting removes fat that is non-responsive to diet and exercise. CoolSculpting is safe, non-surgical and FDA approved!

CoolSculpting selectively freezes fat cells in targeted areas of the body. Frozen fat cells die, and are gradually eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system. The result is a steady reduction in the thickness of the body’s fat layer. Each cycle permanently removes 20-25% of the fat layer. This leaves you looking slimmer and more toned.

coolsculpting-what-it-is

For frequently asked questions visit the Enhance website to learn more. Or you can come to our Moms Night Out on November 15th from 7pm – 9pm at Enhance and learn more about Coolsculpting. Plus enjoy a night with friends and a lot of fun! Join our Facebook event page to stay up-to-date and stay tuned for more information.

Don’t forget to follow along as I near my 12 week mark of my second treatment in about 8 weeks. I can already see the difference!

>>> Coolsculpting Giveaway <<<

One lucky Mama will win a Mommy Tummy CoolSculpting Makeover. It will consist of a complimentary CoolSculpting consultation, before pictures and treatment to transformation plan. They will then get a complimentary CoolSculpting treatment on the abdomen that has a retail value of $4500. This is an amazing giveaway! Enter to win and share this will ALL of your friends. You never know who’s life this can change. Good luck!!!
 

 
Disclaimer :: Detroit Moms Blog received these services in exchange for this post, however, all opinions are my own and 100% genuine!

 

November Mom 2 Mom Sales {In + Around Detroit}

November is upon us and before the holiday rush consumes you, mark your calendar now to stop by your local Mom 2 Mom Sale for great deals on things for your little ones. Check out the list of Mom 2 Mom Sales happening In + Around Detroit this month. Is there a sale that you know of that we can add to our list? Leave a comment in the box below and we’ll be sure to add it!

 

Saturday, November 5 

Auburn Elementary PTO

Location: 2900 Waukegan, Auburn Hills
Time: 9AM – 12PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
80 tables

 

Garden City High School

Location: 6500 Middlebelt Rd., Garden City
Time: 9AM – 2PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
85 tables

 

Greenwood Elementary PTO

Location: 27900 Joan, St. Clair Shores
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8AM Early Bird)
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
60 tables

 

Helen Keller Elementary

Location: 1505 N. Campbell Rd., Royal Oak
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 9AM
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
50 tables

 

Keewahdin Elementary School

Location: 4801 Lakeshore Rd., Fort Gratiot
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
30+ tables

 

Pine River Elementary

Location: 3575 King Rd., China Twp.
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 10AM
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
50 tables

 

St. Paul Lutheran

Location: 495 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
35 tables

 

St. Valentine School

Location: 25875 Hope St., Redford
Time: 10AM – 2PM (9AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
58 tables

 

Super Mom Sale at Fowlerville High School

Location: 700 N. Grand River, Fowlerville
Time: 9AM – 1PM 
Strollers: Ok after 10:30AM
Cost: $5/$3 After 11:30AM
200+ tables

Saturday, November 12 

Allen Park PTA/PTSA Council

Location: 18401 Champaign, Allen Park
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Cost: $1
40 tables

 

Auburn Hills Christian School

Location: 3655 N. Squirrel, Auburn Hills
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
50 tables

 

Birmingham Early Childhood Center at Berkshire Middle School

Location: 21707 W. 14 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills
Time: 9AM – 12PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 9AM 
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
75+ tables

 

Mohawk Elementary PTO

Location: 48101 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb Twp.
Time: 8:30AM – 1PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2
115 tables

 

MSALT

Location: 920 Lynwood St., Marysville 
Time: 9AM – 12PM (8AM Early Bird)
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
60 tables

 

New Haven Education Foundation at New Haven High School

Location: 57700 Gratiot Rd., New Haven
Time: 9AM – 2PM (8AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 11AM
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
100 tables

 

Novi Child Care & Preschool at Novi High School

Location: 24062 Taft Rd., Novi
Time: 8AM – 12PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2
60 tables

 

Parkway Christian School

Location: 14500 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 11AM
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
100 tables

 

Ross Bible Church

Location: 2865 Maywood Dr., Port Huron
Time: 9AM – 12PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1
35 tables

 

Summit on the Park

Location: 46000 Summitt Parkway, Caton
Time: 8AM – 1PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2
45 tables

 

Taylor Recreation Center

Location: 22805 Goddard Rd., Taylor
Time: 10AM – 1PM (9AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 11AM
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
70 tables

 

WLCCA at Walled Lake Central High School 

Location: 1600 E. Oakley Park Rd., Walled Lake
Time: 9AM – 12:30PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
150 tables

 

 

Saturday, November 19 

Gardens Elementary PTO

Location: 1076 10th St., Marysville
Time: 9AM – 12PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1
70 tables

 

Glen H. Peters PTO

Location: 46650 Heydenreich Rd., Macomb
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Ok after 10AM
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
60 tables

 

GSL MOPS

Location: 1950 S. Baldwin Rd., Lake Orion
Time: 9AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird

 

South Oakland Family YMCA

Location: 1016 W. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak
Time: 9AM – 12PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2/$3 Early Bird
100 tables

 

St. Hugo of the Hills School

Location: 380 E. Hickory Grove, Bloomfield Hills
Time: 9AM – 12:30PM (8AM Early Bird)
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
80 tables

 

Trillium Academy PEO

Location: 15740 Racho Rd., Taylor
Time: 9:30AM – 1PM (8:30AM Early Bird)
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $1/$2 Early Bird
40 tables

 

Sunday, November 20 

Allen Park Presbyterian Youth

Location: 6835 Park Ave., Allen Park
Time: 1PM – 5PM
Strollers: Yes!
Cost: $2
65 tables

 

 

Top 10 Costco Finds :: Costco Mom Hour

:: Detroit Moms Blog LOVES Costco ::

There is just something about Costco that gets me over the top excited every single time we go there! I even get excited at the thought of going to Costco! I’m not sure if it’s the delicious samples, the ridiculous deals or the $1 churro after a productive shopping experience.  I had a hard time compiling a list of only 10 things my family absolutely loves. These are things that Costco truly has the best deals on. 

CostcoSamples2

  1. Baked Goods :: Seriously, have you tried their cake?! It has to be the absolute best and at a great price! All of their sweets are de-lish-ous. But it’s not just their sweets that will reel you in – their croissants are so soft and fluffy. They make the best breakfast sandwiches. 
  2. Meat (including organic) :: You can buy bulk meat and then freeze it for later. Economically it’s the best way to go. If it’s to much meat for you – share with a friend. It’s a great way to always have something on hand to grab out of the freezer and throw a healthy meal together. 
  3. Coconut Oil :: Enough said! If you’re anything like my family we use coconut oil for everything. I’ve pinterested every possible use. Hands down Costco has the best price on the larger tubs of quality coconut oil. 
  4. Laundry Detergent + Fabric Softener :: Kirkland’s top rated laundry detergent will give you the best bang for your buck. Bonus – it smells amazing! 
  5. Paper Products : I think it goes without saying that having toilet paper and paper towel in bulk is a necessity. Save money by buying these products in bulk and rest assure you won’t have to wipe with anything other than toilet paper. 
  6. Rotisserie Chicken ::  Yum! My husband loves their rotisserie chicken. We’ve bought them from competitors and they are tiny and overly priced. At Costco you’ll get a nice plump 3lb delicious chicken that will last a couple days and can be used in multiple meals or eaten alone. 
  7. Gift Card Selection :: The selection of gift cards Costco has is insane! You can find whatever you’re looking for. I hate having to run to multiple stores to get the gift cards I’m looking for. Don’t you?!
  8. Gas :: I don’t know about you but I love the fact that I can get my groceries and gas all in one spot. A one stop shop! The prices alone justify purchasing the membership. 
  9. Organic Produce :: Best strawberries ALL year long! We can always count on Costco and their selection of organic produce – berries, pears, apples – you name it, they have it. 
  10. Diapers + Wipes :: These diapers rock our world! Goodbye blowouts and leaks – finally a diaper that makes it through the night and saves on extra loads of laundry. For $29.99 you can get 192 diapers and they last. They are soft and don’t irritate our little mans skin. If you’ve ever thought about trying them – do it – you have nothing to lose! 

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We would LOVE to know – what are your top items that you buy at Costco for your family? Please comment below!

And for good measure, here are a few more reasons to shop at Costco!

  • Competitive pricing on quality merchandise meets or exceeds local competitors.
  • Kirkland Signature products are rated higher than most leading brands.
  • Free demos and samples on a daily basis.
  • Costco is leading the nation in organic sales.
  • The environment in Costco speaks for itself with its cleanliness and well-lit warehouse shopping experience.
  • Costco offers many services in and outside of the warehouse: Auto Buying, Check Printing,
  • Travel and Car Rentals, Insurance, Mortgage Financing, Water Delivery, Leaf Guard, Flooring and Windows, Identity Protection, Pharmacy, Hearing Aid, Optical, and Photo Lab.
  • Discounts to restaurants, movies, spas, and many more.
  • They offer a 100-percent member satisfaction guarantee. We will refund your membership if at any time you are not satisfied.
  • Free healthy heart screening, osteoporosis screening to all members and non-members.
  • They offer pet meds for your fur babies.
  • Costco’s meat department is USDA Choice grade or better.
  • They have the best Rotisserie 3-pound chicken for $4.99 – no preservatives, MSG free, gluten free, and USDA grade.

CostcoFood

Join us for #CostcoMomHour

This event is absolutely FREE and just for YOU! We’ve partnered with Costco to open an hour early for Detroit Moms on November 4th at 9 a.m. 

Mark your calendars and come enjoy shopping before the public rush, breakfast, samples, and swag bags to the first 100 people. Yes please! 

How to attend the #CostcoMomHour ::

This event is FREE but in order to plan accordingly please RSVP with a ticket below. Don’t forget to follow our Costco Mom Hour {Metro Detroit} event page on Facebook. 

Added Bonus / Costco Membership Details

If you come to the Costco Mom Shopping event and sign up at the event to become a new Costco member, Costco has a special offer*: New Executive Members will receive an additional $20 Costco Cash Card and new Gold Star and Business Members will receive a $20 Costco Cash Card.
For existing Costco members who bring a friend to the Costco Mom Shopping event, if your friend signs up for a new Costco membership, you will receive a $10 Costco Cash Card** as a thank you.

*Limit one Costco Cash Card offer per household. Offer is valid for new memberships the day of the Costco Mom Shopping event only. Offer is not valid for renewals or upgrades of Costco memberships. Offer is nontransferable and may not be combined with any other offer or coupon. Costco Cash Cards are not redeemable for cash. The Costco Cash Card must be used by the new Costco member during the first year of membership.

A Costco membership is $55 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $55 upgrade fee a year and includes an annual 2% Reward (up to $750) on qualifying Costco purchases. Terms and conditions apply to the 2% Reward. See the membership counter for details. Each membership includes a free Household Card. Price does not include sales tax. Costco accepts cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT, Costco Cash Cards, Costco Credit Cards and American Express.

We hope to see you there!

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