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Weekend Happenings In + Around Detroit This Holiday {November 26th – 30th}

November 24, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Our kindest wishes go out to everyone this week as we give thanks to all the blessings in our lives.

What we LOVE about this holiday…

– Thanksgiving is a non-religious holiday celebrated by pretty much everyone. There are no rules + no presents!

– It is a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and a way to celebrate kindness.

– Families reflect on the year and give thanks for their blessings.

-Gathering with family and friends to enjoy an enormous feast, almost always a meal complete with a roasted turkey with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie.

– Almost ALL businesses close down, even workaholics take a break and use this holiday as an excuse to take a long weekend away. It is a major travel week, even more travel than Christmas!

– As mentioned above it is about the gathering of family + the feast, but let’s not forget about the parade + football!

Enjoy~

BLACK FRIDAY 2014!!!!!
November 28th
Ad Alerts

*

Kerrytown Annual Tree Lighting Festival with Santa!

“Join us to welcome the holidays in our courtyard where we’ll have Christmas carols, candle luminaries and best of all Santa to light the tree!”

{Date}
November 30, 2014

{Time}
5-6:00 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Kerrytown Market & Shops
Ann Arbor

*

Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa!

Featuring Santa, caroling, choirs and horse drawn carriage.

{Date}
November 26, 2014

{Time}
6:00 pm

{Cost}
FREE
$5 photo with Santa

{Location}
Shain Park
Downtown Birmingham

*

Birmingham Santa House

{Date}
November 26 – December 24, 2014

{Time}
Weekends, see hours HERE

{Cost}
$5 donation

{Location}
Shain Park
Downtown Birmingham

*

Birmingham Carriage Rides

{Date}
November 26 – December 20, 2014

{Time}
Weekends

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Carriages load at the corner of Henrietta & Merrill
Downtown Birmingham

*

Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa!

Featuring Santa, caroling, choirs and horse drawn carriage.

{Date}
November 26, 2014

{Time}
6:00 pm

{Cost}
FREE
$5 photo with Santa

{Location}
Shain Park
Downtown Birmingham

*

Holidays in Henry Ford Museum

A giant Christmas tree, trains + Santa!

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014 – January 4^th, 2015

{Time}
Santa Hours 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Friday
9:30 am – 5 pm Saturday + Sunday

{Cost}
$18 adults
$13.50 ages 5-12
FREE 4 and under

{Location}
Henry Ford Museum
Dearborn

*

Campus Martius Park was designed to be the central square of Detroit. During the winter months the offers a venue for ice skating, and the nearby cafe offers hot chocolate to keep Detroiters warm and toasty. The rink opens officially after the Tree-Lighting Ceremony.

{Date}
November 21, 2014– January 3, 2015
{Preview Days 14^th – 16^th}

{Time}
See Schedule HERE

{Cost}
Adults (13-49 years) $8

Child (12 & under) $7

Seniors (50 & older) $7

Skate Rental $3

Shoe Check available for people with their own skates $2

Skate Sharpening $5

Monthly Skate Pass $30

{Location}
Campus Marius Park
Detroit

*

Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Game

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014

{Time}
12:30 pm

{Location}
Ford Field
Detroit

*

America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

“Walking on Sunshine”

{Date}
November 27^th,2014

(Time}
9:00 am

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Starts at Woodward and Kirby Street
Ends at Woodward and Congress Street
Detroit

*

Detroit’s Turkey Trot

Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day 10K + 5K

{Date}
November 27^th, 2014

{Time}
6:00 am Michigan Room at Cobo Center opens for Packet Pickup
(NO race day registration)
7:30 am BCBSM Mashed Potato Mile
7:30 am 10K Fifth Third Turkey Trot starts on Woodward near Congress
8:30 am 5K S3 Stuffing Strut starts on Woodward near Congress

{Cost}
Registration

{Location}
Detroit

*

Riley Park Ice Rink

For this first season skating is FREE to the public! They encourage a little donation, secure donation box on site.

{Date}
Open Daily, Weather Permitting

{Time}
8:30 am – 10 pm Sunday – Thursday
8:30 am – 11 pm Friday + Saturday

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Farmington

*

Farmington Winter Market

{Date}
Opening November 22^nd, 2014

{Time}
10 am – 2 pm

{Location}
American Legion Post No. 346
Farmington

*

Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic

Costumed villagers prepare for the holiday season in the Village. The Colwell Opera House presents live entertainment and Santa Claus! Featuring model trains, craft demos, holiday music and thousands of lights sparkle through the village and a nighttime train ride!

{Date}
November 28-30, December 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 23, 26-28, 30
(Drive through ONLY nights :: December 1, 8, 15, 22, 24, 29)

{Time}
Christmas Departures :: 5:00, 5:50, 6:40, 7:30 pm {additional trains available!}
(5 – 9 pm)

{Cost}
Village tickets $8 – $10
Combo Village + Train tickets $10 – $13

{Location}
Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad
Flint

*

Holiday Celebration & Candlewalk with Santa!

A perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. Hot cocoa and cookies, carolers and a visit from Santa!

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014

{Time}
6:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Frankenmuth

*

Eastland Center Santa Arrival

Featuring a marching band and choo-choo train.

{Date}
November 29th

{Time}
Santa Breakfast 9:30 – 10:30 am
Santa arrives 11 am

{Cost}
Breakfast $3
Tickets are limited purchase early

{Location}
Eastland Mall
Harper Woods

*

Dickens Festival with Santa!

Holly’s Victorian architecture comes alive in its 40^th annual Dickens Festival. Featuring Characters from Dickens’ Novels, music from the Festival Singers, crafts and pictures with Santa!

{Date}
November 29^th, December 1^st, 7^th-8^th, 14^th-15^th

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Village of Holly

*

Fantasy of Lights Parade with Santa!

Featuring illuminated floats, Marching bands and Santa! And a full day of fun!

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014

{Time}
7 pm
(3-10 pm Fantasy of Art)
(4 pm Christmas Alley)
(4:30 – 7 pm Entertainment)
(6 pm Fantasy 5K Run)

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Howell

*

Santa Arrives at the Always Christmas Store

Santa arrives at noon on November 28^th on a fire truck.

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014

{Location}
Canterbury Village
Lake Orion

*

Breakfast with Santa at Canterbury Village

{Date}
November 30^th, December 6^th, 14^th, 21^st, 2014

{Time}
Register ASAP
Seating at 9 am + 11:30 am

{Cost}
Meal fees

{Location}
Canterbury Village
Lake Orion

*

Annual Christmas Parade with Santa!

The Gobbler Gallop takes place before the parade! 1-Mile Fun Run at 8:20 am and a 4 Mile Walk/Run at 8:50 am

{Date}
November 29^th, 2014

{Time}
10 am

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Milford

*

Macomb County Santa Parade

Presented by the City of Mount Clemens the parade kicks off the holiday season with the arrival of Santa.

{Date}
November 28^th, 2014

{Time}
10 am

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Mt. Clemens

*

Anton Art Center Christmas Market

Shop for unique gifts my Michigan artists, and check out the decorated trees.

{Date}
Sundays November 14th thru December 21st

{Time}
10 am – 5 pm Tuesdays – Thursdays and Saturdays
10 am – 6 pm Fridays
noon to 4 pm Sundays

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Anton Art Center
Mount Clemens

*

Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook Hall

43^rd Annual sets a 110-Room Tudor Revival style mansion aglow with holiday décor and historic fun.

{Date}
November 28^th thru December 23^rd 2014}

{Time}
11 am -5:00 pm

{Cost}
$5-$20

{Location}
Rochester

*

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo

More than 5 million LED lights illuminate the zoo! Opening night includes some fun activities and an appearance by singer Karen Newman performing “Christmas Eve on Woodward Avenue”. Live entertainment, photos with Santa “Paws”, ice carving, arts + crafts.

{Date}
For 24 Nights beginning November 22^nd. 2014
November 22–23 + 28–30 and December 5-7, 11-14, 18-23 + 26-31

{Time}
5”30 – 9 pm

{Cost}

{Location}
Detroit Zoo
Royal Oak

*

Wayne County Lightfest with Santa

Drive through an animated holiday lighting displayed Hines Drive! Visit Santa’s Workshop at the end of Warrendale Park starting November 26^th until December 23^rd. Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa, you can drop it in the giant mailbox.

{Date}
(8K Fun Run/Walk on November 18^th)
(Bike through the lights on November 19^th)
November 21^st – December 31^st
(closed December 25^th!)

{Time}
7 – 10:00 pm (Monday thru Thursday)
6:00 – 10:00 pm (Friday thru Sunday)

{Cost}
$5 a vehicle
{Toy night “Tuesdays”, bring an unwrapped toy instead of $5, toys will be donated to the Wayne County Family Center

{Location}
Hines Drive
Westland

*

We Want To Adopt A Child – How Much Does That Cost?

Regina

November 21, 2014

Starting a family is expensive, but when you add adoption expenses into the mix? Wow. I’m not going to lie – adoption is uber expensive. When my husband and I first started our adoption adventure, we had some rose colored glasses on. We were absolutely clueless as to exactly how expensive it could be. One agency we contacted wanted $15,000 up front, with the possibility of needing to pay more down the line. Oh, and paying all of that money to the agency would not guarantee we would receive a child. To say we had sticker shock would be a bit of an understatement. As it turned out, we were very fortunate. We had a birth mother approach us and because of that we were able to “a la cart” our adoption, so to speak. That way we could pay for each expense as it came up and we would not have to obtain an agency.

Once a birth mother approached us to adopt her child {EEEK! We were going to be a family!} we had a due date, and along with that came an end date to raise money for adoption expenses. It also meant that there were less than eight months to get everything completed – home inspections, legal paperwork and doctor’s visits. We needed to start saving (hoarding?) money – FAST!

First thing a friend suggested we do was open a donation page. There are many sites to choose from, gofundme and giveforward is just a couple that I have used personally. They allowed us to crowd fund by placing links on every social media website where we had an account. The donations started almost immediately thanks to all the awesome people in our lives. 🙂

Now that we had our donation page up and running, it was time to get creative. We needed to come up with fundraisers that would appeal to everyone we knew.

Here are just a few of the ideas that we and our friends came up with:

Direct sales of CHOCOLATE! Very few people hate chocolate, plus it’s consumable so people will come back for more and more. I signed up as a direct sales consultant, first with Lindt (they have since bowed out of the direct sales industry), and then Dove Chocolate Discoveries. In the month leading to Christmas I managed to earn $1000 to put toward our adoption expenses.

ANY direct sales company will offer to do a fundraiser for you. Check with friends or the company itself to find a distributor/consultant. You may even get a DOUBLE BONUS and get free stuff from the company along with a donation. The free items can be used at a later event as a prize. We earned a couple hundred dollars to put toward our adoption fund by hosting parties!

Tattoo fundraiser – our friend is a licensed tattoo artist and held a “Tattoo Party” for us. He was extremely generous and gave us 50% of what he earned each day – all we had to do was get customers for him! If this is something that you’re in to, talk with your artist to see if he or she would be willing to help. We earned about $500 with minimal effort on our part.

Casino bus trip – if you have friends that like to gamble, this is a GREAT money maker! Our dear friend Scott handled booking the bus, contacting the casino for comps and such and planned fun activities for the ride to and from FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, MI. We ended up clearing just over $1800 to put toward our adoption expenses!

Silent Auction – we elected to have a prize raffle drawing instead of a silent auction, but a silent auction just might work for you!

T-shirt sales – we are fortunate enough to have many graphic designers in our life and one volunteered her time and created a t-shirt for us to sell. We’re also fortunate enough to know someone that has a screen printing shop. We made a few hundred dollars (I can’t remember the exact amount) on t-shirt sales during Milford Memories Summer Festival.

Bowling fundraiser – the local bowling alleys in our area are really great when it comes to hosting fundraisers. I’ve been to a few and was thrilled when the owner of Holly Lanes in Holly, MI offered the use of his alley to help us out. We earned just shy of $1000 at this fundraiser.

Raffles – during our bowling fundraiser we held two different raffles:
- a 50/50 raffle: Tickets were available in $5 and $10 increments. We drew the winner at the end of our event.
- Prize raffle: What should we raffle? EVERYTHING! We asked everyone we knew to donate new items or gift certificates, checked with local businesses about donations of goods or services and also added in any free items we had received from direct sales companies. Purchased raffle tickets were dropped into a bucket in front of the prize they wanted to win. At the end of the event, we drew one ticket out of each bucket.

All in all with donations and fundraiser we were able to raise nearly $10,000 to help us pay for our adoption. How blessed are we?!? That left about $2,000 for us to save on our own, and fortunately our tax return covered that. J

I hope that our ideas will help you raise the money you need to get your family started!

Foster Care and Special Needs Adoption

Guest Blogger

November 20, 2014

Webster Dictionary defines Adoption as “The act or process of giving official acceptance or approval to something.” But what does adoption really mean? As an adult who was adopted as an infant, it means a great deal. It has meant that I was chosen and loved by a generous and caring couple. Adoption meant that I gained an older brother who may not be blood related to me, but he would protect me to the end of the world. As a Child Welfare worker almost 30 years later, the idea of adoption takes on a whole new meaning. I have seen children come into Foster Care after what seems to be a nightmare of a childhood. I have seen biological parents turn their lives around and re-create themselves after realizing that they have every possibility of losing their children to “The System.” But I have also seen children left in the abyss of Foster Care, with parental rights terminated, and no extended family to take them in. I have had the awful conversation with children who cannot be matched with a “forever family,” and remind them that they are special and deserve to be loved.

But…I have seen a silver lining. I have watched as the community has come together to meet children who are searching to belong. I have seen the excitement in a couple’s or individual’s face as I explain to them that adoption from foster care is not only a viable option, but a way to build their family and change a child’s life from negative to positive!

In the spirit of National Adoption Month, I want to invite any families out there to look into the idea of Adoption from Foster Care. This is also commonly referred to as “Special Needs Adoption.” Special needs in Child Welfare may range from medically fragile children to those with emotional or behavioral needs. Children who are in Foster Care have been removed from their biological home based on Child Protective Services (CPS) and a judge ruling that a child has been abused or neglected in their home or by someone responsible for their care. Biological Parents are given approximately one year to work with the court and the foster care agency in the hopes of resolving their issues and having their children returned home. If a parent is not able to make these efforts in a reasonable amount of time, then the Foster Care Agency can make a recommendation to “Terminate Parental Rights” to the children in care. From this point, the Foster Care Agency places the children for adoption. Children under 14 are automatically given a goal of Adoption, and the search for permanence begins. Children ages 14 and up have the choice of whether or not they would like to be adopted, or would rather have a goal that leans towards Guardianship, Independent Living, or Emancipation, based on their age and maturity level. Regardless of their age, there are children asking for a family to call their own. This is where we need you. We need families of all kinds to change a child’s life forever. To help these children know and believe that they are capable of great things, including belonging and being loved.

Special Needs Adoption is a viable possibility throughout the state, and across the country. Although there are many Child Welfare Agencies throughout Michigan, they are all licensed through the state, and are required to follow certain policies and procedures. Each county in Michigan has a Child Welfare Department, as well. These policies may seem a bit excessive as you go through the licensing and adoption process, but they are there in order to maintain the safety of the nearly 13,000 children who are in foster care at any given time. Policies that are enforced for licensed foster and adoptive parents range from providing regular medical care to the square footage that each bedroom needs to be for the children in your home. Again, many of the rules may seem basic or invasive, but this is the state’s way of caring for so many children at any given time. Some agencies may require your home to be licensed in order to adopt from foster care, and others may give an option of having a home study completed without a home being licensed. In order for a home to be licensed, an agency will assign a worker to go through the home to ensure that it is safe according to state policies. The Licensing worker will also interview parents, children, and references for the family in order to get a better sense of the family structure and what types of children will do well in the home. This “Home Study” is then submitted to the state with a recommendation to license a home for children who would be a best fit with the family.

Although the licensing process is a bit more strict, it can also mean longer transition times for the adoptee and the family before making a final decision to adopt or not, and can also mean that the adoption process itself may go quicker. Either option is extremely less expensive than Infant Adoption, which can range in cost from $10,000 to $30,000 or higher, if you are looking to do International Adoption. Special Needs Adoptions do not have the high price tag, as these are children who are actively looking for a home, and are waiting with the state in the meantime. These children feel the loss of not having a family as each day passes. No matter what you decide, know that there are ways that you can make a difference in a child’s life. Look below for some great resources about Foster Care and Adoption. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to simply ask yourself what you can do. There is no harm in asking, and you may be surprised by the answer you get.

There are many resources that someone can use to learn more about Foster Care and Special Needs Adoption. The first one that I recommend to anyone considering Special Needs Adoption is the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, or MARE. www.mare.org is a wonderful start in learning more about the licensing and adoption process in your area. It gives a well-rounded set of information, as well as connections to other resources and photo listings of children who are currently up for adoption. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is a community through the Dave Thomas Foundation that helps focuses the efforts to find older children and siblings their forever homes. Go to www.davethomasfoundation.org for more information, or to help out in any way you can. You can also call the Foster Parent Navigator Program to become a licensed foster parent, or to learn about the Foster Care and Adoption Agencies in your area! Visit www.fcnp.org for more information about the Navigators.

Becky Van Etten has worked in Child Welfare for over 4 years, first as a Foster Care Case Manager, and now working as a Foster and Adoptive Home Recruitment and Retention Specialist. She currently works with foster and adoptive families, training them so that parents are prepared for working with the Michigan Family Court System, the Child Welfare System, and how to address the needs of children in foster care while they are placed in Foster and Adoptive homes.

Weekend Happenings :: In + Around Detroit November 21st -23rd

Annette

November 19, 2014

November is here and almost over! Can you believe it?! This mom is in denial, all around denial – hello snow storms?!?!?!

After researching what is going on In + Around Metro Detroit this holiday season, I-was-blown-away by all the cool things Metro-Detroit has to offer our {local} families. I hope these upcoming lists will help you discover something new + fabulous to do around Metro-Detroit with your family!

My kiddos are all about Christmas and claim to be “ready”! These were our top 5 X-Mas moments last week….

The toys’r us catalog arrived in the mail made my 6 YO the happiest kid on the block. {I’ve been looking for ways to get him excited to write more….grab your pencil buddy, start making those lists!}
The kids movie of the week was Santa Clause {1, 2 + 3!} with Tim Allen. 4 YO is terrified of the “fake” Santa, I wonder how this years Santa visit is going to go?!
My 4 YO was inspired by the above mentioned movies and wants to be THE next Santa Clause. His little Santa suit + hat made an appearance every-single-day.
We got to sing most of our favorite holiday songs with 100.3 WNIC!
My 6 YO had the spirit to give away some of his toys to children who were less fortunate than he. {finally! but I am pretty sure he just wants to make room for new toys…..!}

This list is LONG and is in order by city. Please make sure to double check information before any event, as things can change. Wishing you a joyful weekend! ~Annette
{P.S. Stay tuned for next weeks Weekend Happenings sneak peek coming to you early!}

*

Brighton’s Holiday Glow

Featuring live entertainment, a nativity petting farm, train rides, hayrides, letter writing to Santa, pictures with the reindeer, yummy treats, and Santa will be joining!

{Date}
November 22^nd, 2014

{Time}
4 – 7 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Brighton

*

Mt. Brighton

{Date}
Ski and Snowboard Season Opens on November 16^th

{Times}
Be sure to check snow conditions + lift status before you head out!
Weekdays :: 10 am – close
Weekends :: 9 am – close

{Cost}
$27-$59 lift tickets
Rentals available
Check current rates here.
Ask for Pre-season rates if it is still early!

{Location}
Brighton

*

PRE-Thanksgiving Harvest Market

Buy fresh local food for you Thanksgiving meal!

{Date}
November 23, 2014

{Time}
9:00 am – 1:00 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Preservation Park
Canton

*

Pine Knob

{Date}
Season Opens on November 15^th

{Times}
Be sure to check snow conditions + lift status before heading out to the powdery hills!
Weekdays :: 10 am – 10 pm
Weekends :: 9 am – 11 pm

{Cost}
$24-$55 lift tickets
Rentals available
Check current rates here.
Ask for Pre-season rates if it is still early!

{Location}
Clarkston

*

Holiday Tree Lighting

This fun adventure in the D is loved by so many! The Campus Martius Rink is fun for the whole family or even a perfect date night! Detroit lights it’s 60’ tree with some fun festivities.

{Date}
November 21, 2014

{Time}
5:00 pm – midnight

{Cost}
Adults (13-49 years) $8

Child (12 & under) $7

Seniors (50 & older) $7

Skate Rental $3

Shoe Check available for people with their own skates $2

Skate Sharpening $5

Monthly Skate Pass $30

{Location}
Campus Marius Park
Detroit

*

Ice Skating at Campus Martius

{Date}
November 21, 2014– January 3, 2015
{Preview Days 14^th – 16^th}

{Time}
See Schedule HERE

{Cost}
Adults (13-49 years) $8

Child (12 & under) $7

Seniors (50 & older) $7

Skate Rental $3

Shoe Check available for people with their own skates $2

Skate Sharpening $5

Monthly Skate Pass $30

{Location}
Campus Marius Park
Detroit

*

Riley Park Ice Rink

For this first season skating is FREE to the public! They encourage a little donation, secure donation box on site.

{Date}
Open Daily, Weather Permitting

{Time}
8:30 am – 10 pm Sunday – Thursday
8:30 am – 11 pm Friday + Saturday

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Farmington

*

Farmington Winter Market

{Date}
Opening November 22^nd, 2014

{Time}
10 am – 2 pm

{Location}
American Legion Post No. 346
Farmington

*

Thanksgiving for Nature

This event features a self-guided scavenger hunt through the trails of Heritage Park! Warm up with some hot cocoa in the Nature Center.

{Date}
November 22^nd,2014

{Time}
1 – 4 pm

{Cost}
$5 per person or $15 per family

{Location}
Heritage Park
Farmington Hills

*

Holiday Hoof & FestivALE

Featuring a 4+ mile NIGHT obstacle run/2 mile fun walk, Americana (bluegrass and folk) music, Christmas craft beers, cold weather comfort foods, tree lighting ceremony and reindeer games.

{Date}
November 22^nd

{Time}
noon – midnight

{Cost}
$10 – $60

{Location}
Downtown Ferndale

*

The Village Aglow Tree Lighting Ceremony

Featuring a holiday sing along.

{Date}
November 21, 2014

{Time}
5:30 pm

{Location}
The Village of Grosse Pointe

*

Grosse Pointe Woods Tree Lighting

{Date}
November 25, 2014

{Time}
6:30 pm

{Location}
The Village of Grosse Pointe

*

Grosse Pointe Woods Tree Lighting with Santa

Featuring a holiday carols, hot chocolate and cookies, visit with Santa.

{Date}
November 25, 2014

{Time}
7:00 pm

{Location}
City Hall
Grosse Pointe Woods

*

Mt. Holly

{Date}
Season Opens on November 15^th

{Times}
Be sure to check snow conditions + lift status before heading out to the powdery hills!
Weekdays :: 10 am – 10 pm
Weekends :: 9 am – 11 pm

{Cost}
$27-$55 lift tickets
Rentals available
Check current rates here.
Ask for Pre-season rates if it is still early!

{Location}
Holly

*

Doll Luncheon Event & Expo

The lunch buffet sounds perfect for doll loving girl! Pink punch and cake pops! Door Prizes and a winter craft. The expo with many doll and doll accessories vendors.

{Date}
November 22^nd, 2014

{Time}
Seating at 11 am
Expo 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

{Cost}
Luncheon $15 purchase tickets in advance
Expo $2 addmission

{Location}
Canterbury Village
Lake Orion

*

The Big Reveal

Kids “unwrap” the storefronts that are stocked up for the holidays.

{Date}
November 20^th, 2014

{Time}
6:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Milford

*

Annual Christmas Open House and Tree Lighting with Santa!

Tree lighting is part of an Open House that runs from 5 PM to 9 PM.
Featuring: Santa arrives by horse-drawn sleigh at 6 PM, and guests can treat themselves to a horse-drawn trolley rides. There will also be refreshments and children’s activities.

{Date}
November 21st, 2014

{Time}
5 – 9 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Mt. Clemens

*

Anton Art Center Christmas Market

Shop for unique gifts my Michigan artists, and check ou the decorated trees

{Date}
Sundays November 14th thru December 21st

{Time}
10 am – 5 pm Tuesdays – Thursdays and Saturdays
10 am – 6 pm Fridays
noon to 4 pm Sundays

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Anton Art Center
Mount Clemens

*

Holiday Lighted Parade

Ring in the Holiday season with the annual Holiday Lighted Parade in Downtown Northville, the official kickoff to Northville’s holiday season. Featuring caroling, tree lighting and refreshments.

{Date}
November 21^st, 2014

{Time}
6:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Northville

*

Free Movie at the Marquis

The holiday movie Elf will be showing at the Marquis Theatre!

{Date}
November 22^nd, 2014

{Time}
7:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Marquis Theatre
Downtown Northville

*

Christmas in the Village

Enjoy snacks, carolers, weaver demonstrations, and St. Nicholas may make an early appearance!

{Date}
November 23^rd, 2014

{Time}
1 – 4 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Mill Race Village
Downtown Northville

*

Novi Pet Expo

Featuring adoptions, shopping and more

{Date}
November 21^st – 23^rd 2014

{Time}
noon – 8 pm Friday
11 am – 5 pm Saturday
11 am – 5 pm Sunday

{Cost}
$10 adults
$5 ages 6-11
FREE 5 and under

{Location}
Suburban Collection Showplace
Novi

*

Santa at the Village of Rochester Hills

Rated one of the best Santas in Oakland County

{Date}
Arrives November 21^st, 2014

{Location}
Village of Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills

*

The Big, Bright Light Show

Amazing, gorgeous light display through downtown Rochester.

{Date}
November 24^th, 2014 {thru January 4^th, 2015}

{Time}
7:00 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Rochester

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Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo

More than 5 million LED lights illuminate the zoo! Opening night includes some fun activities and an appearance by singer Karen Newman performin “Christmas Eve on Woodward Avenue”. Live entertainment, photos with Santa “Paws”, ice carving, arts + crafts.

{Date}
For 24 Nights beginning November 22^nd. 2014
November 22–23 + 28–30 and December 5-7, 11-14, 18-23 + 26-31

{Time}
5”30 – 9 pm

{Cost}

{Location}
Detroit Zoo
Royal Oak

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Holiday Magic Parade with Santa

13^th annual Holiday Magic Parade, featuring a collection of unwrapped toys along the parade route or drop off at parade main stage. Gifts with be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Oakland County’s Holiday Basket Program.

{Date}
November 23^rd, 2014

{Time}
2 – 3:30 pm Parade
3 – 5 pm Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus {bring your camera!}

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Starts at Lincoln to Layfayette
Downtown Royal Oak

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96.3 WDVD Cares for Kids Radiothon

We will be sharing the heart warming stories of local kids treated at Beaumont Children’s Hospital. Learn how you can make a difference in the lives of more than 100,000 local kids treated at Beaumont annually

{Date}
November 21^st, 2014

{Time}
6 am – 7 pm

{Cost}
Donations

{Location}
Tune in to 96.3 WDVD broadcasting live from Beaumont Children’s Hospital
Royal Oak

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Wayne County Lightfest with Santa

{Date}
(8K Fun Run/Walk on November 18^th)
(Bike through the lights on November 19^th)
November 21^st – December 31^st
(closed December 25^th!)

{Time}
7 – 10:00 pm (Monday thru Thursday)
6:00 – 10:00 pm (Friday thru Sunday)

{Cost}
$5 a vehicle
{Toy night “Tuesdays”, bring an uwrapped toy instead of $5, toys will be donated to the Wayne County Family Center

{Location}
Hines Drive
Westland

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Alpine Valley Ski Area

{Date}
Season Opens on November 15^th

{Times}
Be sure to check snow conditions + lift status before heading out to the powdery hills!
Weekdays :: 10 am – 10 pm
Weekends :: 9 am – 11 pm

{Cost}
$34-$50 lift tickets
Rentals available
Check current rates here.
Ask for Pre-season rates if it is still early!

{Location}
White Lake

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Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade

71^st Annual :: Featuring carols, entertainment, reindeer, free trolley and carriage rides

{Date}
November 21, 2014 (Tree Lighting)
November 22, 2014 (Christmas Parade)

{Time}
6:00 pm (Tree Lighting)
10:00 am (Christmas Parade)

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Downtown Wyandotte

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Depot Town Tree-Lighting Celebration

{Date}
November 26^th, 2014

{Time}
6 – 7:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Depot Town
Ypsilanti

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Depot Town Breakfast with Santa

{Date}
November 26^th, 2014

{Time}
6 – 7:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Depot Town
Ypsilanti

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Parent SHARE

Families and kids with autism can meet, share, socialize and support each other.

{Date}
November 11^th + 25^th, December 9^th

{Time}
6 – 7:30 pm

{Cost}
FREE

{Location}
Autism Collaborative Center
Ypsilanti

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Introducing the DMB’s of Shannon Murphy….{Yup, it’s ME!}

shannonmurphy

November 17, 2014

Well hello there! I’m Shannon Murphy, the newest guest contributor to the Detroit Moms Blog. So, so happy to be sharing my crazy thoughts and sentiments with other local mommies.

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and my family to you.

I wake up EARLY every weekday (think about setting your alarm clock for 3:30am!) to co-host the “Mojo in the Morning” show on Channel 955. It’s a job that I absolutely love; I get to interview celebrities, laugh and share what’s going on in my life with millions of listeners … and Mojo & Spike. Ha. It’s also a job that allows me to be a mommy for a good chunk of the day. I may wake up early, yes, but that also means I’m home and snuggling with my little lady by 1pm, which is amazing. I’m from Grosse Ile, went to college in Indy (Butler University), and post-college, worked on morning radio shows in Indy and Atlanta before moving back to the mitten.

My husband Andrew and I have been married since May 2012. (We got married at the incredible Ford Piquette Plant. Most unique wedding spot EVER.) He’s a handsome dude who’s constantly compared to Clark Kent, Orlando Bloom and NFL star, Mark Sanchez. I am beyond blessed to have this sweet man in my life; He’s just my everything.

This past April, we welcomed our darling Lucy Grace to the family. My heart can’t even stand her cuteness. She is just starting to move around, loves to laugh, is feisty when you don’t feed her fast enough, and is trying to figure out how to hold a conversation with Mom & Dad. Ha.

And our family is rounded out by our Toy Parti Poodle, Charlie. Look at that face! Puppy can get anything he wants. Seriously.

I’m beyond excited to share my “Mommy Journey” with you in the coming months!

xo,

Shannon

Introducing the DMB’s of Elizabeth…..

Elizabeth Lewis

May 27, 2014

{Down with Detroit}

I haven’t always been a Detroiter!! But I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a “city” girl. Not sure if living in Farmington makes me a “city” girl, but I’m proud to say I’m from the “D”. About 8 years ago, I made a life altering decision to pursue my dreams and move my daughter and myself to Detroit. Since that day, I haven’t looked back and love everything the city has to offer. Many times we don’t realize how awesome the city we live in is until we are given the opportunity to explore it. As funny as it sounds, I have to thank Justin Bieber for this one. My daughter wanted to see Justin for a second time when he came to the Joe Louis Arena. She was 100% sure she was going to meet him. Yes, we were those crazy people standing out there ALL day long. Needless to say, I got to explore the city while she waited with her friends to meet the “man of her dreams”. I drove out of the city that night thinking about how AMAZING Detroit really is. More than anything, I drove away thankful for the life I was given. If you ever get the chance to check out Detroit, even if you only have a couple hours, DO IT! Walk up the Riverwalk, taste the difference between Lafayette and American Coney Island {then pick a side}, walk down the streets and admire the architecture of some of the oldest standing buildings. I admire what Detroit is and what it aspires to be.

{My Life}

My jump into motherhood started at the age of 16. Yikes, I know!! And yes, I was a teen mom, and while I don’t condone it, it’s shaped me into the woman I am today. I graduated from my small {everyone knows your business, small} town high school with honors and a partial scholarship into college. Life wasn’t easy with a baby + dreams bigger than life itself. But one phone call changed my life and those big city dreams became a reality. I was finally going to be a “city” girl!! I was accepted into the Sinai Grace School of Radiology and graduated in 2008 with an awesome career ahead of me. Incase you’re wondering, I get to look inside the human body all day, don’t be jealous. Currently, I work at Sinai Grace Hospital (DMC) in the Operating Room with an aMaZiNg group of people. I also teach for the Sinai Grace School of Radiology, which is truly my passion and something I plan on pursuing in the nearest of near futures.

I fell in love with my teacher, trust me ladies, it sounds more exciting than it really is. He had already stopped teaching when I suddenly needed a tutor for a class I was already passing {huge smile on my face}. Definitely strategic planning on my part!! We were engaged 3 years later on a beach in Cancun, Mexico and married on 10.2.11 in Negril, Jamaica. Not sure if you noticed, but I absolutely love the beach!! Up until a week before our wedding, we were supposed to get married in Turks and Caicos. But a huge thanks to Hurricane Irene for making me freak out and drastically change our wedding plans! I honestly have to say, even though I planned on Turks and Caicos for two years, it was even more AMAZING than I could of ever imagined!!! As I stood on the beach at sunset, looking at the man I was about to spend the rest of my life with, the location no longer mattered. I couldn’t ask for a more loving and supportive husband. He really is my biggest cheerleader!!

I’m a woman of chaos, I function with a to-do list longer than a list of things I’ll every get done. I write {everything} on pieces of paper only to lose them and find them months later, I {try} my hardest to live in the moment, instead of the past or the future. I love cheese + wine and a good girls night out! I couldn’t live a day without my phone {I literally whip a U-turn when I forget it}. I’ve always wanted a big family and plan on at least two more babies! I will one day be a work-at-home mom. Hopefully with the help of my “fun” job, The Pampered Chef. I love music more than anything and can listen to it from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. I like coffee on Saturday mornings and only if my husband makes it {he makes the best coffee, seriously}! Traditions are my favorite. I constantly look for reasons to entertain + make way too much food. I {heart} Pinterest + DIY!!! I may be the only person that got {overly} excited when she hit 500 Pinterest followers. I must pin some seriously cool stuff!

{Babies + Beyond}

{Lauren} My lovely 13-year-old drama queen! Oh, if you have a teenage daughter, you know what I mean. Lauren was my first love, my whole heart! She was my little saving grace and my motivation. She was the best baby{I’m sure everyone says that about their little angels} never really getting into too much or saying “no” often enough for me to remember. She had her occasional toddler moments, from climbing onto counters or escaping {oh, she was the best little escape artist} out doors. She was independent from the moment she could walk, unfortunately for me; it was before the age of 1. To this day, she is incredibly independent and determined to prove she can do anything. It’s hard to believe that in less than 3 months she will be 14 and attending high school. She has turned into such a beautiful young lady. You can generally catch her on her iPhone {I’m pretty sure she sleeps with it}, taking selfies or dancing around the house. She’s been dancing for Gayle’s Dance Phase for the last six years on a competitive dance team. She is such an amazing dancer! Once she steps foot onto the stage, you can see her face light up and she comes alive. She absolutely loves her friends and would do anything for them. That is something I truly love about her. She has the biggest heart! But on the flip side, she’s 13 and her hormones are crazy ridiculous! Sometimes I just have to laugh and remind myself I once was that hormone crazed, forgetful, moody, and silly teenager. I love you, Lauren!!!

{Harper} Oh, Harper!! Everything my mom said about having children that would one day repay me for all of the things I did to her, was definitely true in Harper’s case. Don’t let that sweet little face fool you into thinking she’s a little angel. She is mischievous, curious, energetic, chatty, animated {this one is an understatement} and full of life!! Harper is our little honeymoon baby! She spends most of her days getting into everything and anything. I’m pretty sure she was monkey in a past life and somehow she manages to figure out every child lock. I love waking up to her little “hellos” and “I lub yous”. She has so much personality. She loves spending hours having dance parties with her dad + attempting to sing songs she really shouldn’t {thanks daddy}. She has a mind of her own and doesn’t miss a thing. You can find her without a shirt on most days, one shoe on, her hair in her face, snack in hand and pushing her baby around the house. She continuously amazes me with her love for life. I’m learning that the dishes and laundry will be there tomorrow. {As crazy as it makes me} Thank you Harper for making me realize how important the little things are. On July 6^th, she will be two, and I will spend the day wondering where the last two years have gone. I love you, Harper!!

Hello world!!! Welcome to the Detroit Moms Blog!

Annette

May 27, 2014

Welcome! We are so happy you have found us, we are Elizabeth Lewis and Annette Rioux founder and co-founder of the Detroit Moms Blog. We met a few years ago through a local charity event, Relay for Life, and realized we had a lot in common, our stars aligned and with it came a great friendship and a dream was born. Being a mom was/is on the tippy top of our list of who we are. Here we are today, we have joined forces with a great network of moms like ourselves, the City Moms Blog Network. We just loved the purpose of this network of moms and their vision. Their focus was on building our local communities by connecting local moms to information and parenting perspectives to help enrich our family lives through meaningful connections with other women. The internet has been a place I have visited often for answers to the many mommy questions I have had. Seeking advice and opinions from others can be very helpful in making your own parenting decision.

Once I became a mom, I think this is the same for most of us, my life completely changed. The days of being social with friends slowly started to drift further and further away. Happy hour ended. The kid thing kind of put a damper on my social life. I can say my life as an interior designer allowed me the privilege of working with many talented mammas that were full of great ideas + advice! I LOVED it, I could ask them anything and get multiple opinions and a ton of advice. Once I was home connecting with moms became harder + harder. DMB will be a place for us to connect, ask questions, get answers, find advice, and be inspired. We hope you engage with us and our team of contributors, please ask questions, comment and join us when we head out into the community for moms-night-out, play dates and so much more!

Some days I truly wonder HOW can I possibly be accomplishing anything other than keeping my kids healthy, happy and safe. As my kids started to grow so did I. My views on life and who I was did start to shift. All of a sudden the thought of staying home with our children, raising them and running a small business sounded perfect. So, I set out on this journey to make this happen. I never thought in a million years that I would ever consider homeschooling. …Well, my mind did change, and today I am a homeschooling mom, an entrepreneur, a writer and a designer! Life is good. I am so thankful for finding my friend and the adventures we are about to embark on bringing moms closer to their communities and sharing great parenting perspectives.

Thank you for visiting us, come back often!

~Annette

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BLACK FRIDAY 2014!!!!! November 28th Ad Alerts

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Kerrytown Annual Tree Lighting Festival with Santa!

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Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa!

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Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa!

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Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Game

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“Walking on Sunshine”

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Farmington Winter Market

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Holiday Celebration & Candlewalk with Santa!

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Dickens Festival with Santa!

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Fantasy of Lights Parade with Santa!

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Annual Christmas Parade with Santa!

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Wayne County Lightfest with Santa

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Here are just a few of the ideas that we and our friends came up with:

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Farmington Winter Market

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Grosse Pointe Woods Tree Lighting with Santa

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Annual Christmas Open House and Tree Lighting with Santa!

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Holiday Magic Parade with Santa

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Wayne County Lightfest with Santa

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In + Around Detroit

BLACK FRIDAY 2014!!!!!
November 28th
Ad Alerts