This Little Kiddie Went To Market

By

-

July 5, 2015

Farmers markets have become popular over the last several years. They are a great way to get some fresh air and integrate yourself in your community. If you have considered going but feel a little nervous, read-on for some tips. If you are a seasoned shopper, click here for our local farmers market guide to help you branch out to a new farmers market. There is something for everyone in the Detroit farmers market scene. Bring the whole family and the shopping trip becomes an adventure.

Going to the farmers market is the highlight of my week. I came from a smaller city which had only one downtown market on Saturdays and one smaller market in a grocery store parking lot another day during the week. Here, we have it made. The Detroit metro area boasts several farmer’s markets each day of the week during the growing season (roughly May-October), giving you and your family plenty of options. Here are a few tips based on my experience:

1.Talk it Over

The best way to ensure an enjoyable trip is to plan ahead. Make sure you prep your older kids before the event. Some vendors will have samples available. It goes without saying, but toddlers and young kids should know to ask you for permission before taking food. This is not only because it is polite, but also for food safety reasons. Samples may have serving utensils, toothpicks or disposable containers.

On a slow day, a produce stall is a great place to practice colors, counting, and shapes for young kids. Older children can be given tasks. Which stall has the best price for lettuce? What country’s flag is the same color as Caprese Salad (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil)? How much change will the vendor give us? Talk about what you might expect to be in season. These days you can find avocados at Eastern Market in May. Where do they come from? Which veggies are Michigan grown?

2. Eat Before, During and After

When you make an event out of going to the market, you will want to make sure everyone is well fed, but you may also want to try a bite to eat while you are shopping. Depending on the location, you may find donuts, french pastries, or hot meals of a variety of ethnic origins. You may even be inspired to visit the farm where your eggs were laid.

3.Take a Break

This is an easy spot to use all of your senses. Any given day, you may find glistening jewel-toned tomatoes, fresh, hot coffee, bumpy ridged cucumbers and salty samples of sausage, cheese, or salsa. If the crowd is feeling tight and your child is overwhelmed by the crowd, take a break and head out behind the vendors. While you stand outside of the crowd, ask a spouse or older child to run in and return with items, there is no reason to be left out.

4. Wrangling Logistics

You’ll want to consider your transportation options based on the number and age of kids you have as well as the type of items you intend to buy. Bring your baby in a wrap or carrier if you are going to a weekend market (they tend to be busier). Or, bring your child in a stroller to a smaller market. You can use the under-seat basket to carry your bounty home, or if you are shopping with a partner, and go overboard, one of you can hold the child (or have them walk) while you push a full haul home. Of course, it is harder to maneuver around crowds with a bulky stroller, so you may not be able to escape a shopper traffic jam in the aisles quite as well as with a carrier. If you are planning on buying large produce such as watermelon or squash, or some potted plants for your yard, you may want to bring a wagon.

Vendors will have plastic bags to carry home your purchase, but a little forethought will help the environment, and decrease your clutter. Sturdy reusable bags are much easier to carry, but make sure you bring a few. If you buy soft fruits, berries, or tomatoes, they will need to be put in a separate bag to prevent bruising and spoilage.

5.Finally, Bring Cash!

There may be an ATM near the market, but you will save yourself a lot of trouble by coming prepared. If you can bring small bills, your farmer will thank you.

Check out this website to search for Michigan Farmers Markets by County, City, or Day. You can also narrow your search by type of food assistance benefits accepted.

Michigan Farmers Market Association: http://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Detroit + Metro-Detroit :: Local Farmers Market Guide

By

Detroit Mom

-

July 5, 2015

As a mom you know you love feeding your family the best food you can. Fresh, local, healthy, + REAL!!! We LOVE supporting our Local Farmers Markets. They have so much to offer, local harvest, they support our local farmers, CSA {community supported agriculture}, fresh food, local vendors, local artisans, local musicians, entertainment, free samples + demos!!! It makes for a happy weekend {or weekday!} chore! We have provided you with a full list of Farmers Markets in the Metro~Detroit Areas!

Please give your Local Market some LoVe and comment below why we should all come visit your neighborhood!!!!

Downtown {Allen Park} Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 3, 2015 – October 28, 2016
Fridays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Parking Lot on Park Avenue between Harrison and McLain Avenues
Allen Park

*

{Ann Arbor} Cobblestone Farm Market

{Schedule}
May 17, 2016 – October 11, 2016
Tuesdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Buhr Park
2781 Packard Rd
Ann Arbor

*

{Ann Arbor} Dixboro Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 3, 2016 – October 28, 2016
Fridays 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

{Location}
5221 Church Road
Ann Arbor

*

Ann Arbor Farmers Market

{Year-Around Schedule}
May 4th, 2016 – December 31, 2016
Wednesday + Saturdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

January – April
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

{Evening Market}

June – October

Wednesdays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

{Location}

Kerrytown District
315 Detroit St
Ann Arbor

*

{Ann Arbor} Westside Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – September
Thursdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Parking Lot 2501 Jackson Ave
Ann Arbor

*

Birmingham Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May 3, 2015 – October 18, 2015
Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

{Location}
Public Parking Lot No. 6 On North Old Woodward Avenue, North of Harmon Street
Downtown Birmingham

*

Canton Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May 17, 2015 – October 18, 2015
Sundays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Preservation Park
500 N Ridge Road
Canton

*

Chelsea Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October
Saturdays 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

{Location}
222 S. Main St.
In municipal lot adjacent to Palmer Auto
Downtown Chelsea

*

Clawson Farmers Market

{Schedule}
July 12, 2015 – September 27, 2015 (Closed Labor Day weekend)
Sundays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Clawson City Park
1080 N. Custer Ave
Clawson

*

Dearborn Farmers & Artisan Market

{Schedule}
May 5, 2015 – September 25, 2015
Fridays (Closed July 4th) 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Parking lot behind Bryant Branch Library
22100 Michigan Ave Between Mason and Howard Streets
Dearborn

*

Detroit’s Historic Eastern Market

{Year-Around Schedule}
Saturdays 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

{Location}
2934 Russell Street
Detroit

*

{Detroit} Islandview Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 10, 2015 – September 23, 2015
Wednesdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
7200 Mack Ave Southeast corner of East Grand Boulevard
Detroit

*

Northwest {Detroit} Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 4, 2015 – October 15, 2015
Thursdays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

{Location}
18445 Scarsdale St In the parking lot of Rosedale Park Community House
Detroit

*

{Detroit} Oakland Avenue Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 6, 2015 – October 10, 2015
Saturdays 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

{Location}
9352 Oakland Ave
Detroit

*

{Detroit} Sowing Seeds Growing Futures Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October
Tuesdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
18950 Joy Road Joy Road and Artesian Street
Detroit

*

{Detroit} Wayne State University Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June 4, 2014 – October 29, 2015
Wednesdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

{Location}
Wayne State University campus Across from Detroit Public Library In front of Prentis Hall
5201 Cass Ave.
Detroit

*

Dexter Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May 3, 2014 – October 25, 2015
Tuesdays – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

{Location}
Adjacent to the Dexter District Library
3233 Alpine St
Downtown Dexter

*

Eastpointe-Roseville Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – September, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
East Brook Commons parking lot Corner of 9 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe

*

Farmington Farmer’s & Artisans Market

{Schedule}
May – November, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion George R. Riley Park Grand River
Farmington

*

{Farmington} The Old Winery Farmers Market

{Schedule}
November – April, 2015
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}

31505 Grand River Ave At Orchard Lake Road
Farmington

*

{Grosse Pointe Park} West Park Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – September, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Kercheval Street between Lakepointe and Beaconsfield streets
Grosse Pointe Park

*

{Highland Township} Huron Valley Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 201 5
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
305 N. John St
Highland Township

*

Lathrup Village Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 201 5
Wednesdays 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Municipal Complex
27400 Southfield Road North of I-696
Lathrup Village

*

Lake Orion Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Wednesdays 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
93 S. Anderson St
Two blocks south of Flint Street near Children’s Park and the Orion Art Center
Lake Orion

*

Lincoln Park Famers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Sundays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

{Location}
Municipal parking lot on Southfield Road between Fort Park and Lafayette Across from City Hall
Lincoln Park

*

{Livonia} Wilson Barn Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Saturdays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Wilson Barn 29350 W. Chicago St
Livonia

*

Manchester Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Thursdays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Closes at 7 p.m. from September through October)

{Location}
Adrian Street Off Main Street
Manchester

*

Milford Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Thursdays 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Closes at dusk in September and October)

{Location}
Fifth Third Bank Lot 115 E. Liberty St
Milford

(Moves to Milford Fire Department on Aug. 7th)

*

Mount Clemens Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – November, 2015
Fridays/Saturdays 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
141 N. River Road Parking Lot Between I-94 and North Gratiot Avenue
Mount Clemens

*

New Baltimore Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Sundays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Recreation Center 50976 Washington St. Between Main and Front Streets
New Baltimore

*

Northville Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Thursdays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

{Location}
Corner of 7 Mile and Sheldon Roads
Downtown Northville

*

Novi Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – September, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Novi Civic Center
45175 W. 10 Mile Road Next to Novi Public Library
Novi

*

{Ortonville} Beets, Beats And Eats Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Fridays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

{Location}
Crossman Park
395 Mill St
Ortonville

*

Oxford Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Thursdays 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
15 N. Washington St
Oxford

*

Pittsfield Township Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Thursdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Pittsfield Township Administration Building
6201 W. Michigan Ave
Ann Arbor

*

Plymouth Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Closed July 11, 2014 for Art in the Park)
(Closed September 12, 2015 for Plymouth Community Fall Festival)

{Location}
The Gathering next to the Penn Theater Penniman Avenue
Downtown Plymouth

*

Redford Township Market at the Marquee Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – September, 2015
Sundays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

{Location}
Marquee of Redford
15145 Beech Daly Road
Redford Township

*

Downtown {Rochester} Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Corner of East Third and Water Streets One block east of Main Street
Downtown Rochester

*

Romulus Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Saturdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

{Location}
Romulus Municipal Parking Lot
11111 Wayne Road
Romulus

*

{Royal Oak} Beaumont Hospital Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Thursdays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
3601 W. 13 Mile Road
Royal Oak

*

Royal Oak Farmers Market

{Year- Around Schedule}
Saturdays 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fridays during the summer for antiques, farm and specialty market 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fridays during the winter 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundays {Antique & Collectible Market} 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

{Location}
316 E. 11 Mile Road Two blocks east of Main Street
Royal Oak

*

Saline Saturday Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

{Location}
Downtown Saline South Ann Arbor Street half a block south of Michigan Ave.
Saline

*

Saline Tuesday Famers Market

{Schedule}
June – September, 2015
Tuesdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Saline District Library
555 N. Maple Road Half mile north of Michigan Avenue
Saline

*

Saline Winter Farmers Market

{Schedule}
November – April, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

{Location}
Liberty School
7265 Saline Ann Arbor Road
Saline

*

Shelby Township Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Packard Proving Grounds
49965 Van Dyke Ave
Shelby Township

*

South Lyon Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

{Location}
Corner of West Liberty Street and Pontiac Trail
South Lyon

*

Walled Lake Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Wednesdays 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
1499 E. Maple St Next to the fire station
Walled Lake

*

Warren Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

{Location}
Warren Civic Square Van Dyke Avenue North of 12 Mile Road
Warren

*

{Waterford} Oakland County Market

{Schedule}
May – December Tuesdays, Thursdays + Saturdays 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
January – April Saturdays Only 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

{Location}
2350 Pontiac Lake Road
Waterford

*

Wayne Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Wednesdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Goudy Park Behind City Hall
3355 S. Wayne Road
Wayne

*

Westland Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Thursdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Westland City Hall parking lot
36601 Ford Road
Westland

*

Whitmore Lake Farm & Artisan Market

{Schedule}
July – September, 2015
Thursdays 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location)
75 Barker Road
Whitmore Lake

*

Wixom Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – August, 2015
Thursdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

{Location}
Sibley Square Park
48900 Pontiac Trail
Wixom

*

Wyandotte Farmers Market

{Schedule}
June – October, 2015
Thursdays 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

{Location}
Downtown Wyandotte Corner of Elm and First Streets
Wyandotte

*

Ypsilanti Depot Town Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

{Location}
Historic Depot Town Freighthouse Plaza
100 Rice St Between Cross Street and East Forest Ave
Ypsilanti

*

Downtown {Ypsilanti} Farmers Market

{Schedule}
May – October, 2015
Tuesdays 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

{Location}
Key Bank Building North Hamilton Street and Michigan Avenue
Downtown Ypsilanti

{Summer Fun} :: Family Firework Safety

By

brandihohner

-

July 2, 2015

Summer is here and with it comes celebrations and safety concerns. As Moms we seem to worry about everything, some small and silly, but others are bigger concerns and truly scary. With the 4th of July days away one of these bigger concerns is fireworks. Fireworks, if done carefully and safely, can be a very fun and memorable time for the whole family! So to help you and your little ones enjoy your local firework display here are a few yet important recommendations.

Most Injured Body Parts:: More than half of these injuries were burns.

41% Hands and Fingers

19% Heads Faces and Ears

15% Trunks {waist, back, abdomen}

13% Legs

12% Eyes

1% Arms

{All of these are from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.}

These are great visuals and put it all in perspective, but sometimes we need other ideas and suggestions to help with our little’s. While they suggest not giving sparklers to children under 5 years old EVER, seriously have you been in the situation where your child is the only one without one? So what’s a mom to do?? Well I was told once a great compromise is to stand with or hold child while you hold the sparkler. Great idea if you don’t have a squirmer or miss independent like I do!! So I asked around again and came up with a great idea. RED SOLO CUPS!!! What American BBQ or backyard party doesn’t have these present anymore? Take a knife or scissors or whatever sharp pointy thing you have available and poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. Now slide the stick of the sparkler in the hole and you have a hand shield for your little ones hand! Now with that said it’s still plastic so you still need to keep an eye on them (or as many as possible if it’s my baby cakes) to prevent burning and melted plastic.

Another option, since for some unknown reason my mother didn’t have a single plastic cup in the house, was the smaller size flower pots. You know the orange-ish ones with the hole in the bottom, they work great too! And since they are Terracotta they won’t melt and are a little (heavier) but non-melting/flammable choice.

Remember, have fun, enjoy the special holiday, teach your little’s about the meaning of this Independence Day celebration and its importance to our freedom and most of all..stay safe!

Memorable For The Wrong Reasons

By

emiliemaierhofer

-

July 1, 2015

In the moments after she was born, one of the first things I noticed about my wriggling, wet, baby was her thick dark hair. After she was washed and dried and we got to know each other in the recovery room, I continued to be amazed at the fluffy inch-long dark stuff. In the days and weeks that passed, Linnea’s hair was the first thing that people mentioned when they saw her. The comments became something I expected, and a source of pride.

From day one we remarked on her distinctive hair.

Everyone must be awed by the beauty of their child’s hair. Initially it is so soft, more so than anything they’ve touched before. No one can deny the intoxicating smell that wafts up through the fluff and bonds mother to child. Even the mothers I know who have boys take pride in their hair. I know several little boys whose mothers let their hair grow to their shoulders despite the risk of being mistaken for a girl.

I don’t consider myself too sentimental, but the hours spent nursing my child and stroking her head worked on my heart. People would occasionally mention that her hair would probably fall out, but I denied the possibility. In my mind, it was a part of her identity. At around two months my father mentioned that her hair looked thinner, and though I continued to deny it, I started paying more attention.

At first I would find a stray hair on my hand, and then I began to notice that her hairline was receding, the nearly two-inch long strands replaced by tiny soft wisps. Not only that, but as the remaining hair grew, I found that her roots were coming in shimmering and blonde. One day my husband mentioned a bald spot growing on the back of her head, the one common to most babies. When I looked closer I noticed some spots thinning along the sides. Not only that, but I noticed her cradle-cap had come back and was worse than her first bout, this time covering the top of her head in a yellow waxy layer, and even descending to her sideburns.

Now I feel like I need to tell you, I am not a vain person. I was doing the busy mom beauty routine long before I became one. I have always been a wash and air-dry girl and sometimes go several months between haircuts. But I didn’t want my baby girl to go bald! I thought I was upset about losing the dark hair that characterized my beautiful baby. I thought nature had sent the first curve ball at the expectations I held for my new child, and that was that. Taking things into my own hands was about to be my greatest mistake.

My husband and I were celebrating our three year wedding anniversary and, baby in tow, we went out for Thai food. The waitress commented on Linnea’s dark locks and I thanked her. Trying to be personable, I continued, “but she is balding!” and lifted the long hair on her forehead to show the short patch.

The waitress then told me, “in my culture we shave the baby’s head and when it grows back it is thicker.” It was an interesting thought and her statement lingered in my mind. That night while nursing, I looked up information about shaving babies heads. Though scientifically her theory has been disproved, several cultures hold traditions about cutting hair. As I lay Linnea back in her crib, it occurred to me that at some point with all of her balding, Linnea’s hair might become so funny looking that we would want to cut it.

balding baby — I couldn’t deny her receding hairline or bald patch.

The next day was a rough one. My husband was home all day, but we were both stressed, trying to figure out insurance details, calling, going online, even writing a letter (who writes letters anymore?!). Based on her napping behavior, it was as though Linnea absorbed the tension. She took forever to fall asleep, and woke quickly making the hours drag by. I waited all day to find the right time to go grocery shopping (which I love to do). Eventually, during one afternoon feeding, I sent my husband, giving up my break-from-baby that is so needed on those stressful days.

I sat nursing and thinking. I just wanted to have some control, to be able to make something better. When my husband came home and put away the groceries, I shared a great idea I had come up with. “Let’s cut her hair!” I said, still in my pajamas. He looked at me and tentatively agreed. “Her hair is falling out anyway, this will just make it even!” I said, convincing myself it was a good idea.

I went to the bathroom and got the hair-cutting scissors and a comb, starting to snip at the top of her head. Of course, the more I cut, the worse it looked. Her ultra-fine hair fell through the comb and left uneven edges. I nervously joked, “it looks like someone used kid scissors.”

Digging myself deeper into a bad haircut, I continued. While I was working, Chris brought out his buzzer and offered to give her a shave. I agreed, thinking that it could erase the work I’d done.

He buzzed while I held Linnea. Her hair fell limp atop the short mint colored guard protecting the buzzing blades. Each pass cut only a small patch making long work of her little head. She wriggled and whimpered, her face turning red. It was hard to tell after a few moments whether her scalp was red from irritation, or from her straining cries. A few greasy flakes from her cradle cap came loose and rested in the light colored stubble I barely recognized as my daughter’s hair.

I was in complete anguish at my own behavior. Should we continue? Should we stop? We would have to finish eventually. My brow furrowed, and I looked furtively at Chris. “Keep going. Work faster.” I said as he paused worriedly, but Linnea continued to cry. Finally I pulled her as close as I could and turned away. Everything was short, her scalp clearly visible except for the back of her head, a few wisps at the whorl of her hair and a thick little mullet.

I quickly walked back to her nursery and calmed her, wondering all the while how I could be so selfish. I nursed Linnea and changed her diaper. As she lay, calm, yet questioning on the table, I though, “now is my chance to get it over with.” I softly turned her head to the left and again to the right, trimming the remaining long hairs with the scissors and revealing her stork bite birthmark that matches my own. In my desperation, I thought the scissors would do a better job during my second try. I was wrong.

I brought her back to the living room as we sat, a family of three. “Its just a haircut, it will grow back,” I said aloud more to myself than to Chris. I was holding back tears.

“Of course,” he replied.

“Maybe I should shave my head” I said, holding Linnea tightly and looking over to Chris.

“No! Emilie! You’ll look like Brittany Spears!” he retorted in an instant. Humor is a defense mechanism for both of us, but of course, he was right.

I continued to battle my guilt that evening in the realization that I had gone beyond rational thought in my impulsiveness. I was so glad he was there to keep me grounded. I was drowning internally.

I didn’t realize until it was over, that I did care about her hair. But did she? At three months old, she continued to laugh when her blocks fell over and smile when I sang to her. Her eyes crinkled and her gums bared in a toothless grin. It was the first time that I realized that she would be beautiful to me no matter what changed about her appearance.

best baby — My girl, beautiful from the inside out.

The next day we buzzed off the rest of her hair in a much less eventful experience. I hoped, looking down at the soft monk-like head of my child, that I would be able to remember the lesson and share it with her as she grows. Her beauty never was tied up in her hair. Her worth reaches far beyond her appearance.

Learning to Love My {new} Body

By

adriansarkozyfear

-

June 30, 2015

Some days I wake up, stumble to the bathroom, and look in the mirror at my sleep deprived self and cry. I cry like an overly emotional teenage girl. Me! The 32 year old successful woman cries. It is kind of pathetic. I cry because I hate the body that is looking back at me in the mirror. If there was a spokesperson for shitty self-esteem and the person who is uncomfortable with their post-partum body the most, I would be that person! Plaster me all over the city, because I win the contest for hating my body the most!

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Almost four and a half years ago I became a mother, left my passion for racing my bicycle behind to grow a child and give birth to him in my own home. Having children was everything I dreamed and wanted so badly, but I was not prepared for the changes my body would go through. I wish someone would have told me, to celebrate my pre-baby body for what it was, physically fit and toned. After giving birth, my views on my breasts and stomach changed. I hate them now. But seriously, how can I feel so negatively about my own self?! I grew a child in that stomach and nursed that tiny baby with the milk from my breast! And yet I still hate the body staring back at me.

4th trimester bodies

Last winter the 4^th Trimester Body Project, came to Ann Arbor. I was so excited, I had been following Ashely Wells Jackson’s project since it started and could not believe she was actually coming to Michigan. I signed up so fast! The project is “dedicated to embracing the beauty inherent in the changes brought to our bodies by motherhood, childbirth and breastfeeding”. The week before the photo shoot, I went to Nordstrom to get a black bra and pair of underwear; as the photos are taken of mother and her children in black undergarments. At the time I was 8 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 16 month old, Davin. I felt awkward and just plain fat, but excited to have the moment captured. I arrived at the photo shoot full of amazing emotions and left a little while later in tears. I was embarrassed that they were going to be online for all of the world to see. I was not prepared to see the images the camera captured. I buried the photos in my email and didn’t do anything with them for many months.

My bio with 4th trimester bodies

The last few weeks of my pregnancy with Ebe, I got the guts and sent the photos out to be printed and framed. I hung my favorite picture in the corner of my bedroom next to black and white silhouettes I had done of the boys during the summer. The photo began to grow on me. Did I really look that bad? Sure I have to some weight to lose, I was newly pregnant in the photo, and my body was far from perfect.

I can’t continue hating my figure for the rest of my life; who does that? It is time to stop the negative attitude, the shaming of myself and teaching my own children that one day their wives no longer have perfect bodies! This ends now.

My body changed with pregnancy, why does society view me as no longer perfect? Sure, I could probably do a zillion workout videos, start making better food choices and drop all of the baby weight, but what if I don’t? Am I flawed or should I be celebrated? I grew and fed a child with my own body!

From now on, I am going to celebrate the successes my body has accomplished instead of talking down to myself. I want to teach Ebe that one day, her body will change and it is nothing to be ashamed of. The more important thing is for me to be healthy so that I’m around for years to come to be a parent, not a cover girl.

*As of early June, I have returned to the sport of cycling and hope to compete in my first race post babies in early July 2015*

Top 25 {Summertime} Uses for Coconut Oil!

By

lindsaymacdougall

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June 29, 2015

Coconut oil can be used for just about anything. Literally. A little over a year ago, I kept hearing about people using coconut oil, so I ventured to Costco to get a big tub of it. The result? Instant obsession. Check out these top 25 uses for coconut oil, especially great for the summer months!

For Mommies:

1. Eyes! Not only does coconut oil work great as an eye make up remover, but it also removes puffiness, bags and wrinkles.

2. Body scrub. Mix with equal parts sugar and you have a home-made, natural, smoothing body scrub.

3. Hair Growth: New mamas, is your not as thick post-baby? Totally normal. Coconut oil can help stimulate hair growth by supporting cell regeneration when rubbed into the scalp daily.

4. Tired Mama? Coconut oil can help improve sleep when taken daily.

5. Nursing Moms: use in place of Lanolin cream on nipples to sooth irritation.

6. Thrush: Coconut oil can be used on both mom and inside baby’s mouth to help treat thrush.

7. Breast Milk: Consuming enough coconut oil helps to increase the lauric acid already present in your breastmilk!

8. Mix in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea (pregnancy-safe!).

9. A serious natural hair conditioner: Especially during the summer months when our hair is often suffering from the harsh pool water, just apply into dry hair and leave on for several hours to bring your hair back to feeling silky smooth.

10. Looking for a great nighttime facial moisturizer? You found it!

For your littles:

1. Diaper Cream: Coconut oil serves as a super comforting diaper cream, and is cloth diaper safe!

2. Swimmers Ear: Mix with garlic oil and put a few drops in ear (10 minutes, 2-3 times a day) to clear it up!

3. Nursing Moms: Take 3-4 tablespoons a day to help increase milk supply.

4. Teething Babies: Add coconut oil to teething toys for extra relief.

5. Cradle Cap: Massage onto babies head, let sit, and use soft brush to help resolve cradle cap in newborns.

For everyone:

1. Sunscreen: Coconut oil is a natural SPF 4 sunscreen.

2. Body Lotion: Seriously, I’ll never buy regular lotion again.

3. SHAVING: This one was life changing. Holy smooth legs!

4. Lip Balm: Just a dab will do. Put a small amount directly onto your lips as a chapstick!

5. Cook with it! Coconut oil is great for baking, frying or as a replacement for butter (and dairy free!). It serves as a great coffee creamer, replaces vegetable oil in any recipe, seasons cast iron skillets, etc.

6. Sunburn Relief: This really works to soothe and heal sunburn.

7. Energy Boost: Busy summer days have you lagging? Add a tablespoon to your smoothie to give yourself a boost of nutrition and energy.

8. Allergy Relief: When taken internally or rubbed on the inside of your nose, coconut oil can help aleviate the symptoms of allergies.

9. Mosquito Bites: For faster healing and relief, rub on some coconut oil!

10. Oil Pulling: Add a drop or oregano oil and improve the health of your gums!

Tip: Not necessarily this brand, but we recommend organic, cold-pressed, extra-virgin coconut oil! Check your local Costco, Sam’s Club, or warehouse store to buy in bulk and save your money!

Looking for a Sizzling Summer TV Fling?

By

Nicole Torres

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June 29, 2015

DISCLAIMER: I didn’t want to use actual TV stills because my lawyer-husband warned me against copyright issues. So, since he says parody is fair game, I got a little help from the kiddos. However, nothing is ever on our TV before 9pm that isn’t on a channel ending in Jr. I promise they have never seen any of these shows!!

____________

TV and I are more than just friends. For those who know me — at all, really — this is not a new confession. In fact, it’s not even a confession. I definitely catch the subtext in those who say, “Oh, I really don’t watch television.” I know what they’re thinking. TV is lazy. It’s a waste of time. It’s such a loser. I hear you, but I love it, anyway! <In my head, I’m picturing the defiant head shake of Ariel to her father, Triton. Yes, I watch too many movies, too>

When people ask me how I have time to watch so much television, I’m actually a bit confused. I have a preschooler. I have a baby. I have some serious constraints on my social life. When my children both go to sleep, the night suddenly becomes a wide open road. As J. Alfred Prufrock says, “When the evening is spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherized upon a table,” that’s when my husband and I scroll past all the Team Umizoomis and Paw Patrols to find something TV-MA to indulge in. But what do we do in the summer when all our favorite shows are on hiatus? My first child was a May baby and a slow eater (I truly understand what it means to nurse a drink now), so Netflix and Amazon Prime actually made it to my baby must-have list. Besides, with the advent of streaming, my appreciation for well-written TV actually grew with binge-watching.

Television demands perhaps the most unique style of writing: Each episode has to have a plot structure but also fit inside an underlying story arc, both within and between seasons. Characters have to retain the qualities that hooked viewers while still being dynamic enough to develop over seasons that might last a full decade. And a series finale? In my opinion, this is one of the hardest pieces of writing to accomplish. While the minds behind these shows have had to train themselves to keep a story going for years, they now have to do something contrary to everything they have been trying to do: END. So, I’m a bit forgiving when it comes to finales — the least I ask is that the show not decimate everything it had built (ahem: How I Met Your Mother!) And when a finale is actually extraordinary, I am in absolute awe.

While I have a lot of TV-loves, I have a short-list of shows that I believe never missed a beat. In no particular order, these are the ones I would recommend as a summer romance that will consistently be there for you and give you the closure you need when it’s all over.

Justified

The show is based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by Elmore Leonard — a University of Detroit graduate who authored the novels behind Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, 3:10 to Yuma and Out of Sight. Besides his Michigan ties, I have a particular affinity for him because he was one of my dad’s favorite writers. When I saw he was behind the show, I recommended it to my dad. We DVR’d it for him, but when we saw the first episode — we were hooked. The show stars Timothy Olyphant (Live Free or Die Hard, This is Where I Leave You) as Raylan Givens, a US Marshall with a cowboy swagger who has been sent back to his hometown in Kentucky. It is, in a way, a modern Western/crime drama, but the dialogue and character acting alone are enough to make the show worth watching. Opposite Olyphant, Walton Goggins (currently filming Tarantino’s new Hateful Eight) plays Boyd Crowder, an outlaw who deals as well with words as he does with drugs. Both were born to criminals and while their early lives paralleled each other, they chose markedly different paths. Across its six seasons, one of the show’s most powerful themes is how the characters deal with the ghosts of their pasts. And if nothing else, Timothy Olyphant is damn sexy.

Where to Watch: Seasons 1-5 are free on Amazon Prime (Season 6 is available for purchase, though maybe by the time you get there it’ll be free also?).

Breaking Bad

If you don’t know anything about this one, please send me the address of the rock you’ve been living under and I’ll mail you my copy of Season 1. We started watching this show way before it was cool to be watching this show (we’re total TV hipsters, can’t you tell?). Someone told my husband that if he liked Sopranos, then he’d love this. The first season had just ended and it was on sale for about six bucks at Best Buy. We figured, why not? To be honest, I didn’t love the first season– and I think maybe it was because of that reference. Tony Soprano, as a character, I get. He’s compelling because he’s both abominable and sympathetic. Walter White, though? Everything seemed to be pointing to pity: a cancer-ridden father who was never appreciated for his genius and just trying to do right by his family. I was wrong, though; not in my dislike but in my distrust that the show knew what it was doing. For my money, this is the best all-around crafted show of all time. The directing, the acting, and even the cinematography are all amazingly on-point. Most notable, though, is the writing. Vince Gilligan took a character who was on the brink of likability and slowly transformed him into someone so loathsome that — as Chris Hardwick of Talking Bad put it, by the last season — no one was left on “Team Walt.” He is a near-perfect Shakespearean tragic hero whose tragic flaw is, I believe, his pride.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Friday Night Lights

This one’s the sleeper for me. I didn’t care much for the movie. I grew up in Birmingham– not the one in Alabama — and I didn’t really get the whole “football is life” thing. So, when my husband (a Texas native) started streaming the show, I just rolled my eyes at him. Even just paying casual attention, however, it didn’t take me long to figure out that it was about way more than football. Before he’d finished the first season, I caught up and joined him on the adventures of Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife Tami (Connie Britton). The series gave me one of my favorite lines and new life philosophies. When the couple were feeling particular stress at home, Taylor puts their family in this perspective: “This is our blessing, not our burden.” It’s a mantra that stayed with me while I spent nights in the hospital with my dad, nursed my children through bottle strikes and dairy intolerances, and comforted my mom in her final days. In its fourth season, the show faced the dilemma that all shows based in a high school deal with: these kids gotta graduate. We thought for sure the season would go the way of every “The New Class” attempt, but instead, the writers redefined and redirected while adding depth to a show that had already surpassed my expectations. Clear Eyes. Full Heart. Can’t Lose.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Scrubs

So, I’m cheating a bit with this one because it does, in all fairness, miss a few steps. The show spent most of its life on NBC, but was actually produced by ABC studios (if someone smarter than me wants to read this and explain how that happened, please let me know!). Being the network bastard that it was, it got tossed around timeslots, traded between nights, and — when the Writers Guild went on strike in 2007 — it was the easiest to sacrifice (to add insult to injury, they replaced it with Celebrity Apprentice. Who needs writers, right?). The show aired an awkward faux finale to its seventh season and NBC put it on a permanent hiatus. About halfway through the following season, the show switched to ABC and gave itself a proper ending (We’re going to ignore the fact that there was technically a season 9. It’s more of a spin-off than a continuing season; even Zach Braff tweeted: “The first rule of season 9, there was no season 9.” Let’s file it away under things that should never have happened. Like Joey). So, I’m giving it a pass because, you know, it’s like dating that guy who managed to pull himself together despite some pretty legitimate father issues. It’s a show that rewards its viewers (“knife/wrench! For kids!”) — the characters change and grow but stay true to who they are (go ahead and YouTube Dr. Cox rants; you won’t regret it). And while it is a comedy, it takes its setting seriously. It’s about the only show that could often make me both laugh and cry in the same 24 minute stretch. In the end, it’s a show that you only really enjoy if give it the chance to actually tell its story.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu

The Wire

We got two episodes into the first season and sent the disc back to Blockbuster Online (I know; what’s that??). We didn’t get it. It had all the set-up of Law & Order: Criminals on one end, the cops tracking them on the other. And yet, the first episode offered virtually no resolutions. Nor did the second. We didn’t understand the storytelling; the only show we’d really watched at the time that had relied on season-long arcs was 24, and while it took an entire “day” to resolve, each episode certainly offered immediate gratifications. On a friend’s urging, however, we gave The Wire another shot. Before Breaking Bad, this became the show I held as the best-crafted series I’d ever seen. It’s gritty. It takes its time with the story and characters, but the payoff is more than worth it. Each season focuses on a different facet of the workings and corruptions of Baltimore: the crime-ridden streets, the dangerous docks, the corrupt politics, the inner city schools, and, finally, the news media. Each season has its own feel and themes, but is inherently linked to the ones before — like consecutive chapters of an intense novel. I did my student teaching at Mumford in Detroit and then taught on the south side of Chicago and this show portrays urban education in a more authentic way than I have ever seen. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more Michelle Pfeiffer lessons on Bob Dylan, Matthew Perry reaching lost kids through chugging chocolate milk or Hilary Swank magically transforming the lives of high school students (while simultaneously destroying her own), Season Four did something I thought could not be done: It portrayed the reality of our “failing” schools through an unfiltered lense that is honest and respectful of the true complexity of problems these schools — and most importantly, the children in them — face. The show could have just as easily been set in Detroit; though, I think that is the point. It is the story of the American city.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

So, that’s my list. I have a few honorable mentions (Boston Legal, The Office, even Dexter, to name a few), but these are my top picks. Other TV-ophiles may disagree, but the heart loves what it loves.

What would you recommend for these Summer Nights?

Making Mom Friends is Kind of Like Dating

By

Erica B

-

June 24, 2015

It may just be me, but making friends as an adult – especially as a parent – is so much harder than it was when I was younger. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the socially awkward teen of so many (seriously, SO many) years ago, but it’s tough for other reasons.

The #1 reason it’s harder to make friends is because there just seems to be so much less time available. As a real grown up and parent we have all these responsibilities. Also because it’s hard to hold a conversation with another grown up when you’re both wrangling infants, toddlers, and/or other little people. It ends up looking like you both have Tourette’s as you try to yack about what happened on The Bachelor last night, but every few seconds one of you is yelling, “NO!”, “Get down from there!”, “Don’t eat that!”, or “Get it out of your nose, NOW!”

I think most of us have heard the “find your tribe” cliché, and possibly rolled your eyes. The truth is, we all have different social needs – but having even one or two other mamas who just “get it”, and more importantly, get YOU, makes navigating the bipolar world of parenting a whole lot more fun!

When I had my daughter, who is now almost 6, I was pretty isolated. I suffered post-partum depression and none of my friends were having kids yet. Going back to work when she was about 6 months old was a good thing for me, but I still didn’t have a social life outside of my husband, the baby, and the dogs. When my son came along three and a half years later, and I knew I wasn’t going to go back to work, I knew I had to figure something out and make myself some new friends.

I’m still close with my long time friends who don’t have kids or who live further away. I do my best to nourish those relationships via phone conversations, meeting up for yoga, coffee, or the occasional wild girl’s night that concludes with me tipsy after 2 drinks. But still, so many of these women I love dearly can’t sympathize with the day to day that a mom lives. And it’s totally OK, it’s great in fact! I get to live vicariously through their stories of international travel, wild nights, and hot dates and remember that there’s more to life than just dirty diapers and dance lessons. Have I mentioned that I’ve been with my husband for 13 years? I’m 35 now, so it’s been a loooong time since I’ve had wild and crazy – unless you consider a five year old’s Frozen birthday party a good time, that is.

Finding my mom people didn’t happen overnight, and I definitely stood awkwardly next to some other mommies at the playground, silently willing them to ask me to be a part of their cool moms group. But I have a mom friend who I can tell every dirty little secret to about how frustrated I get sometimes with my husband and kids and I never feel judged. I have a mom friend who is wry and sarcastic and who took the time to walk me through disassembling my son’s vomit covered car seat via Facetime so I could make it not smell anymore. I have a mom friend who’s crunchy and fixes everything with essential oils and herbs like me. Another, our toddlers are BFF’s that play well together, so we can sit and ignore them and talk about anything BUT them while guzzling coffee. And I have a couple of Facebook mom groups that I’m active in, where we can commiserate, ask for advice, and post pictures of our kids without worry that some haters will not appreciate just how adorable they are. My life would be much less fun and much more difficult without these women.

Here are some ideas for how to find some awesome mom friends of your own!

1 – Facebook!

Use the search and look for groups in your city and/or county. Many of these groups are active online and in real life, meeting up at parks, play places, and home play dates.

2 – Meetup.com

Again, search for mom’s groups and you can also look for people with the same parenting styles or interests – IE baby wearing, AP, Fit Mommies, etc.

3 – Wherever there are kids.

Parks, the zoo, beaches, indoor play places, etc. One of my best friends I “picked up” at an indoor play place. Her kid looked to be the same age as mine and I struck up a conversation. We hit it off and the two of us and our kids are like a tiny traveling zoo visiting all the local kiddie haunts.

4 – Established groups like La Leche League, MOPS, MOMS, etc.

Google to find your local chapter, and show up at a meeting, and continue to go regularly. The other women are there for the same reason you are!

5 – Make cards with your contact info.

One of my favorite mommies made free cards at vistaprint.com with just her and her son’s first names, her e-mail address, and her Facebook page URL. Keep a couple in your back pocket, the car, etc. This way when you meet someone, you don’t have to try and dig your cell phone out of the diaper bag or try to outscream your tantruming toddler to tell her your number, e-mail address, or Instagram handle.

Don’t be afraid to make the first move, and don’t assume that someone who already has friends doesn’t want any more! Not everyone you meet will be a lifelong friend, or even someone you want to sit next to for 5 minutes – but with a little effort you’ll find your people and being a mom will be way more awesome with them around! Now if only there was a Tinder app for moms…

No Kids Allowed!

By

aubreymoon

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June 23, 2015

“…nope, nevermind, definitely still a mom.”

If you had the chance to read a little about my background, you know that my husband and I were one of the first of our friends to have a baby; something we never regretted. I’ve always known I wanted children and knew we were ready at the ripe ages of 25 & 26. People tell you that your life changes when you have a baby and that is 100% true…in the best way possible. You mature. You prioritize. You figure out what is most important to you. But it wasn’t until recently that I’ve felt “left out” of group gatherings. (I say “I” instead of “we” because I’m not sure guys really get that worked up/emotionally concerned about being left out).

We’ve been trying to make plans with friends for fun weekend gatherings, dinners, bachelor(ette) parties, weddings, etc. We try to go out with friends a time or two every month without the baby so we can have a drink and adult conversations. We hire a babysitter and enjoy ourselves. Occasionally we will bring the little man with us if we know we won’t be out super late.

Trust me when I say, I understand children should not be invited to every outing. Hell, our wedding invitations specifically stated that it was an adult-only reception. Most of our friends respect our new role as parents and continue to invite us to fun events even though we may not say yes every time. (P.S. I appreciate that more than they know).

But what happens when you’re purposely left off of the guest list?

Should it be taken personally that they don’t want to hang out anymore or just take it as we’re at two different points in our lives? Or maybe our invitation just got lost in the mail?

Have you been in the same boat with your friends? What was the best way to deal with this issue? I’d love to hear how you’ve dealt with this. For now I’ll just say, “one day they’ll understand.”

“Like the moon I will fade away but like the sun I will rise again.”

Detroit Hustles Harder, So Do Young Moms

By

Courtney Howell

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June 22, 2015

Detroit hustles harder—everyone knows that. If not, they better recognize! Sure, Detroit has had its fair share of hard knocks, but the struggle is only part of the story.

Every setback has made Detroit stronger. Each hardship empowers Detroit to work harder. Every obstacle is seen as a new opportunity, and there is no challenge Detroit can’t conquer. Even when the rest of the world turned its back on Detroit and deemed it a failure, the city was too busy rebuilding and reinventing itself to notice.

Detroit hustles harder is more than just a phrase, it’s an attitude. And, I see a lot of those same characteristics in young moms.

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