An Obsession with Birthday Cake

By

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August 1, 2016

I am obsessed with my kids’ birthday cakes. I’m obsessed with finding – and making – the perfect cake decorations to suit their age.

For example, when my oldest turned one, we had an Elmo party. I spent at least ten hours mixing the perfect shade of “no-taste red” icing to decorate 100 Elmo cupcakes, complete with candy eyes and orange slice noses. The cupcakes themselves came from a box mix.

A few years later, I spent almost an entire day melting colored chocolate to hand decorate a barnyard themed cake. I had pigs, cows, horses and ducks, all made out of melted chocolate to celebrate the little guy turning 2. Once again, the cake itself came from a box.

Earlier this month, the boys turned three and five. My old friend Betty Crocker helped me bake up the cakes (in the shapes of three and five!) in just a few hours. Then came the decorating. Superheroes for the little guy and Power Rangers for the big one. I was so excited to decorate these cakes for them – and see their reactions.

I spent more than five hours decorating the Superhero cake. I was up until midnight making it perfect. I am still proud of it. It wouldn’t even be passable as a professional cake, but it is a labor of love, and in my head, shows my love for my little guy. A few days later, I spent just more than three hours on the Power Rangers cake. I wasn’t as happy with it, but I knew it was what he wanted. Plus there are a billion different versions of Power Rangers, so there is much room for artistic interpretation. (At least that’s what I told myself when the yellow ranger looked like a football helmet.)

After all of the birthday madness died down, my husband asked me why I spend so much time decorating cakes when they just get eaten and nobody thinks twice about them. He indicated that the boys would be just as happy with a regular eight inch round cake with their name on top.

And it hit me: I love decorating their birthday cakes for them. It makes me happy. But why? And then it hit me again: because that’s what my mom did for me. I hadn’t even realized it, but I was carrying on a tradition from my childhood.

Each year, my mom beautifully decorating an amazing cake on my birthday. I can’t tell you a single birthday present my parents gave me during my elementary school years, but I can remember every. single. cake. All hand made by my mother, who only ever baked on birthdays and Christmas. It was part of the birthday excitement – to see my cake when I woke up birthday morning. And I had become an unrealizing participant in carrying on that tradition.

In a world where everything is increasingly competitive to be bigger, better and fancier, I hope that my simple make at home cakes with their semi-fab decorations will someday remind my boys that little things can show more love. That’s what my mom showed me.

What sort of traditions do you carry on from your childhood?

Summer: It’s Time to Break Up.

By

Courtney

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July 29, 2016

Yesterday, my 6-year-old made me cry. I was so upset, I had to lock myself in the mudroom for two full minutes while I struggled to compose myself.

Why? Because my son sprayed me with a garden hose.

I realize that my admission makes me sound completely unbalanced. But, hear me out: it’s the middle of summer and I’m starting to get a little (ok, a lot) frazzled! Frankly, I’m a Hot Mess, and not just because it’s constantly 95 degrees outside.

It’s not often that a little incident like water on my clothes sends me into a full-on meltdown. With two boys, I’ve dealt with so. much. worse. But this time? This time, I just needed a minute. A minute to breathe. A minute to center myself. I just needed a minute to myself!

You see, I haven’t had much “me” time this summer. The kids have all been home, the days have been long, and the plans and activities have accumulated. We’ve had a glorious time, really we have! But I’m tired and need a break. So when my son doused me with water not even two minutes after I very nicely asked him not to? Well, that just made me snap. It made me want to break up with summer.

Oh, how I love/hate summer! The hottest season of the year has never been my favorite. I’ll take pumpkins over pools and seventy-degree days over sweaty, humid ones anytime. For me, autumn is where it’s at….the colorful, falling leaves, cider mills, apple orchards. I could wax poetic forever about fall, fabulous, fall! But my kids love summer, and I adore my kids. So, by extension, I turn into ‘Summer Mom’: The Splashpad? Sure! The playground? Ok! A trip to the lake? Bring it on! A slip-and-slide obstacle course in the backyard? Great!

And somewhere along the way, each year, I forget about my summer aversion and start to enjoy myself. This year, we’ve had the added bonus of time spent with new friends, and amazing neighbors. Our entire family has a sense of community that we’ve never felt before, and it’s been wonderful. Kids and adults alike have struck up quick and easy friendships. Nothing can rival the look of joy on my toddler’s face when the sprinkler “rains” on her and her little playmates, or when my boys and their buddies catch some air on the slip-and-slide, and propel themselves fifty-feet across our lawn. It’s pure, innocent fun and we’re making memories that I know my kids will always cherish.

But it’s almost August, and I’m ready to wrap things up. Bonfires and s’mores are delightful, but a multitude of ten o’clock bedtimes for my six-and-under brood is starting to wear on all of us. It’s hard to put kids to bed when the sky is still pink, retaining the wonders of a fun-filled day. And, as my garden-hose-spraying-son perpetually reminds me: you can’t catch fireflies until it’s dark. Well, here in The Mitten State, the sun doesn’t set until at least 9 pm. It’s pretty challenging to fight a bedtime battle when Mother Nature isn’t on your side.

Despite the fact that I’m an intermittent Hot Mess – literally and figuratively! – I’ll continue to be the best ‘Summer Mom’ I can be for a few more weeks. I’ll focus on the good and positive, and try my best to forget about the afternoon that I locked myself in my mudroom, crying.

But I don’t think I’m alone in admitting that I’m ready for return of the school year’s orderly days. I know I’m not the only mom missing and longing for that sacred time that I reserve just for myself. We all need “me” time to recharge and balance ourselves amidst our busy lives. Summer with little ones, while full of many exciting and enjoyable pursuits, simply does not afford much alone time.

And so with deep respect and appreciation, I humbly extend my apologies to summer lovers and teachers alike, but this Mom is ready to break up with summer.

{Playdate Announcement} Fun with Science :: Cranbrook Playdate

By

Erica Owens

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July 29, 2016

I walked into Cranbrook for the first time and saw my three-year-old’s world change. He was so excited. He found his place. Minerals, skeletons, interactive exhibits, special functions…we’ve done them all the past few months and he’s loved every minute of it. I catch him in his room playing museum and educating his stuffed animal friends. Our conversations in the car or in the garden are so entertaining! He loves to tell me about his new discoveries. I am grateful this gem is in our backyard and my child is growing up with a love for science. I want you and your families to have that same experience.

Our playdate happening on August 3rd from 9am – 11am is a great way to try out Cranbrook for the day – tickets are $5 per child and moms (plus kids 1 and under) are FREE. The scientists will pull out items and displays only available to private school groups and tours. We have a private tour of the special summer exhibit before the museum opens to the public. Afterwards, enjoy a FREE day pass to the museum (Retail Adult $13.50 Kids 2 + up $9.50). Seriously, it’s an amazing deal.

Think it’s too early to turn your little ones on to science? Preschool through elementary is a great time to expose kids to physics and help them understand the world around them. Discover how the science of everyday life can ignite a passion for knowledge! Grab the kids, invite your neighbors and moms group friends, and discover the physics fun in forces and motion. And have a chance to hang out with local moms with similar interests!

FAQs

What can I expect during the playdate?

The museum is ours for two hours, since the playdate happens before the doors open to the public! When you first arrive at the main entrance, you will be met by Cranbrook Institute of Science staff and escorted to their intimate auditorium. A scientist will help kids understand how to make work easier by applying pushes and pulls on simple machines like levers, pulleys and inclined planes. In this interactive demo kids will be invited on stage to try everything out!

Next explore the exciting world of the rainforest in a fun indoor maze. This limited summer exhibit lets visitors travel through all four layers of the rainforest and see live animals. Fun for all ages! We’ll wrap up having a conversation with staff on how to engage your little ones on future visits.

Following this fun morning, purchase lunch in the cafe (or bring a packed lunch) because…SURPRISE…you have free admission to the museum for the remainder of the day! Explore on your own and see what CIS has to offer.

What age is the playdate geared toward?

The playdate is open to kiddos aged 1 -10. If you’re a mom to multiples absolutely bring everyone and the younger ones too! Be sure to purchase a ticket for every child. You’re FREE mama, and so are kiddos aged 1 and under!

I grabbed my ticket, now what do I need to do?

Get excited and put the event on the calendar! Arrive 10 minutes early so the scientist can start on time. Pack a few extra bucks if you want to purchase lunch afterwards in the museum cafe. Or, pack a lunch for you and the kiddos. Note: Strollers are welcome. Food and drink can only be consumed in designated areas. There is a place to put non-valuable items during the event if you can’t carry everything, and don’t want to leave it in the car.

#DMBplaydate and #DMBdoesCranbrook are the hashtags!

If you know us, then you know we LOVE when you use social media as a fun way to spread the word, connect with new friends and build our community. We would love for you to help us spread the word about this fun playdate before, during and after the event.

Don’t forget to purchase ONE ticket per child. Tickets are extremely limited and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis – so grab them quick

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Please Note :: Tickets are non-refundable, and this event will happen rain or shine. With advance notice, we will attempt to connect you with another mom who is interested in purchasing your ticket should the need arise. Also, by purchasing this ticket you understand that your photo or that of your child may be taken and give permission for Detroit Moms Blog to use it on their site, in promotional materials, and/or on their social media platform.

From ‘Terrible Twos’ to ‘Theatrical Threes’

By

taylorcapps

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July 29, 2016

Parenting is hard. There are days filled with smiles from sun up to sun down and then there are days when I have to take a mommy break in the bathroom to take a deep breath. We’ve hit a new stage in parenting that has been the hardest thus far. Our daughter, Clari, turns 3 this month. A lot moms in a mom’s group I’m in kept warning me that age 2 was nothing compared to 3. I didn’t believe them because what could be harder than the “terrible twos”. Well, the closer we get to 3, I see exactly what they mean.

There are some aspects of raising an almost 3-year-old that stump our household everyday. Not the potty training or switch to a big girl bed, but changes that hit you out of nowhere overnight:

Independence – This part has been by far the hardest part for me, especially being pregnant. I’ve discovered that when I’m pregnant I have a whole new level of OCD. This paired with a toddler who really wants to do everything on her own has been hard. Not only does she want to dress herself, but she wants to pick out the clothes, put them on by herself in a room by herself, and wants absolutely no help. She wants to pour her own milk into her cereal bowl. Not just out of a pre-poured cup, but out of the completely full gigantic Costco milk carton. I find myself compromising a lot more then I thought I ever would as a parent. She is proud of herself when she accomplishes a task on her own. On those days when she is taking 30 minutes do design her own outfit for a day at home, I try to remember how proud she will look when she comes running out of her room.
The Dramatics – Now if you were to ask my husband he would say that the dramatics came from me. Not only has Clari hit a new level of dramatics, but they come out of nowhere and blindside you. The other morning she had her usual bowl of cereal for breakfast. Same routine every morning – I poured the cereal, she picked out what color spoon she wanted, and met at the table. This day she let me pour the milk by myself (thank y0u). Less than 5 seconds after pouring the milk, she was in hysterics. When I asked her what was wrong, her response was: “THE MILK IS TOUCHING MY CEREAL TOO FAST!” I didn’t know how to respond, probably because my first cup of coffee was still sitting full and untouched on the counter. Together we told the milk to please slow down next time. The next day I poured the milk the same exact way, no dramatics this time around…
Negotiations – If you were to ask me and my husband prior to having children if we would ever negotiate with them, we would’ve said absolutely not. If you were to ask us now we’d look at each other and say “How else do we get through the day?” Of course there are things that we just won’t negotiate over, but other times negotiating and compromising is how we get through. It can be as simple as “You have to wear socks today because it’s cold outside. You can pick your own socks, but you must wear some.” or the other extreme “If you poop on the potty right now instead of in your pants I will give you two cookies.” No shame in my game! Negotiations and compromises go hand in hand with their independence. They will push the buttons and all the limits, but it’s our job as parents to give them choices without going too far.

As trying as age 3 is on us parents, I remind myself everyday that her little mind is in a confusing place right now. She doesn’t know if she wants to be a big girl or baby and I’m okay with that. I try (really, really hard) to embrace and encourage her big girl side, but absorb those baby moments when she offers them up. It’s my goal everyday to make sure I’m lifting her up and not down. Even on the days I feel like I’m ready to drop or call my husband desperately asking when he will be home, I remind myself to embrace it. It’s hard on them too.

Here’s to age 3 and all the theatrics these little babes offer with it!

Elephants & Donkeys: They’re All a Pain in the You-Know-What to Me!

By

aubreymoon

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July 27, 2016

It’s Summer and I’m sick of politics.

Whether you’re a republican or democrat, you can’t deny how irritating it is to turn on your TV and constantly hear the latest report on the election headline-maker. And it seems to have gotten worse over the years as the news cycle is now 24/7 in the era of social media. How will I make it to November without losing my marbles?

Over-Promise, Under-Deliver

I think it’s a prerequisite in “Becoming a Politician 101” to master the art of promising {crazy} things to your constituents without having to be held accountable. You want free education? Consider it done! You don’t want to pay taxes on your income or property anymore? No problem! What would our kids say if we promised them ice cream for dinner every night but made them eat peas instead? We probably wouldn’t hear the end of it… so why do we let world leaders get away with the same things? When listening to them campaign for my vote, I’ve decided to tune them out to the sound of Charlie Brown’s teacher.

Career Politicians

Oh, you know what it’s like to raise a family on one income while attempting to save for your kids’ college? I bet you do, Mister Career Politician. While you’re earning a six-figure salary {for life}, with amazing benefits and a pension {that you likely won’t need since you’re getting paid for life}, the rest of America is trying to save for their future while the cost of education and health care continues to rise. It must be nice to have a summer home on Cape Cod and a winter escape in Breckenridge. While that may be the norm for you, Madam Secretary, it’s just another un-relatable experience for us “commoners.”

Basically Kindergarteners

How many more of these debates do we have to watch? All it is is a handful of grown adults acting like a throng of kindergarteners fighting over who sat down on the story rug first. {PS God Bless Kindergarten teachers; There’s a special place in Heaven for you.} They interrupt, talk over each other, spew insults and lies, and, in the end, the one that does the least damage to his/her peers is dubbed the “loser.” What is that teaching our children? When they interrupt us on the phone or butt into a conversation they are met with a firm, “don’t be rude” or “wait your turn.” When a kid picks on another on the playground, does the teacher just turn a blind eye? No, because we’re teaching our children to respect one another and show compassion for their peers.

The Facebook Defenders/Opposers

Don’t have cable and lose out on the “opportunity” to hear about the candidates? Consider yourself lucky! I bet, though, that you do have Facebook and can’t scroll through your newsfeed without a family member or friend that shares their political agenda on a regular basis. Some people feel so strongly on certain topics that they will seek out the opposers just to start a Facebook war over a comment that one candidate made to/about the other. I’ve seen relationships fall apart because of this level of disrespect – all over someone they don’t personally know, a lie they heard, and an agenda/belief being pushed. Can’t we just agree to disagree?

While it’s our civic duty to make our voices heard by voting in any/all election{s}, is there a way we can tune the rest of the campaign trail out for the next four months? How about we as the people of our country start expecting more from our leaders than the “same old, same old” behavior they’ve grown accustomed to?

Whether you’re a Hilary, Bernie, Ted or Donald supporter, we can all agree that election years suck.

Best Pizza Places In + Around Detroit

By

Danielle S

-

July 26, 2016

Who doesn’t love a pizza pie! Funny story…. I used to hate pizza. As a child my mom always had to pack me a PB&J for birthday parties since I wouldn’t eat the pizza served. It wasn’t until I got married and my hubby got me to try it again that I realized I now like it. I gotta make up for lost time and try all the pizza. 😉

Below I’ve compiled some of the best pizza places in Metro Detroit. They are organized by county, click on the “+” for the county you are looking for to expand it and see our recommendations. Go try a new place for your pizza fix tonight!

Macomb County

CLINTON TOWNSHIP

Green Lantern
15505 15 Mile Road
(586)859-0500
Sunday: Noon-Midnight
Monday-Wednesday: 11am-Midnight
Thursday-Saturday: 11am-2am
*Dine in

Green Lantern
41160 Hayes Road
(586)263-1900
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Carry out *Delivery

HARRISON TOWNSHIP

Luigis
36691 Jefferson Ave.
(586)468-7711
Sunday: 3-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 4-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 4-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

MACOMB TOWNSHIP

Shield’s Pizza
50750 Romeo Plank Road
(586)228-1400
Sunday: Noon-9:00pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-Midnight
*Dine in *Carry out

Green Lantern Pizza
48848 Romeo Plank Road
(586)221-2768
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Carry Out *Delivery

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Aubree’s Pizzeria and Grill
51748 Van Dyke Ave
(586)731-4444
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11am
*Dine in *****CARRY OUT???

Buddy’s Pizza
45841 Hayes Rd.
(586)566-1233
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

WARREN

Buddy’s Pizza
Old Thirteen Mile Rd.
(586)574-9200
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Oakland County

AUBURN HILLS

Buddy’s Pizza
2612 N. Squirrel Road.
(248)276-9040
Sunday 11am-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday: 11am-11pm
Saturday 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

BERKLEY

Crispellis
28939 Woodward Ave.
(248)591-3300
Sunday: 11am-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Sila Italian Dining and Pizza
4033 Twelve Mile Road
(248)548-3650
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday: Noon-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Amicis
3249 W. 12 Mile Road
(248)544-4100
Sunday-Thursday: 4pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 4pm-2am
*Dine in *Carry out

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Buddy’s
3637 W. Maple Road
(248)645-0300
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 10:30am-9pm
Friday: 10:30am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-10pm
*Carry out

Pizza Papalis
4036 Telegraph
(248)540-7722
Sunday: 12pm-9pm
Monday-Friday: 10am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-10pm

CLARKSTON

Union Woodshop
18 South Main
(248)625-5660
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 4pm-10pm
Saturday: Noon-9pm
*Dine In

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP

CJs Brewery
8115 Richardson Rd.
(248)366-7979
Sunday: Noon-11pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-midnight
Friday-Saturday: 11am-2am
*Dine in

FARMINGTON

Buddy’s
31646 Northwestern Hwy
(248)855-4600
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Tomatoes Apizza
24369 Halsted Rd.
(248)888-4888
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out *Delivery

Tomatoes Apizza
29275 14 Mile Rd.
(248)855-3555
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out *Delivery

HAZEL PARK

Loui’s Pizza
23141 Dequindre Road
(248)547-1711
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Wednesday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday: 11am-11pm
Saturday: Noon-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

MADISON HEIGHTS

Green Lantern
28960 John R Rd.
(248)541-5439
Sunday: Noon-12am
Monday-Wednesday: 11am-12am
Thursday-Saturday: 11am-2am
*Dine in

NORTHVILLE

Aubree’s Pizzeria and Grill
20420 Haggerty Highway
(734)4323-0200
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in

NOVI

Blaze
26401 Novi Rd.
(248)773-8955
Sunday-Thursday: 10:30am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 10:30am-Midnight
*Dine in

Buddy’s
44225 W. 12 Mile Rd.
(248)675-0881
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Maria’s Italian Bakery
41706 W. 10 Mile Road
(248)348-0545
Sunday: 7am-5pm
Monday-Friday: 7am-7pm
*Take and Bake

Tony Saccos
42970 Grand River Ave.
(248)349-2625
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Take out

ROYAL OAK

Bigalora Wood Fired Cuccina
711 S. Main Street
(248)544-2442
Sunday: 10am-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 3pm-10pm
Friday: 11am-11pm
Saturday: 10am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Buddy’s Pizza
32218 Woodward Ave.
(248)549-8000
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday: Noon-10pm
*Carry out

Blaze
112 S. Main Street
(248)591-4321
Sunday-Wednesday: 11am-Midnight
Thursday-Saturday: 11am-4am
*Dine in *Carry out

Green Lantern
4326 Rochester Rd.
(248)298-3005
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Carry out *Delivery

ROCHESTER

Georgios
117 South Main Street
(248)601-2882
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out *Delivery

SOUTHFIELD

Bigalora
29110 Franklin Road
(248)750-2442
Sunday: 3pm-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday: 11am-11am
Saturday: 3pm-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Pizza Papalis
23703 Greenfield
(248)552-7272
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 10am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 10am-11pm
*Dine in *Delivery

Reene’s Gourmet Pizzeria
**100% Gluten and Nut Free**
29705 Northwestern Hwy
(248)208-6000
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday- Saturday: 11am-10pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Shields
25101 Telegraph Rd.
(248)356-2720
Sunday: Noon-9:00pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-midnight
*Dine in

SOUTH LYON

Aubree’s Pizzeria and Grill
21775 Pontiac Trail
(248)437-8000
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in

TROY

Crispelli’s
645 E Big Beaver
(248)680-0066
Sunday: 11am-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in

Nino Salvagios
6835 Rochester Rd.
(248)879-9222
*Take and Bake

Pizza Papalis
300 John R
(248)589-9888
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Delievery

Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria
**100% Gluten and Nut Free**
1937 W. Maple Road
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-10pm
*Delivery *Carry out *Dine in

Sheilds
1476 W. Maple
(248)637-3131
Sunday: Noon-9:00pm
Monday-Satruday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

WEST BLOOMFIELD

Crispellis
6690 Orchard Lake Road
(248)254-4760
Sunday: 11am-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Napoletana
5540 Drake Road
(248)788-2500
Sunday: 1pm-10:30pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Take out *Delivery

Wayne County

ALLEN PARK

Blaze
3129 Fairlane Dr.
(313)982-9737
Sunday-Thursday: 10:30am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 10:30am-Midnight
*Dine in *Carry out

CANTON

Tony Saccos
1663 North Canton Center
(734)404-5485
Sunday: Noon-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in

DEARBORN

Brera
1002 S. Military Street
(313)466-2226
Saturday-Sunday: Noon-11pm
Monday-Friday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in

Buddy’s
22148 Michigan Ave.
(313)562-5900
Sunday: 11am-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday: 11am-11pm
Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

DETROIT

Buddy’s Pizza
17125 Conant St.
(313)892-9001
Sunday: 11am-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday: 11am-11pm
Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry Out

Jolly Pumpkin
441 W. Canfield
Sunday: 11:30am-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11:30am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11:30am-1am
*Dine in

Pizza Papalis
3171 E. Jefferson
(313)259-7272
Sunday: 11am-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-Midnight
*Delivery *Carry out *Dine in (limited)

Pizza Papalis
553 Monroe Street
(313)961-8020
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-midnight
Friday-Saturday: 11am-1pm
*Dine in

Supinos Pizzeria
2457 Russell Street
(313)567-7879
Tuesday-Saturday: 11am-10pm
*Dine in *Take out

GROSSE POINTE

Buddy’s Pizza
19163 Mack Ave.
(313)884-7400
Sunday: Noon-8pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-10pm
*Cafe *Carry out

GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Dinoto’s Genuine Italian
20223 Mack Ave.
(313)884-5030
Sunday-Monday: 4pm-9pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-10:30pm
*Carry out

LIVONIA

Buddy’s Pizza
33605 Plymouth Rd.
(734)261-3550
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Dine in *Carry out

Two Guys Pizza Pies
33223 W. Seven Mile Road
(248)476-7000
Sunday: Noon-9pm
Monday-Thursday: 4pm-10p
Friday: 3pm-11pm
Saturday: Noon-11pm
Sunday: Noon-9pm
*Carry out *Delivery

Livonia Bakery and Cafe
33615 W. Seven Mile Rd.
(248)474-0444
Sunday: 10am-4pm
Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-6pm
*Carry out *Take and Bake

PLYMOUTH

Main Street Pizza
1070 S. Main Street
(734)453-2900
Sunday: 1pm-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 10am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Carry out *Delivery

RIVERVIEW

Stone Pizza
18283 Fort St.
(734)282-3500
Sunday: 2pm-9pm
Monday-Thursday 10am-10pm
Friday: 10am-11pm
Saturday: 2pm-11pm

TAYLOR

Pizza Papalis
14680 Pardee Rd.
(734)785-8806
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-12pm

WYANDOTTE

Sportsman Pizzeria
2425 Fort St.
(734)284-6770
Sunday: 4pm-10pm
Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
*Delivery *Carry Out

Kalahari with Little Kids

By

Erin Piper

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July 26, 2016

Over the last few years, my little family has been to four waterpark hotels, and we’ve really enjoyed it. The first three trips all happened when my son was one or two years old, and he had a great time at each of the hotel parks: Splash Universe in Dundee, Maui Sands in Sandusky, and Zehnder’s (pre-renovation). While we had an awesome time at each of those places, it’s going to be REALLY hard to convince me to take my kids anywhere but Kalahari after our great experience last month!

Octopus basketball – a big hit!

While anyone who is friends with me on social media knows that my one year old daughter was definitely NOT feeling it, I’d still highly recommend Kalahari, whether you have tiny kids or big ones. I’d heard many people suggest “Save Kalahari until they’re older,” I actually thought they were a perfect place for little kids! Here’s why:

1. Perfect pools for preschoolers and toddlers: Most other parks we’ve been to center around the big “treehouse” style structure with the dumping bucket, and a tiny toddler area with some kind of spray feature and slide. Kalahari is different because it has the big treehouse structure, but also two spacious toddler pools with tons of small slides, tunnels, spray features, preschool height water basketball, and more. There were tons of little kids in the pools, but on the weekday we went, it never felt too crowded. My son loved waiting for a “friend” on the slides so they could slide down together, and had a total blast in each of the two the preschool/toddler sized pools! He also loved the wave pool and lazy river.

We all loved “Coral Cove,” one of the two toddler/preschool pools

2. Tons to do beyond the pool: Kalahari has tons to do and see – simply walking around the lobby or arcade areas could occupy tiny kiddos for a while! They also have daily activities that include craft time, cookie decorating, and live animal viewings, with proceeds going towards conservation efforts. Since we were only there for about 24 hours, the pool kept us busy almost the entire time, but I could imagine staying for a couple nights down the road, and taking more advantage of these options!

3. Awesome look and feel: More than any other water park I’ve been to, Kalahari really has a resort-like feel. The hotel rooms, restaurants, and much of the pool area were all decorated as if you were on an African safari, with huge replica animals, funky furniture, and even bell hops dressed as safari guides. Even for adults, this added to the fun and for kids it was totally enthralling!

This giant elephant and other animal statues (or whatever you’d call them!) greeted us in the lobby!

{My Tips for Toddlers and Preschoolers}

Of course, not every moment of vacation is magical with little kids. Sleeping away from home is a pain with my kids, and my daughter was up bright and early so my saint of a husband took her out to roam the halls, since the pool was still closed. The biggest bummer was that my daughter really didn’t dig the pool at all. I saw that many other kiddos about her age seemed to enjoy it, but it just wasn’t her thing. That said, I definitely plan to try again after she gets another summer of swim time under her belt. Now that I’ve been before, I can plan better, and also have a few tips for other parents with little kids (and some tips that apply to anyone!):

Bellhops are awesome, take advantage of them! The second you pull up to Kalahari, you’re met by a “safari guide” bellhop, and given the option to valet. With a stadium sized parking lot and huge resort, we took the valet option, and had the bellhop show us to our room. I’m SO glad we had his help because the hotel is huge and I could’ve easily gotten lost. He did a great job explaining our dining options, what he would recommend at the waterpark, how to get around the facility without getting lost, and just got our trip off to a great start. It was well worth it to tip him and learn as much as we did right away!
Pack meals, in addition to snacks. Even with a $50 meal credit that was part of our package, we spent close to $100 in meals, drinks, and other snacks. I appreciated their variety of food options in comparison to other places we’ve been, but even packing one round of sandwiches would’ve saved us at LEAST $35.
Consider bringing your own life vests if you have them. Kids under a certain age or height are required to wear life vests. You’d want to check out the specific requirements, but one reason I think the pool was a miss for my daughter is because she’s really tiny, and the Kalahari issued life vests were bulky and already wet when she put hers on. We did think to pack my son’s puddle jumper, which he loves, and it was nice that he could use something he already felt comfortable in.
Pack extra bathing suits. I was smart enough to remember two suits for the kids, but my husband and I forgot, and I won’t make that mistake again!
Take breaks. Even if just for a few minutes, force breaks for bathroom stops and snacks before things get ugly!
Do something YOU enjoy. For me, this was testing my body boarding skills on the FlowRider – a simulated ocean wave that you “ride” on a body board while following an instructor’s commands. I was really nervous that I’d make a fool of myself, but once I got on the board I didn’t care and had a blast. I actually surprised myself and stayed on a lot longer than I anticipated! I love thrills like this, and would’ve gone down some slides, too, but most that were open were for double-riders only which was impossible with two kids. My husband and kids had a snack and had fun watching mom do something a little crazy!

I hope this is helpful whether you have little kids or big! I’m already looking forward to our next trip to Kalahari, and would love to hear if you’ve been!

One of the other little kid pools, with lots of slides and tunnels!

Donating Your Umbilical Cord Blood

By

Meghan Simonie

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July 22, 2016

In honoring National Cord Blood Awareness for the month of July, I decided to share my donation story. I never even knew this was really a thing until I became pregnant. You seem to get this ‘Welcome to the Club’ package when you become pregnant. My OB’s office gave me most of the information but it seemed we were added to some secret mailing list that knew we were expecting.

The information I knew about cord blood donation was very minimal. As a person who is always interested in planning and helping others, this seemed like something I should definitely research. We considered private harvesting for a minute, but after researching donation more, the price seemed far too high just to ensure we had access to our own family’s cord blood. Plus, once you donate, the likelihood of your own cord blood still being available if necessary is high and if it’s not, you can pull from others who have also donated. This is why I believe it is so important to donate!

The process itself was very simple. The day I was in the hospital ready to deliver my baby, I completed some paperwork. That’s literally all I had to do. The OB is aware that you have decided to donate your cord blood so they are provided a ‘donation kit’ to make sure the appropriate process is followed to preserve the cord blood after delivery. A few weeks after delivery (or was it days… it’s all a blur) you will receive confirmation that your cord blood was able to be preserved.

I’m honestly hoping my family absolutely never has to access our cord blood. But, the fact that my child just being brought into this world, along with one simple additional step of donating cord blood, could be the lifesaving difference for another family, is one of the most comforting and fulfilling feelings in the world.

If you’d like to learn more, please check out this list of FAQ’s about Cord Blood Donation.

Go Ahead, Touch my Baby Bump!

By

Amber Cross

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July 22, 2016

All I have ever wanted to do was be a mother. The idea of being pregnant has always fascinated me and it’s something I longed for, ever since I can remember. Of course we all visualize in our minds what the perfect pregnancy will be like and how we will have the perfect baby bump and that pregnancy ‘glow’.

However, there’s one thing about a majority of the mothers I’ve encountered that I just don’t understand: They found the idea of having their baby bump touched or talked to absolutely absurd.

I get it. Personal space, strangers touching you, germs – I’ve heard plenty of different reasons as to why women don’t want their baby bump touched. It’s COMPLETELY understandable, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t understand why you would be so disgusted and perplexed as to why people would want to do such a thing. Hi! You’re growing another person inside of you. What an inspiration! What a beautiful thing you are doing! People, for whatever reason, want to be a part of something amazing like that! With the exception of a very few cases – they aren’t doing it to cop a feel from the pregnant chick.

I was reading in Women’s Day magazine that in Liberia, mothers-to-be believe that evil spirits can steal the baby from the womb, so they avoid being touched on the bump at any cost. I think that’s a tad extreme, but for you superstitious types: Hmmm…ok. Right here in the US in the state of Pennsylvania it is illegal to touch a pregnant woman’s belly. Again – I think this is just a tad unnecessary. I think you can find a tactful way to tell someone to buzz off rather than getting them arrested.

I guess I just can’t imagine getting so worked up and upset over the subject that I’d actually push the person’s hand away or tell them to lay off. If it is a complete and total stranger, I can understand if you want to immediately remove yourself from the situation – politely – because it’s not like they’re groping you. Family and friends? They just want to love on that little baby you’re growing! No harm done. Just let them rub your baby bump and move on!!

I know I’m probably in the minority on this subject, and I’m ok with that. I just want to know that I’m not completely alone on the matter.

shelby — My friend was weirded out by touching my baby bump.

How do you feel about this? Did you mind or even like having your baby bump touched/rubbed/patted, etc. while you were pregnant?? Let us know!

Redefining The Term “Good Mom”

By

Robin Kinnie aka Motor City Woman

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July 21, 2016

One of my very first struggles in parenting was living up to the term “good mom”. What did that mean? What does it look like? Of course, I had fabulous examples of good moms surrounding me. From aunts and cousins to friends and coworkers, everyone had their opinion of what being a good mom meant (and they didn’t hold back from sharing).

In the beginning, with my first kiddo, I followed the instructions of others to the letter. I made my own baby food, attempted to nurse even when it meant doing so in a bathroom stall and putting my own happiness on the back burner. Who needs personal time? I have a baby now who is now my sole source of happiness, right?

Two kiddos later, I woke up one morning determined to prove that I AM a good mom and that doesn’t mean that I can’t continue pre-motherhood hobbies, and feel bad about spending time with friends.

I posed the question to my Facebook friends: “What does being a good mom mean?” Here are a few select answers:

“Be interactive even if you’re flawed”

“Allow them to grow into their best selves”

“Encourage their interests”

“Celebrate each moment”

“Sacrifice”

No one mentioned making sure your kiddo had the latest gadget or cutest outfit. What I’ve learned is that beyond providing clothing, food and shelter, being a good mom boils down to being present.

For example, I set aside time to work on my business. Afterwards, my girls have my full attention without Facebook notifications and conference calls. I’ve found that when they receive their quality time, they are more apt to not interrupt me when I’m concentrating on other tasks. Although the availability of time can pose a threat to giving undivided time to your kiddos, I have a secret weapon: outsourcing. I rely on others to pitch in and do certain tasks that I used to do myself. For example, my girls inherited my thick hair. That used to mean hours of hair braiding for me. I found an awesome hair-braider who cornrows their hair in an hour flat. That equals more quality time for more important things, like painting our toe nails.

It was when I stopped worrying about whether I was a good mom that I became a good mom. Yes, I can be an entrepreneur and a good mom. Yes, I can have a social life and be a good mom. I don’t feel forced to live up to others’ expectations. I now relish the tender moments, hold them a little longer and have living room dance parties (a la Jill on BRAVO television show “Odd Mom Out” – one of my personal favorite shows).

So, what does it truly mean to be a good mom? My answer: Doing everything in your power to ensure that they know that they are loved. Even it that means breakfast for dinner sometimes.

So, what does being a good mom mean to you?