Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!


50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Shared by 11 Comments

Republished with updates on December 30, 2020.

Recent studies show kids ages 8-18 spend an average of 53 hours a week using entertainment media. Even though I adore technology, I have big limits when it comes to my kids. I find that fact pretty freaky. What happened to going outside to play and explore?

I get it…It’s cold in winter. But that is no excuse. As a parent, getting out in the cold takes a lot of work, but its rewards far outweigh the negatives in my book; for starters, it enhances mood and wears kids out. Win-win.

Try one of these 50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan and have some fun making memories together this season!

The list below features spots for cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, snow tubing and more, specific to the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas.

50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

RE-PIN HERE

50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Until I started digging around, I had no idea there was so much to do. Bundle up and get planning an adventure today! {Please check the websites linked for more information, including pricing. For additional hiking ideas, check out this list.}

GENESEE

Flushing County Park {Flushing} — Cross-country skiing

Linden County Park {Linden} — Intermediate sledding and a toboggan hill, cross-country ski trails, and a snowmobile area

For-Mar Nature Preserve {Burton} Hiking trails, snowshoeing {rentals available}

For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum

Richfield County Park {Davison} — Cross-country ski trail and snowmobile area

Toboggan Hill {Lapeer} — Expert snow sledding hill

INGHAM

Burchfield Park {Holt} — Sledding hills, snow tubing, cross-country skiing {rentals available}

Granger Meadows Park {Lansing} — Cross-country skiing and sledding

Harris Nature Center {Okemos} — Hiking, Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing {rentals available}

Hawk Island Park {Lansing} — Snow tubing {rentals available}

Woldumar Nature Center {Lansing} — Hiking, coss-country skiing trails

Livingston

Brighton Recreation Area {Brighton} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Genoa Park {Howell} — Sledding hill

Island Lake Recreation Area {Brighton} — Hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Lakelands Trail State Park {Pinckney} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Mt. Brighton {Brighton} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Pinckney Recreation Area {Pinckney} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Oaken Transformations Poetry and Sculpture Walk {Brighton} — Hiking {during the week only}

MACOMB

Warren City Square Ice Rink {Warren} — Outdoor ice rink with skate rentals available

Lake St. Clair Metropark {Harrison Township} — Ice fishing, ice skating, ice hockey area available

Civic Center Park {Clinton Township} — Sledding hill

Stony Creek Metropark {Shelby Township} — Ice fishing, sledding/tobogganing, cross-country skiing {rentals available}, ice skating, snow kiting, snowboarding

Maynard Memorial Park {New Baltimore} — Ice skating rink and sledding hill

Blakes Farm {Armada} — Outdoor ice rink with skate rentals available

OAKLAND

Alpine Valley {White Lake} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Auburn Hills Ice Skating Rink {Auburn Hills} — Free outdoor ice skating rink; bring skates

Bald Mountain Recreation Area {Lake Orion} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Bloomer Park {Rochester Hills} — Cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing {plus heated restrooms!}

Yates Park {Rochester Hills} — Cross-country skiing

Paint Creek Trail {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Spencer Park {Rochester Hills} — Ice skating and cross-country skiing

Innovation Hills {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Clinton River Trail {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Dodge #4 State Park {Waterford} — Cross-country skiing

Highland Recreation Area {White Lake} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Holly Recreation Area {Holly} — Cross-country skiing

Indian Spring Metropark {White Lake} — Cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing

Jesse Decker Park {Lake Orion} — Sledding hill

Kensington Metropark {Milford} — Ice fishing, birding, ice skating, cross-country skiing {equipment available for rent}, sledding/tobogganing and snowboarding

Lyon Oaks County Park {Wixom} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Mt. Holly Ski and Snowboard Resort {Holly} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Ortonville Recreation Area {Ortonville} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Pine Knob Ski and Snowboard Resort {Clarkston} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Pontiac Recreation Area {Waterford} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Proud Lake Recreation Area {Commerce Township} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Meininger Park {Royal Oak} — Free outdoor ice skating rink; bring skates

Seven Lakes State Park {Holly} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Riley Park Ice Skating Rink {Farmington} — Outdoor ice skating rink with skate rentals available

Independence Oaks {Clarkston} — Cross-country skiing {rentals available}, ice skating, ice fishing

Waterford Oaks County Park {Waterford} — Sledding

WASHTENAW

Buhr Outdoor Ice Arena {Ann Arbor} — Open air rink for ice skating

Curtiss Park {Saline} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Independence Lake County Park {Whitmore Lake} — Ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and disc golfing.

Mill Pond Park {Saline} — Cross-country skiing and sledding

Rolling Hills {Ypsilanti} — Sledding, cross-country skiing {rentals available}, snowshoeing and disc golf

Tefft Park {Saline} — Sledding, cross-country skiing and ice skating

Waterloo Recreation Area {Chelsea} — Cross-country skiing

WAYNE

Campus Martius Park {Detroit} — Visit the rink at Campus Martius for open-air ice skating. Rentals available.

Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Crosswinds Marsh {New Boston} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Lake Erie Metropark {Brownstown} — Ice fishing, sledding/tobogganing and cross-country skiing

Lower Huron Metropark {Belleville} — Ice fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing

Maybury State Park {Northville} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Willow Metropark {New Boston} — Ice fishing, cross-country skiing and sledding/tobogganing

What did I miss? Where are your favorite spots for outdoor fun in winter in southeast Michigan?

10 Things My Husband And I Did To Lose 60 Pounds In Less Than 6 Months

Shared by 15 Comments

This is a blog topic I haven’t covered much yet, but OMG, my husband is looking fly these days! I love that I can tell he feels great, too. Together, since January 1, we have lost a combined total of more than 60 pounds; He is around 40 pounds lost; I am at 23 pounds.

I’ve already been through the roller coaster that is gaining and losing weight thanks to pregnancy, but this was new for him. He decided at the end of last year that he was ready for change in 2015. I was so taken with his enthusiasm, I decided to jump on board with him to shed my baby weight once and for all and commit to making our entire house healthier.

Weight Loss Before

Back in 2009, at the peak of our weight gain. I was a size 14 here, and am now a size 6/8.

Everyone has been asking us what we’ve been doing, and honestly, it’s nothing crazy. We haven’t deprived our bodies of carbs or sugar or taken on some insane workout program. All we’ve done? Tracked what we consume, get our portions under control, and move more.

Here’s what has worked for us:

  • Tracking calories. Calorie counting sounds daunting, and it is at first, but I urge you to do it for a week, regardless if you want to lose weight. Not only does it help you determine where you can make healthier choices, but it also is great for learning portion control. My Fitness Pal rocks and is a free app that is SO easy to use.
  • Set realistic goals! Start by trying to lose 5 or 10 pounds over a few months, or just losing inches around your waist. Going from eating a ton of junk to ALL healthy and trying to lose 50 pounds is a bit extreme and you will likely burn out quickly…and be hangry 😉
  • Easy swaps. We couldn’t possibly cut cheese out completely, so we have switched to 2% milk cheese and get the thin sliced stuff to make portion control easier. We use more mustard and less mayo, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, plain popcorn and not chips. These switches can add up big time in the calorie department.
  • No sugary beverages. We’ll still use an occasional pop for mixed drinks, but I have nixed my habit. It was hard to kick the can, but so needed. When I feel a craving hit {especially during summer!}, I will reach for an Absopure Cap10 sparkling water, which give me the carbonation without the empty calories. Absopure Cap10
  • Nix the snacking. We used to have a lot of processed junk hanging around the house and would snack at night once the kids were in bed. Now, when we need a snack, we choose wisely. A light string cheese, a banana, Smart Pop popcorn or a hand full of nuts are our go-to items. Not having garbage in the house makes it easy to make the right choice.
  • Practice the 80/20 rule. We try to eat right 80 percent of the time, and leave 20 percent to indulge. {I cannot function without a little coffee creamer and chocolate in my day, and my husband could never do without a beer while he’s grilling.} It’s all about moderation.
  • Less carbs. We do have occasional pasta, bread and cookies, but way less. They just have too many calories and not enough health benefits, so now those things are just an occasional treat.
  • Less meat. This was a big one for my husband. When we do have meat, it’s mostly chicken and fish…Lots and lots of fish. I have learned some new recipes and absolutely love it now!
  • We buy a lot of produce. I absolutely hate to toss unused produce, so I find I will eat it if it’s filling up the fridge and I need to make room for something else.
  • We move. Our kids help keep us active, but we also try to make time for ourselves to stay fit. My husband trained for a half marathon a few years ago and was disappointed the scale didn’t move. It has been proven exercise doesn’t help with weight loss. BUT, for us, exercise definitely helps in the energy department. We love using our Fitbits to ensure we get our daily 10,000 steps needed just to be healthy.

A big reason these changes have worked for us? We were mentally ready. Weight loss just doesn’t happen unless you are ready for it and can discipline yourself. I wasn’t ready until kids entered the picture and I knew I needed to get my butt in gear so I would have more energy.

Weight Loss After

Us currently. A nice, welcome change with healthy BMIs and TONS more energy!

Our kids have been a huge motivator. They see us eating healthy and taking care of ourselves and want to copy us. They eat salad, stretch with us, and ‘run.’ They think it’s cool to be healthy. As long as we keep this up, I think our work here is done 😉

Thankful my husband and I can keep each other in check and learn together in this journey to better health.

Because, I have to say…I am much happier in the photo on the right 😉

Weight Loss Collage

If you’ve experienced big weight loss, what worked best for you?




How To Save Money at Southeast Michigan Attractions {Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing Areas}

Shared by 8 Comments

There is nothing I love more than going on an adventure to a new place. Only thing is, my sense of adventure doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with my budget. With three kids, I’m quickly learning how to be highly aware of the costs to do everything from grocery shop to vacation, which is why I created this handy dandy guide for how to save money at southeast Michigan attractions.

I hope it helps your family save some moula too! 😉

How To Save Money at Southeast Michigan Attractions

RE-PIN HERE

The Adventure Park {West Bloomfield}

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum {Ann Arbor}

  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide
  • $5 after 5 p.m. on Thursdays

Arab American Museum {Dearborn}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library for free admission for two
  • Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID on the first full weekend of every month for one free general admission

Arts & Scraps {Detroit}

Automotive Hall of Fame {Dearborn}

Belle Isle Park/Aquarium {Detroit}

Buick Automotive Gallery {Flint}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive one free child with regular paid adult admission {also includes entry to Sloan Museum}

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History {Detroit}

Chi-Town Union Station and West Oakland Railroad Museum {Commerce Township}

City Tour Detroit {Detroit}

Community Bowling Centers {Various Locations}

  • Get buy one hour of bowling, get one free AND get 20% off of shoe rental with the D Discount Pass at the following locations: Bowl One – Troy; Century Bowl – Waterford; Plum Hollow Lanes – Southfield; Skore Lanes – Taylor; Sterling Lanes – Sterling Heights or Super Bowl – Canton

Cranbrook Art Museum {Bloomfield Hills}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive four free general admissions per pass

Cranbrook Institute of Science {Bloomfield Hills}

  • Visit on the first Friday each month for FREE entry after 5 p.m., courtesy of MASCO Corporation
  • Get discounted admission by visiting from 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide
Giraffe Feeding at the Detroit Zoo

Feeding a giraffe at the Detroit Zoo

Detroit Zoo {Royal Oak}

  • If you go to the zoo more than two times/year, get a membership. This will also get you a discount to zoos and aquariums nationwide, including the Toledo Zoo.

Detroit Historical Museum {Detroit}

  • FREE all day, every day! {We love the Streets of Old Detroit and the Glancy Trains!}Streets of Detroit

Detroit Experience Factory {Detroit}

Detroit Institute of Arts {Detroit}

  • Oakland, Wayne and Macomb County residents get in FREE all day, every day
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive buy one general admission, get one free general museum admission
  • AAA members can receive buy one, get one free admission

DNR Outdoor Adventure Center {Detroit}

  • Buy one admission, get one free with the D Discount Pass
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library for buy one admission, get a second admission free, up to six total guests per MAP pass.
  • Visit on the last Thursday of the month from 6-8 p.m. for free

Farmington Hills Ice Arena {Farmington Hills}

Feet On The Streets Tour {Detroit}

  • Get 20% off the Come Hungry, Leave Happy strolling brunch tour in Eastern Market with the D Discount Pass. Based on availability.
Flint Children's Museum

An adorable pint-sized grocery store at the Flint Children’s Museum

Flint Children’s Museum {Flint}

  • $2 general admission on the first Tuesday of the month at the museum
  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide
  • Keep your eyes peeled on my monthly calendar for sponsored free days!

Flint Institute of Arts {Flint}

  • FREE entry every Saturday thanks to Huntington
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive free admission for two adults and children 18 and under and a 10% discount in the museum shop
  • Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID on the first full weekend of every month for one free general admission

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant {Detroit}

The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village {Dearborn}

  • Be on the lookout for occasional free days {typically MLK Day}
  • 20% off admission and/or buy one admission to any attraction, and get second admission 50% off with the D Discount Pass
  • Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID on the first full weekend of every month for one free general admission
Howell Nature Center

The entrance at the Howell Conference & Nature Center

Howell Conference & Nature Center {Howell}

Holocaust Memorial Center {Farmington Hills}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library for free admission for 2 people per pass and a 10% discount in the museum gift shop.

Impression 5 Science Center {Lansing}

  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide

JIFFY Mix Plant Tour {Chelsea}

  • Tours are always FREE and are scheduled between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Kart 2 Kart {Sterling Heights}

Get 20% off on karting with the D Discount Pass. Offer not valid online, in person only.

Kelsey Museum of Archeology {Ann Arbor}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive free admission and a 10% discount on gift shop purchases

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan {Auburn Hills}

Longway Planetarium {Flint}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive one free child with regular paid adult admission

Meadow Brook Hall {Rochester}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive $5 off tour admission for up to four people

Michigan Renaissance Festival {Holly}

Michigan Science Center

Outside the Michigan Science Center in Detroit

Michigan Science Center {Detroit}

  • 20% off admission with the D Discount Pass
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive a free IMAX or Planetarium ticket with your general admission purchase
  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide
  • Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID on the first full weekend of every month for one free general admission
  • AAA cardholders can receive buy one, get one free admission, plus save 20% on museum membership
  • Show your high school or college student ID and receive 20% off general admission
  • Present your educator or active military personnel I.D. and take 20% off regular membership rates when joining or renewing in-person
  • Keep your eyes peeled on my monthly calendar for sponsored free days!

Michigan Firehouse Museum {Ypsilanti}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive free admission for one person per group/family

Michigan State Parks/Recreation Areas {Statewide}

Motown Historical Museum

Hitsville U.S.A. aka the Motown Museum

Motown Museum {Detroit}

  • 20% off admission with the D Discount Pass
  • Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID on the first full weekend of every month for one free general admission {subject to availability}

Museum of Contemporary Art {Detroit}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive free admission to MOCAD and 10% discount that day at the MOCAD store

PuppetART {Detroit}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library for one child free admittance per adult ticket purchased and a 15% discount in the gift shop

Rainforest Cafe {Auburn Hills}

Riley Archery Range {Farmington Hills}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and enjoy one FREE 1 hour of archery with equipment rental , when a second 1 hour is purchased.

Riverside Kayak Connection {Detroit}

Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm {Rochester Hills}

SEA LIFE Michigan Tunnel

Inside a tunnel at the SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium {Auburn Hills}

  • 20% off admission with the D Discount Pass {valid on up to four tickets}
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive $5 off standard entry up to six total tickets

Sloan Museum {Flint}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and receive one free child with regular paid adult admission
  • Purchase a membership for free general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History {Ann Arbor} 

  • FREE entry {a $6 donation is suggested per person}
  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library for a 10% discount in the museum store
  • Purchase a membership for general admission for a year, plus special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and entry/discounts to more than 300 museums nationwide

Wild Swan Theater {Ann Arbor}

  • Check out a Michigan Activity Pass from your local library and get one free child’s ticket with a paid adult ticket to any production

Yankee Air Museum {Belleville}

What other tips and tricks do you have to save on admission to area attractions? Let me know what I’ve missed!

Tips for Visiting SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium #SEALIFEMI

Shared by 19 Comments

Tips for visiting SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

RE-PIN for later here!

I am a SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium Parent Ambassador and have received an exclusive first look at events and complimentary tickets. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you’re wondering about what SEA LIFE Michigan is like, I have the scoop for you.

We were lucky to attend a media sneak preview yesterday, and I have to say, I was blown away. This is such an amazing destination for Michigan families! Because we were among one of the first families to go through the interactive aquarium, I wanted to share some tips for those of you eager to make plans to visit. {The aquarium opens to the public on January 29, 2015 at noon.}

First, a general overview:

SEA LIFE Michigan is in Auburn Hills, Michigan, in Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. Once you arrive in the plaza, just follow the Rainforest Cafe signs since that is where you will need to walk in to enter the aquarium. Just look for the bright blue building!

SEA LIFE MICHIGAN

From there, you will check in at a front desk and get a time assigned to you. This is so it won’t be crowded. Each area is narrow at spots {yet stroller friendly}, so this is crucial for crowd control, so each child can have the best views of the fish.

There are nine different zones in the 35,000 sq. ft. aquarium, full of just about all the popular species you can imagine — stingrays, fish, octopi, sharks, seahorses, turtles and more. My kids {2 and 4 years old} ran off the second we got inside — they were so eager to see what was next and find the Nemo and Dory look-a-likes inside.

I immediately noticed the touch screens on the wall and had to test them out. Such a cool, interactive feature for older kids and adults to learn about the many species of fish we were seeing.

SEA LIFE Michigan Touchscreens

After going through a few areas, we came to a touch pool where we could handle some Decorator Crabs and touch a starfish. The guide assured me that none of the creatures inside would bite 😉

SEA LIFE Michigan Decorator Crab

From there, we explored tanks filled with sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more.

One of my favorite spots was a room strictly dedicated to turtles. Additionally, a shoal of fish and a walk-through tunnel were visually stunning.

SEA LIFE Michigan Tunnel
I love how educational our experience was. Hearing my 4-year-old ask questions the entire time was exactly what I had hoped for. Overall, we had a blast!

Now, for more specific tips for visiting SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium:

The question I have received the most: Is the admission price worth it?

YES! If you can budget for it. The prices are steep, especially for larger families {$23.50/adults, $18.50 for kids, ages 3+} — regular pricing will mean an $84 field trip for a family of 4 with kids who are ages 3+.

If you’ve ever visited a similar aquarium, you will see the same pricing, if not more. For a frame of reference, it’s $30/adult to visit Shed Aquarium in Chicago.

I do feel it’s a decent value — the facility is absolutely stunning, and maintaining more than 5,000 sea creatures is expensive. Plus, it’s educational. Nix going to the movies a few times, and come here instead!

SEA LIFE Aquarium

What age group would be best for this?

I would say the best ages for this would be 2+. With that said, you know your child best, and it may be a bit much for kids with a short attention span or sensory issues to noise, crowds and small spaces.

It took us an hour and a half to get through, but I do feel like I could have spent more time if I was only with my older daughter. My 2-year-old lost interest at the end. Just when I thought “oh boy, she needs lunch stat,” it was over. It ended up being perfect timing for us, truly. Children 3 and under are FREE. So if they don’t last, it’s not like you’re out too much. If you have an antsy 2-year-old, I would wait until they are older or stop in the middle, go back to the exit, and have lunch and go to the bathroom before doing more. Your pass is good all day long.

A few other crucial points for families with little ones:

BATHROOMS. There are bathrooms inside SEA LIFE at the play area at the end, however, there also is a cut-through by the fresh water exhibit so you don’t have to walk all the way through. With that said, I would recommend using the bathroom located in the food court before entering.

EAT A SNACK BEFORE GOING INSIDE. If you have little ones, you know the inevitable “I’m hungry” may come part way through your tour. Fill their bellies just before to ensure this doesn’t happen! No food or drinks are allowed inside. There is a food court with lots of options, or pack your own stuff and have a little picnic at the food court tables before heading in to save some money.

SEA LIFE Michigan Kids Play Area

A fun play structure at the end for children ages 4-12

Do you always have to sign up for a specific day and entry time in advance?

Yes, you need to pick a specific day/time when purchasing tickets to minimize wait times. They allow on average 50 people per half hour to come through so it’s not too crowded. I love this concept especially since I always fear losing my kids! Also, there is plenty to do around the mall if you need to kill time.

I’m not sure about the mall location. 

It being in a mall is actually a huge draw to me as a mom since Great Lakes Crossing is the area’s best for entertaining kids. Here are some ideas on what to do while there:

  • Visit the Rainforest Cafe {FREE kids meals on Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m.}
  • Take a ride on the carousel
  • Play in the kids play area
  • Dine at the food court or bring your own food
  • Go to Bass Pro Shops and visit the giant freshwater fish tank {FREE}
  • Eat and ride mini amusement park rides at Jeepers {find coupons here}
  • Shop! My favorites are Carters, The Children’s Place, and Gymboree outlets

With that said, plan ahead financially. If you’re on a budget — warn your kids ahead of time that you will not be spending extra money if that is the case. Upon leaving SEA LIFE there is a gift shop. If they are ones to want things — let them know ahead of time today is not the day for that.

{Since I am an hour away and on a budget, this will be a “special day” only trip — perfect for birthdays, Christmas presents, special days with friends, etc.}

Queen of SEA LIFE Michigan

Additional money-saving tips:

~ With the cost of admission what it is, I would suggest a membership if you live nearby and can financially afford it ONLY if you have 2 children, ages 3+, AND can visit at least 3 times to pay for it {it’s $230/year}.

~ If you think you’d like to visit, I would purchase advance opening tickets NOW. This will help save a few bucks –> www.visitsealife.com/michigan/buy-tickets/

~ If the pricing is too much for your family, make it a mom-kid or dad-kid outing to avoid paying two adult admissions. {Or, go as a family, and send dad in with the kids while you shop!}

Personally, I am ecstatic to have this as another place I can take my kids. We are so lucky to have great things to do here in SE Michigan! {For more indoor fun, check out my list here.}

Kids Checking out SEA LIFE Michigan

For more photos, check out my Facebook gallery.

Follow SEA LIFE Michigan’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

Do you plan to visit SEA Life Michigan Aquarium?

80+ Birthday Party Places for Kids in Southeast Michigan

Shared by 35 Comments

80+ Birthday Party Places for Kids in Southeast Michigan

RE-PIN HERE!

Looking for great birthday party places for kids in Southeast Michigan? Look no further! I have searched high and low and asked fellow parents for the scoop on throwing a bash your kids will love. Please note I didn’t list every single bowling alley, movie theater, roller rink and YMCA or community center, but remember those can be great locations, too! I chose locations that have birthday-specific information on their websites to make party planning a tad easier 😀

Here’s what I’ve found. Feel free to chime in at the comment section to tell me your favorite spots!

{If you’re looking for an at-home party, check out the Princess Party Company!}

80+ Birthday Party Places for Kids in Southeast Michigan

GENESEE

Chuck E. Cheese’s {Flint}

Flint Children’s Museum

Grand Blanc Lanes

Painting With A Twist {Fenton}

Rollhaven {Flint and Grand Blanc}

Sloan Museum/Longway Planetarium {Flint}

Spicer Orchards – during season {Fenton}

INGHAM

Chuck E. Cheese’s {Lansing}

District5 Extreme Air Sports {Lansing}

Fenner Nature Center {Lansing}

Goldfish Swim School {Okemos}

Impression 5 Museum {Lansing}

Jumpin’ Jax Bounce Arena {Lansing}

Play {East Lansing}

Potter Park Zoo {Lansing}

Red Cedar Gymnastics {Lansing}

Zap Zone {Lansing}

Livingston

2|42 Community Church party room rental {Brighton}

Bounce {Hartland}

Bricks 4 Kidz {Brighton}

Brighton Rec Riding Stables {Brighton}

Castaway Cafe {Howell}

Chamberlin Pony Rides & Mobile Petting Zoo {Howell}

Hartland Caroselli Aquatic Center

Hartland Gymnastics Academy

Howell Aquatic Center

Howell Conference & Nature Center

Howell Historic Theater

Iron Grip Ninja Studio {Howell}

Oh My Lolli! {Brighton}

Rollerama {Brighton}

Sky Zone Trampoline Park {Brighton}

The Ceramic Studio {Howell}

Zap Zone {Brighton}

MACOMB

AirTime Trampoline Park {Sterling Heights}

Blake Farms – in season {Armada}

Bricks and Minifigs {Macomb Township}

California Pizza Kitchen {Clinton Township}

Chuck E. Cheese’s {Roseville, Sterling Heights}

CJ Barrymore’s Entertainment {Clinton Township}

Dave & Buster’s {Utica}

Dueling Darts {Clinton Township}

Extreme Fun {Macomb Mall}

Goldfish Swim School {Macomb}

Jungle Java {Clinton Township}

Pump It Up {Shelby Township}

Sky Zone Trampoline Park {Shelby Township}

Sterling Heights Nature Center

Tea Party Castle {Shelby Township}

The Friendship Factory {Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township}

The Great Skate {Roseville}

Zap Zone {Utica}

OAKLAND

AirTime Trampoline {Troy}

BounceU {Troy}

Bonaventure Roller Skating {Farmington Hills}

Build-A-Bear {Twelve Oaks in Novi and Somerset Collection in Troy locations}

Bricks 4 Kidz {Rochester}

California Pizza Kitchen {Farmington Hills, Novi, Troy}

Carousel Acres {South Lyon}

Chuck E. Cheese’s {Novi, Rochester Hills, Troy}

Detroit Kid City {Southfield}

Detroit Zoo {Royal Oak}

Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve {Rochester}

Emagine Theatre {Birmingham and Royal Oak}

Game Crazy {Travels around Oakland County}

Goldfish Swim School {Birmingham, Clarkston, Farmington Hills, Rochester}

Gripz Gym | Ninja Warrior & Bouldering {Southfield}

GRIT Obstacle Training {Rochester Hills}

Jungle Java {Farmington Hills}

Kensington Metropark Nature Center {Milford}

Kids Gotta Play {New Hudson}

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan {Auburn Hills}

Little Big World {Ferndale}

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum {Farmington Hills}

Milford Pool {Milford}

My Girly Party {Farmington Hills}

Paradise Park {Novi}

Planet Rock {Madison Heights}

Pump It Up {Auburn Hills, Wixom}

Putting Edge Mini Golf {Novi}

Red Oaks Nature Center {Madison Heights}

Safari Playground {Walled Lake}

SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium {Auburn Hills}

Sky Zone Trampoline Park {Novi}

Sport-N-Fun {Farmington Hills}

Sweet Spots {Farmington Hills}

The Little Gym {West Bloomfield}

The Robot Garage {Birmingham and Rochester Hills}

Total Sports Complex {Farmington, Wixom}

TreeRunner Adventure Park {West Bloomfield}

Whirlyball Michigan {Novi}

Wint Nature Center {Clarkston}

Zap Zone {Farmington and Waterford}

WASHTENAW

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Bricks 4 Kidz {Ypsilanti}

California Pizza Kitchen {Ann Arbor}

Chelsea Treehouse {Chelsea}

Chuck E. Cheese’s {Ann Arbor}

Go! Ice Cream {Ypsilanti}

Goldfish Swim School {Ann Arbor}

Jungle Java {Ann Arbor}

Leslie Science & Nature Center {Ann Arbor}

Michigan Academy of Gymnastics {Ann Arbor}

Planet Rock {Ann Arbor}

Peachy Fitness {Ann Arbor}

Royal Princess Parties {Ann Arbor}

The Scrap Box {Ann Arbor}

Tiny Lions Cat Lounge {Ann Arbor}

Sky Zone Trampoline Park {Ann Arbor}

Wiard’s Orchards – in season {Ypsilanti}

Zap Zone {Ann Arbor}

WAYNE

AirTime Trampoline {Canton/Westland}

Bricks 4 Kidz {Canton, Grosse Pointe}

California Pizza Kitchen {Livonia}

Chuck E. Cheese’s  {Canton, Dearborn, Southgate}

Dave & Buster’s {Livonia}

Jungle Java {Canton}

Michigan Academy of Gymnastics {Westland and Dearborn Heights}

Michigan Science Center {Detroit}

Pump It Up {Canton, Taylor}

Sky Zone Trampoline Park {Canton, Taylor}

The Bee’s Knees Pottery Studio {Northville}

The Robot Garage {Grosse Pointe}

Zap Zone {Canton and Taylor}

Where are your favorite spots for a kid-friendly birthday party?

90+ Places for Outdoor Activities in Southeast Michigan

Shared by 8 Comments

Outdoor Activities in Southeast Michigan

Is there anything better than summer in Michigan? I certainly don’t think so! I have a lot of love for all the seasons my home state offers, but nothing gets me more excited than spending the summer by water and relaxing around a bonfire at the end of the night.

I decided to come up with another BIG list of places for outdoor activities in Southeast Michigan. This is not sponsored by anyone, and none of the links you will click pay me. This is truly just meant to be a resource for you all, and of course myself, too! 😀

Since I live smack dab in the middle of the southeast section of the mitten, this list has places to go in the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas.

Plan an adventure today, whether it be stand up paddle boarding, visiting a farmer’s market, swimming at a state park or kayaking, and enjoy the beautiful summer ahead!

GENESEE

For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum {Burton}

Auto City Speedway {Clio}

Heavenly Scent Herb Farm {Fenton}

Heavenly Scent Herb Farm

Heavenly Scent Herb Farm store on the garden grounds

Spicer Orchards with Playground {Fenton}

Silver Lake Park {Fenton}

Flint Farmer’s Market

Bluebell Beach and Splash Pad Spray Ground {Genesee Township//Flint}

Creasey Bicentennial Park & Splash Pad {Grand Blanc}

US-23 Drive-In Theater {Flint}

Crosssroads Village, Huckleberry Railroad and the Genesee Belle {Flint}

Linden County Park on Clover Beach with Playscape and Trail {Linden}

INGHAM

Lake Lansing Park South {Haslett}

Burchfield Park – Beach and canoe rentals {Holt}

Family Aquatic Center with Splash Park {East Lansing}

W.J. Beal Botanical Garden {East Lansing, MSU’s campus} Make sure to visit the MSU Dairy Store too!

4-H Children’s Gardens {East Lansing}

Lansing City Market

Lansing River Trail

Baldwin Park {Lansing}

Cheer on the Lansing Lugnuts

Potter Park Zoo {Lansing}

Fenner Nature Center {Lansing}

Hawk Island County Park with a Splash Pad {Lansing}

Sleepy Hollow State Park {Laingsburg}

Woldumar Nature Center {Lansing}

Just outside Lansing is The Ledges of Grand Ledge — worth the drive for exploring!

Livingston
Brighton Recreation Area and Bishop Lake

Brighton Mill Pond and Imagination Station Playground

Island Lake Recreation Area {Brighton}

Visit Hell & Screams Ice Cream {Hell}

Brighton Recreation Area Riding Stables {Howell}

Howell City Park at Thompson Lake with Beach

Genoa Township Park, Fields and Trail {Howell}

Hartland Township Hall Playground {Hartland}

Howell Nature Center {Howell}

Lakeland Trails State Park {Pinckney}

Oaken Transformations Poetry and Sculpture Park {Brighton – only open Monday – Friday}

Pinckney Recreation Area {Pinckney}

DeGroot’s Strawberry U-Pick {Gregory}

Hazen’s Farm for U-Pick {Howell}

MACOMB

Partridge Creek with Fountain and Play Structure {Clinton Township}

George George Memorial Park {Clinton Township}

St. Clair Shores Metro Beach Squirt Zone {Harrison Township}

Westview Orchards and Adventure Farm {Romeo}

CJ Barrymore’s {Clinton Township}

Stony Creek Metropark {Shelby}

Metro Beach {Mt. Clemens}

Macomb Orchard Trail {Sterling Heights}

OAKLAND

Cranbrook Gardens {Bloomfield Hills}

Spraypark at Clintonwood {Clarkston}

Heritage Park & Nature Trail {Farmington Hills}

Highland Recreation Area {Highland}

Holly State Recreation Area

Seven Lakes State Park {Holly}

Friendship Woods & Nature Center {Madison Heights}

Red Oaks Water Park {Madison Heights}

Kensington Metropark with Splash & Blast {Milford}

Heavner’s Canoe/Kayak Rental {Milford}

Biking on the Milford Trail

Bald Mountain Recreation Area {Lake Orion}

Clinton River Trail {Through Oakland County}

Ortonville Recreation Area {Ortonville}

Seymour Lake Park and Splash Pad {Oxford}

Upland Hills Farm {Oxford}

Paint Creek Trail {Rochester}

Yates Cider Mill – Ice Cream, Trail & Petting Farm {Rochester}

Meadow Brook Hall and Gardens {Rochester}

Meadow Brook Hall

Meadow Brook Hall

Detroit Zoo {Royal Oak}

Troy Family Aquatics Center

Dodge #4 State Park {Waterford}

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area {Waterford}

Waterford Oaks Waterpark {Waterford}

Indian Springs Metropark with Spray N’ Play Area {White Lake}

WASHTENAW

Argo Cascades {Ann Arbor}

The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms {Ann Arbor}

Nichols Arboretum // Matthaei Botanical Gardens + Gaffield’s Children’s Gardens {Ann Arbor}

Delhi Metropark {Ann Arbor}

Leslie Science and Nature Center {Ann Arbor}

Gallup Park and Canoe Livery {Ann Arbor}

County Farm Park {Ann Arbor}

Buhr Pakr and Outdoor Pool {Ann Arbor}

Fuller Park Pool {Ann Arbor}

Veteran’s Memorial Park Pool {Ann Arbor}

Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center and Water Park {Belleville}

Waterloo Recreation Area {Chelsea}

Hudson Mills Metropark {Dexter}

Dexter-Huron Metropark {Dexter}

Mill Creek Park North {Dexter}

Playing in the creek at Mill Creek Park in Dexter

Putterz Golf & Games {Ypsilanti}

Rolling Hills Water Park {Ypsilanti}

Rowe’s Produce Farm for U-Pick {Ypsilanti}

Independence Lake Blue Heron Bay Spray Play {Whitmore Lake}

WAYNE

Heritage Park Splash Pad {Canton}

Flodin Splash Park {Canton}

Greenfield Village {Dearborn}

Ford Drive-In Theater {Dearborn}

Belle Isle Park {Detroit}

Comerica Park to cheer on the Tigers {Detroit}

Detroit Princess Riverboat

Diamond Jacks River Tours {Detroit}

Eastern Market {Detroit}

Riverwalk//Dequindre Cut {Detroit}

Wheelhouse Detroit for bike rental {Detroit}

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House – Gardens {Grosse Pointe}

Ford House

Some of the gardens at Ford House

Maybury State Park – Hiking/Biking Trails, Riding Stable and Farm {Northville}

Mt. Elliott Park Splash Pad {Detroit}

Heritage Park Petting Farm {Taylor}

Northwest Park Pool {Taylor}

Midway Sports & Entertainment {Taylor}

H20 Zone Spray Ground {Westland}

RE-PIN HERE!

pinterest-1345141049_600

Where are your favorite spots around SE Michigan for enjoying the great outdoors?

50+ Date Ideas in Southeast Michigan

Shared by 68 Comments

 date ideas in southeast michigan

In my opinion, there’s a few things needed for a marriage to last. 1: You need to communicate everything to your significant other. 2: You need to have chemistry. 3: You must make time for each other. In my world of toddler chasing and baby feedings, this means planning a date night every once in a while.

This past weekend, my husband and I were able to go out on a date. We didn’t do anything too crazy, but we had so much fun. It was nice just chatting with him, eating an amazing meal {while hot!} and holding each other’s hands like we did prior to needing to hold our children’s hands instead.

I thought it would be fun to create another big list — this time focusing on 50+ date ideas in Southeast Michigan. While I didn’t attempt to list every single spot, I think I have a good chunk started here based mostly off my own experiences or through friends. Please leave a comment with any suggestions you may have.

I broke the ideas into categories, so you can pick an idea based on your mood/budget/personality. Happy date night planning!

50+ Date Ideas in Southeast Michigan

FOR ADVENTURE:

FOR SCENERY:

date ideas in southeast michigan

The Detroit Riverfront is a beautiful place to explore or bike

FOR LAUGHS:

date ideas in southeast michigan

Lots of fun paintings available at Painting With A Twist

FOR PURE FUN:

date ideas in southeast michigan

FOR CULTURE:

date ideas in southeast michigan

The Detroit Institute of Arts is the perfect way to spend an afternoon, and it’s FREE for residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER:

date ideas in southeast michigan

Iridescence inside MotorCity Casino Hotel was one of our favorite meals ever

FOR A ROMANTIC NIGHT AWAY:

Where are your favorite places to go on a date night?

50+ Ideas for Places To Go With Kids In Southeast Michigan During Winter

Shared by 80 Comments

Places To Go With Kids In Southeast Michigan

After searching around to a bazillion websites last year, I grew frustrated when I couldn’t just find a list of ALL indoor places in southeast Michigan that weren’t blatant ads, so I decided to make my own list of places to go in southeast Michigan. This is my cheat sheet for when I need an adventure with the kiddos this winter. Hope it’s helpful to you as well!

This list includes places to go with kids in Southeast Michigan during winter in Genesee, Ingham, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. Make sure to scroll to the bottom, too, for spots/ideas located in multiple counties.

50+ Places To Go With Kids In Southeast Michigan

GENESEE

The adorable grocery store at the Flint Children’s Museum. We adore this spot!

Flint Children’s Museum (Flint)

Flint Institute of Music (Flint)

Sloan Museum/Longway Planetarium/Buick Gallery (Flint)

Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (Flint)

Tri County Ninja {Fenton}


INGHAM

Broad Art Museum (East Lansing)

District5 Extreme Air Sports (Lansing)

Impression 5 Hands On Museum (Lansing)

Impression 5 Mouth

My kids love the giant mouth inside Impression 5

Jumpin Jax Bounce Arena (Lansing)

Meridian Historical Village (Okemos)

Michigan Historical Museum (Lansing)

Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame (Lansing)

MSU Museum (East Lansing)

Nokomis Learning Center (Okemos)

Pinball Pete’s (East Lansing)

Play (Lansing)

Potter Park Zoo (Lansing) — Check out the Wonderland of Lights during the holidays! Many exhibits are indoors.

R.E. Olds Transportation Museum (Lansing)

Sky Zone Trampoline Park (Lansing)

Livingston

Bounce (Hartland)

Castaway Play Cafe (Howell)

Castaway Play Structure

Castaway Play Cafe is Michigan’s largest indoor play structure

Crepes & Games (Howell)

Iron Grip Ninja & Obstacle Training (Howell)

Sky Zone Trampoline Park (Brighton)

The Commons at 2|42 – Free play structures and indoor soccer field (Brighton)

Playscape at The Commons in Brighton, Michigan

MACOMB

Airtime Trampoline Park (Shelby Township)

C.J. Barrymore’s Sports & Entertainment (Clinton Township)

Detroit Kid City (Clinton Township)

Joe Dumars’ Fieldhouse (Shelby Township)

Jungle Java (Clinton Township)

Morley Candy/Sander’s Factory Tour (Free – Clinton Township)

Play-Place for Autistic Children (Sterling Heights)

OAKLAND

Kids Checking out SEA LIFE Michigan

Checking out one of the tanks at SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

Airtime Trampoline Park (Novi, Troy)

Boogie Babies (Rochester Hills)

Cranbrook Institute of Science and Art Museum (Bloomfield Hills)

Detroit Kid City (Southfield)

Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak) – There are many wintertime activities!

Fort Clarkston (Clarkston)

Great Lakes Crossings (Auburn Hills) – Play in the kids section, take a ride on the carousel, have lunch at Rainforest Cafe and check out the big fish at Bass Pro Shops.

Gripz Gym | Ninja Warrior & Bouldering (Southfield)

GRIT Obstacle Training (Rochester Hills)

Jungle Java (Farmington Hills)

Kensington Mill Falls Miniature Golf & Kidz Clubhouse (Milford)

Kids Gotta Play (New Hudson) – Play on the showroom play structures for $5/child!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan (Auburn Hills)

LEGOLAND Michigan

Little Big World (Ferndale)

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum (Farmington Hills)

Mill Race Village (Northville)

Milford High School Pool (Milford)

Nature’s Playhouse (Ferndale)

Putting Edge Mini Golf – Glow in the dark (Novi)

Paradise Park (Novi)

Planet Rock Climbing Gym (Madison Heights)

Rochester Play (Rochester)

Robot Garage (Birmingham)

Safari Playground (Walled Lake)

SEA LIFE Michigan (Auburn Hills)

Sky Zone Trampoline Park (Novi)

Tiny Town Play Lounge (Northville)

Troy Historic Village (Troy)

WASHTENAW

Playing in the toddler area at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum (Ann Arbor)

Chelsea Treehouse (Chelsea)

The Creature Conservancy (Ann Arbor)

Domino’s Petting Farm (Ann Arbor)

Eddy Discovery Center (Chelsea)

Tour the JIFFY Mix Plant (Chelsea)

Kidopolis (Ann Arbor)

Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor)

Museum of Natural History (Ann Arbor)

Michigan Firehouse Museum (Ypsilanti)

My Urban Toddler (Saline and Ann Arbor)

Pinball Pete’s (Ann Arbor)

Planet Rock Climbing Gym (Ann Arbor)

The Scrap Box (Ann Arbor) – there is a daily craft for kids

WAYNE

3&Up Board Game Lounge (Plymouth)

Airtime Trampoline Park (Canton)

Arts and Scraps (Detroit)

Belle Isle Aquarium (Detroit)

Bounce It Up (Livonia)

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit)

Detroit Historical Museum (Detroit)

Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit)

Dossin Great Lakes Museum (Detroit)

DNR Outdoor Adventure Center {Detroit}

GM Renaissance Center (Detroit) — Free tours daily

Ice skating in Campus Martius Park (Detroit)

Jungle Java (Canton)

Michigan Science Center (Detroit)

Michigan Science Center

The Michigan Science Center in Detroit offers fun for all ages

Museum of Contemporary Art (Detroit)

Motown Museum (Detroit)

PuppetArt Detroit Puppet Theater (Detroit)

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (Dearborn)

Selfridge Military Air Museum (Mt. Clemens)

Sky Zone Trampoline Park (Canton, Taylor)

Eleanor & Edsel Ford House (Grosse Pointe Shores)

Inside The Henry Ford Museum

OTHER PLACES TO CONSIDER

  • Bowling alleys
  • Community theatres — Check for kid-friendly productions!
  • Community pools {Places like Aqua Tots and Goldfish Swim School periodically have open swim times too!}
  • Libraries — Check for free programming
  • Roller rinks — Check for “Rollers and strollers” events for young kids and open skates
  • Ice skating rinks
  • Nature Centers — Check for winter programming
  • Sledding (Links to a website full of spots to sled in Michigan)
  • Chuck E. Cheese’s (Ann Arbor, Canton, Novi, Dearborn, Troy, Southgate, Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills, Lansing and Flint)
  • Huron-Clinton Metroparks (Various locations) – Tons of wintertime programming for kids of all ages. We love Kensington!
  • Pump It Up! (Auburn Hills, Canton, Shelby Township, Taylor, Wixom)

Where did I miss? What are your favorite places for kids big and small during winter around southeast Michigan?

DIY Baby Wipes

Shared by 27 Comments

My grocery list is about a mile long right now. It always is at the start of the month because that’s when I do my “big shopping” trip, complete with coupons and ads for price matching.

One item on my list is baby wipes. So when I literally StumbledUpon this post for DIY baby wipes, I figured I’d give it a shot since we’re in need. I dug around to review a few other recipes and decided to dive in and try to combine a few of them based on the items I had.

DIY Baby Wipes

INGREDIENTS

DIY Baby Wipes

– A small roll of paper towel (I learned mine was too big quickly! Buy the cheap, chemical-free kinds if you can)

– A sharp knife to cut the paper towel

– 1 tablespoon of baby wash

– ½ tablespoon of baby oil

– 1 cup of warm water

– A previously used wipes container

DIRECTIONS

– Cut the roll of paper towels in half (hamburger style) with a sharp knife and remove the inner cardboard.

DIY Baby Wipes– Mix ingredients together in a glass measuring cup. I heated up the water in the microwave for 1 minute first so the solution would mix well and dissolve quickly.

DIY Baby Wipes– Place the paper towels in the container.

– Pour liquid over the paper towel. (After I poured half the liquid, I realized I needed to remove the inner cardboard!)
DIY Baby Wipes
– Secure lid tightly and let sit for 10 minutes until all liquid is absorbed into the paper towels. Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.
– Open container and start the roll by pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
– Wipes are now ready to use – just make sure to close the container tightly after each use to avoid drying out.

I have to say – I LOVE the way these smell – much better than the off-brand I typically buy. And they seem to work pretty darn well, too. (With that said though, Little K doesn’t really have a sensitive tushy, so we’re lucky in that regard and can use just about anything.) The oil really makes them just as soft as regular wipes.

Is this process a ton cheaper than store-bought? It may save a little dough here and there, but considering I buy pretty inexpensive wipes in bulk anyways, it’s not a huge money-saver. But, it’s kind of fun to make, I like the smell, and it sure beats a run to the store just to buy wipes. I’m sure I will make these again.

Do you make any homemade products for your baby/child? Please share in the comments!

Blog Design By: Creative Kristi Designs