Hi, I’m Taylor, one of DMB’s new contributors!
I grew up in Virginia about 20 minutes from the sand and surf. I attended Radford University nestled in the mountains of southwest Virginia. Thanks to attending Radford, I was able to meet my husband through my freshmen year roommate. He was attending Virginia Tech, about 20 minutes away. The first time I met him I couldn’t quite grasp his brutally honest sense of humor, but all it took was a date for Mexican food to sweep me off my feet.
We both graduated in the spring of 2012. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Ryan graduated with a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering. I truly married a Rocket Scientist! Ryan went on to graduate school, and I began my first year of teaching Preschool. Shortly after we received the most exciting (yet shocking surprise) thus far…we were going to be parents!
Our sweet Clari was born July 2013. Everyone says you need to be in a certain place in life to welcome children into. I find that completely false. Clari is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to us.
In May 2014 we watched Ryan receive his Masters, and one month later we packed our family up to move to Michigan so Ryan could begin a career in automotive engineering.
Ryan and I got married in July 2014. I thank God all the time for bringing this man into my life that makes me laugh and calms me all in the same breath.
Moving to Michigan was one of the most exciting yet terrifying things I’ve ever done. We knew no one upon moving here. I felt so out of my norm and comfort zone. We learned quickly that Michigan had a lot to offer. Ryan loved his job, I met other moms, and we made it a goal to get out as much as possible. As much as it’s so hard being away from family at times, this is now home to us and I’m okay with calling it home.
After moving to Michigan I took a year off from teaching. I began teaching Preschool at the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Halfway into the school year our dreams came true, Clari is becoming a big sister this September. I look forward to reclaiming my SAHM status at the end of the school year. 
When I’m not doing mom duties (is that even possible?), you can find me reading some of favorite mom blogs, sifting through Pinterest, or working on a house project. I’m the Queen of finding a project on Pinterest and starting it while my husband is at work…..only to find out that I shouldn’t have started the bathroom remodel. Five weeks later and my husband finally got the pipes to stop leaking (sorry hun). I also love finishing my day with a good book and cup of hot tea. Escaping into a good book is always a lifesaver at the end of a wild day.
When we first moved to Michigan we had no idea where to move. We settled into a rental house that gave Ryan a decent commute to work and explored Metro Detroit to see where we wanted to lay our roots down. We often found ourselves in downtown Royal Oak and it seemed to be perfect for our family: a lot of young families and always something for us to do. We bought a house last May in Royal Oak and have loved every moment since. Royal Oak and the surrounding area offer so much for our family to see and do.
Here are a few of my Royal Oak favorites:
1. Multiple park options – Once Clari hit the park going age I was constantly searching for a park that had a play structure small enough for her. I learned quickly that there are a lot of parks in our area that offered that. We enjoy spending our mornings at the park, utilizing the walking trails, and having picnics with friends. It seems like no matter how rough of a day we are having, the park saves the day! Star Jaycee, Red Run in Royal Oak, and Red Oaks in Madison Heights are our favorite parks.
2. Downtown Royal Oak – Whether it’s a chilly fall day or the start to Spring weather, some of my favorite moments are when we take family walks around downtown Royal Oak. We stop for a cup of coffee and a treat for our stroller riding toddler. Downtown Royal Oak is also one of our favorite places to take visiting family and friends. There’s tons of dinner and drink options as well as patio seating almost everywhere. And of course you can’t pass a yogurt shop without stopping!
3. Detroit Zoo – If there was one place our family could spend everyday at, it would definitely be the Detroit Zoo. Clari is the ultimate animal lover. No matter how many times we go to the zoo there’s always something new that we discover. I also love all the different events they offer. We have attended Zoo Boo (Trick-or-Treating at the zoo) the past two years and the Wild Lights for the first time this year.
4. Farmer’s Market – Our Clari calls this place “The Market”. I think it’s my favorite because it’s her favorite. She lights up when we arrive and so do I because I know I’m going to walk away with some local goods. We didn’t have a thriving Farmer’s Market where we previously lived, so when we discovered Royal Oak’s Farmer Market, we were excited! Not only can you get great local produce, meats, and other goods, but on Sundays you can explore antiques. We have found many DIY project pieces here and like to reminisce on some of children’s items we see.
5. Troy Family Aquatic Center – During the summer the Troy Family Aquatic Center is where you can find Clari and myself. They have a kids area that’s gated with a slide, pool, and splash pad area. There’s also a sand playground area near the entrance. Clari loves being able to feel independent while playing in the kids area and I love that it’s all contained so I can keep watch. My child is obsessed with picnics so naturally we pack a picnic to enjoy halfway through our swim day as well.
I hope you learned a little bit about myself and my family.
We love living in Royal Oak and all that the area has to offer. I look forward to sharing more with you here on DMB!
