Living Michigan Family: Sharing Our Love of Michigan!

After much research, we found a new place to buy our Turkey from this year: Bob's Butcher Block here in West Michigan. We have never had a fresh, never frozen turkey, so this should be quite special. You can do this with a frozen turkey, just make sure you take it out a week or so in advance to make sure it is fully thawed!!!! With frozen turkeys, you are never supposed to wet brine, supposedly, because they are already injected with water and "flavor" and can't absorb anymore.  However, with fresh, it is possible to do a wet brine.  However, with even more research, finding the container to do a wet brine in, and then a fridge big enough for a 5+ gallon size container to store the bird in overnight was just NOT an option for our space constraints. So-- we decided to do a dry brine-- or a dry rub. The day before, we carefully took the turkey out of the bag. We were careful to save the juice in the bag so that we can utilize that for gravy. 1.) Assemble all o

Exciting news! I am thrilled to share that I have access to a special discount code for your MommyCon Chicago tickets! Use Discount Code "STEWP16" at checkout for a discount on your ticket! TO ORDER, CLICK HERE:  http://mommy-con.com/event/details/mommycon-chicago-2016/ I hope to see you at MommyCon Chicago, 2016!

This is another Costco meal! If you are lucky enough to have this store near you, this will be easy. You will need: Costco grilled chicken with mozzarella ravioli (has 2 containers in package, I only made one). Rosemary Parmesan bread Garlic (I prefer organic) Olive oil Butter I started off slicing the bread into 1/2" slices.  This bread has so much flavor, I decided not to add garlic to the bread, but you could sprinkle some seasoning on the butter so you can fry it. Start heating the water for the pasta. In a frying pan, prepare the coating for the pasta.  Mince up 1-3 cloves of garlic,  about 1 teaspoon.  I made half the package, which serves 4-5.  Melt 1/3 sick of butter in the pan on medium heat.  Add the minced garlic. WATCH that garlic. With a spatula (I use a silicone, high temp spatula), stir the garlic/butter/olive oil mix every 30 seconds or so. As soon as the garlic starts turning brown, turn it off and stir one more time. Place the buttered bread

Why do we, as women, always feel like we need to preface things with, "don't judge me"?  Or, "excuse the mess"? A friend comes over and it is a mess... especially if you have kids.  "Excuse the mess, don't judge me."  You don't have the time and energy and order take out for dinner.  "Don't judge me." You decide you want to formula feed your baby.  "Excuse the mess, don't judge me." You do extended breastfeeding way past 6 months.  "Don't judge me." I don't understand.  I recently had a mom friend blow up at me on facebook, telling me, sarcastically, that I "must be a better mom because of breastfeeding, babywearing, and cloth diapering" and that she must be a "crappy mom" in her snark filled words.  Then, she called my mother and told her more of her pleasant opinion.  Mind you, I am in my 30s... Whoa Nelly....  Where did that come from?  It went on to be a horrible attack

SLIP AND SLIDE! ANNUAL FAMILY FUN IN MID-JUNE! (For event info, please check out the website: http://www.saturdayslipnslide.com/) This community event is one in which the whole town, all ages, can come out and have a great time. Food vendors (nicely priced), activities, the slip and slide, and raffle are all set up for the day! We started off the day with checking in and buying the $1 wristband to go down the Slip and Slide.  The line was fairly long, but went really fast, so do not let that deter you.  Usually, Charlie's Dump is set up to be a Frisbee golf course around the edges.  Unfortunately, the police didn't shut that down this year. So, after a really bad golfer hit me in the neck, very hard, with that heavy frisby, by neck got very swollen and I had to go to the med tent. I was dizzy and didn't feel good. I told them what happened, and the police shut down the Frisbee golf.  I got to learn first hand that you don't want to be hit with those, and that th

Humongous slip and slide!  From noon to 5pm at Charlies Dump, or Rosewood park. $1per person! Goes to charity! For more info, check out their webpage!  This annual fundraiser is beginning to be an annual tradition!!!  http://www.saturdayslipnslide.com/ 

MommyCon Chicago  February 2015 This is an exciting event. Geared more toward the first time parent(s) with young children, this event still offers a lot for babywearers, cloth diaper junkies, breastfeeders, and parents of babies and toddlers in general. Hubby, Baby, and I went to Chicago the day before and stayed at the Hilton attached to the convention center. The weather was treacherous. It was snowing and at some point the drive had white outs and black ice all over the roads. My biggest concern, other than traveling and spending money, was my baby. Our darling little man was just 1 year old when we went... older than many, and younger than many of the kiddos at MommyCon! We weren't too concerned about feeding baby... between breastfeeding and babywearing, we thought that naps were going to be okay as well. Turns out, 2015's MommyCon had a nursing moms room! We got to try some of the brand new nursing pillows from Beco, as well. They had a pumping area, couches, and a

FOR THE FINISHED REVIEW, PLEASE SEE THIS PAGE:   http://livingmichigan.blogspot.com/2015/03/review-of-event-mommycon-chicago.html We are lucky enough to get to attend MommyCon in Chicago this year!  We are getting to meet lots of top people in the industry.  We are very excited! Look for reviews on Jenn Labit's Cottonbabies VIP session, the VIP babywearing session, and The Babyguy NYC, Jamie Greyson. There will be babywearing seminars and seminars on breastfeeding and much much more. Look for lots of photos, reviews, swag bag details, and much, much more. http://mommy-con.com/

It is a cold, beautiful time here in West Michigan!  One of those types of days that makes you want something hot from the oven! We started the meal about 2 hours before sit-down time.  We purchased a beautiful meat from Costco. What: Pork Sirloin Tip Roast Cook Temp:  325 degrees F Cook Time:  1 hour 40 minutes Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees F. I start off by cutting the end of the package of meat and draining the juice.  Once drained, place in a non-stick foil lined pan.  I have found the Non-Stick foil to be a huge key to making this really perfect. Get out your seasonings, next.  I start off with a dry-rub of Italian Herbs (in a grinder), Garlic Sea Salt (grinder), salt, Kirkland brand Organic no-salt seasoning, salt-free garlic and herb, and the a basil and garlic mix, lastly, brown sugar!  If you want to do this without touching it much, than put the sirloin top-down on the pan and season the bottom first.  Do all of your spices, then add about 2 tablespoons