Living Michigan Family: Sharing Our Love of Michigan!

Music is an important part of children's exploration of their space and bodies. Fact #1:  Kids don't care how "well" you think you sing.  It doesn't matter if you can't even carry a tune in a bucket, sing! Sing to them and sing with them. Fact #2: Doesn't matter if it is a "popular" song (aka, something that you really love from the radio, etc.) or if it is one of the basic baby songs (like You Are My Sunshine ), they all have beats, and rhythm and rhyming that you can utilize. Fact #3: Use what you have! In the picture, we happen to have a set of xylophone boom whackers , as I am a teacher and got these for my classroom.  We also love to use spoons, pans, plastic buckets, toilet paper tubes, pool noodles, and so much more.  Your imagination is the limit. Fact #4:  You can start from birth on. Babies love sounds and movement! Fact #5:  Don't be afraid to be silly! The most important thing about making music and celebrating music ...

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. P...

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...