Author: Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes

Get Your Kids to Sleep…So You Can Sleep!

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 2 Comments

Since starting this blog, I have been talking to other moms so much more. I find it interesting to hear how other women manage their households. It gives me insight and other perspectives. One huge thing that always comes up is how bedtime and sleep are managed. I started to become super curious after hearing so many different opinions! Every household has a different routine at bedtime and different sleep habits for their family. I guess I was under the assumption that night comes and people sleep. Seems like that would make sense, right?

Except for one shocking little detail….

So many families are getting no sleep at all.

Sure, everybody goes through what I like to call “The Months of Newborn Hell”. It is a time of feeding, burping, spit up, changing and rocking to sleep. This process is repeated every 3 hours. Unless of course your baby decides it needs to cluster feed one day. Then you can go ahead and repeat all of that on the hour for 4 hours straight. Maybe you got lucky and popped out a kid with reflux or colic??? Your only hope for sleep anytime in the near future is prayer. Sorry. Truth hurts.

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If you can navigate your way out of the months of newborn hell, you are already halfway to success! A good night’s sleep is so close you can taste it! So why are so many parents playing a nightly game of musical beds with their 2-year-olds? Why do I have friends who cannot sleep in the same bed as their husband because their 4-year-old “won’t let them”? Why am I listening to someone complain that they are getting up to give their 18-month-old a bottle at 3:00 AM?

My mind is boggled.

My kids are currently 5 and 3 years old. Since they were about 6 months old, they both have slept through the night for at least 10 hours, in their own beds, in their own rooms and in the dark. Now the next part of this post is a bit touchy because I am going to tell you how I was able to achieve this. It involves sleep training. I know there are people out there who feel very strongly against it – for whatever their reasons. I can assure you my children are perfectly fine and not even close to emotionally damaged after going through a few nights of sleep training. If you want to stop reading now – please do! I promise I won’t lose any sleep over it! (<—See what I just did there? Hehe!)

If you want to hold your kids until they fall asleep every night – Go for it!

If you want to hang out for an hour in your toddler’s room while you wait for them to fall asleep – More power to you!

If you actually like sleeping next to your kids more than your husband – Keep on keepin’ on, girl!

Some moms genuinely love falling asleep under a loving pile of their own kids. I am not here to tell you what will work for your family. I could care less what goes on under your roof at midnight. Buuuut if you are someone like me…Someone who really wants to end their day unwinding with an hour or two of adult time plus a good night’s sleep, then you need to consider sleep training those rugrats!

This plan is pretty simple. Ready???

I am only half-joking. I really did use that book as my infant sleep bible. I figured I would share this post because so many parents have openly admitted that they do not know where they went wrong at bedtime. There is a way out, and I know this because I did it! My Auntie Christy gave me a copy of this book after a night of babysitting my super-fussy-at-bedtime baby. I read it immediately, and it turns out I had no clue what I was doing at bedtime. I put the recommended sleep plan into action and never EVER looked back.

Before you begin:

  • Read the book, or at least the parts that apply to you and your household.
  • Establish a comfort object early on. These are instrumental in helping kids self-soothe. My girls each have one of these “blankies” by Angel Dear.
  • Develop a schedule in your household that works best for everyone. Set mealtimes, playtime, nap time for babies and toddlers, quiet time for kids who no longer nap, bathtime and bedtime. Be prepared to strictly enforce the schedule for a few weeks until the routine is well-established.
  • Develop a bedtime routine that you can manage to maintain EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. The bedtime routine is important, because it is what relaxes your child and prepares them for sleep. It can be as easy as a quick bath and a 5 minute bedtime story, but it needs to stay the same every night in order to establish sleep. You will want to start the bedtime routine with enough time to complete it before your scheduled bedtime.
  •  If you want to know how it works in our house, I am happy to share our bedtime routine with you all. If you don’t care, then skip it. Our routine might not be what works for you!
    • Our Bedtime Routine:
      • Around 7:00 PM I give Emmy her bath. As soon as she is done, Avery gets in the shower.
      • The girls pick out their pajamas and get dressed. They brush their hair and teeth.
      • Usually it is around 7:30 now. They each are required to do a “potty check” right before climbing into bed. (I don’t like changing wet sheets in the middle of the night. Can you blame me?)
      • Avery heads into her room to pick out a book and waits for me while I put Emmy to bed.
      • In Emmy’s room I read her one book, tuck her in with a kiss, turn off her light, and close her door.
      • I head to Avery’s room where I read her one book, tuck her in with a kiss, turn on her nightlight, turn off her light, and close her door.  (A couple months ago Avery started to be afraid of the dark. This is normal at preschool age because their imaginations are very active. We allow her to have a nightlight now. Neither of our kids used nightlights up until that point because babies are not afraid of the dark.)
      • Bedtime is over and done with by 8:00, so I usually pour a glass of wine and rejoice in my hours of adult time!
    • Notes:
      •  Both girls bring their comfort objects to bed with them.
      • They are NEVER allowed out of bed after bedtime unless there is illness or a bathroom emergency.
      • I ABSOLUTELY NEVER allow them to sleep in my bed. If there is a problem in the night such as a bad dream or potty accident – I go to them, fix the problem and tuck them back into their own bed once they are comforted. Then I head back to my own spacious bed where I stretch out and enjoy some more quality sleep.

Sooooo, you have your schedule and bedtime routine down pat? Start teaching your children to self-soothe and fall asleep independently! Follow Dr. Weissbluth’s advice based on your household type. The book is very specific, and gives suggestions according to the needs of your own individual family. He covers children of various ages, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, infant temperament, reflux, colic, and many other common topics that would have an effect on your entire family’s quality of sleep at night. I promise, no matter what your current sleep situation is, this book covers it.

 

Don’t trust my advice on all of this? I DON’T BLAME YOU!

……(I feel a rant coming on)…..

I shouldn’t have to remind you that this is a blog. Anybody can start a blog, and anybody can publish whatever crap information they would like on that blog! I absolutely refuse to follow the advice of someone who cannot support their parenting decisions with research from accredited sources. (I’m looking at you, natural mommy blogs. Cite something. For the love of God, just prove to me ANYTHING your wrote about is true! And speaking of God…No, the Bible is not a valid source of SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. I am so glad you love Jesus, but he doesn’t know how your infant’s brain waves look during a REM sleep cycle. A pediatric sleep expert does. Amen.)

I will always do my best to provide you links to the research I did while making the parenting decisions I discuss on this blog. I will never cite another blog as a source – BECAUSE THAT IS NOT AN ACCREDITED, VALID PLACE TO OBTAIN ACCURATE INFORMATION. Unless the author of that blog can share where they obtained the information, and unless that information came from a university study, a medical journal, a book or paper published by a recognized expert in their field, or another ACCREDITED SOURCE – Do you see where I am going with this yet?! – I can only assume they made all that stuff up.

(End Rant.)

OK. I feel better now. Here’s some information:

The information I used to establish my family’s sleep habits came from Northwestern Children’s Practice and Children’s Hospital Colorado, as well as Dr. Weissbluth’s “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” book.

Who is Dr. Marc Weissbluth?

“Dr. Weissbluth graduated from Stanford University and Washington University Medical School. He completed his pediatric training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine. His interests include infant and child development, colic / crying, and childhood sleep problems. He is also the author of numerous publications, including books for parents such as Crybabies, Sweet Baby: How to Soothe Your Newborn, Your Fussy Baby, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins. “

Here is a link to some great info about night feeding by Barton D. Schmitte, M.D., pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Still struggling with your child’s sleep? You can find infant sleep consultants at Northwestern Children’s Practice, right here in the good old Windy City. Here is their link to some handy handouts about infant sleep.

Did you enjoy this post? You might also like this one!

Healthy and Delicious Blueberry Pancakes

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ Leave a comment

It’s blueberry season!

That means I have been making blueberry everything! They are hands down the favorite berry of the Yoder household. My kids eat them like candy, and who would want to change that?

I get by in the winter with frozen blueberries for pancakes, muffins and the like. Buuuut come July, I head to Michigan for some fresh blueberry picking! It is no secret that blueberry pancakes always win at breakfast time. I couldn’t be happier with this because, I HAVE A HEALTHY RECIPE! Don’t tell Cody and the kids! We have to keep this secret between us. 😉

My kids have always loved pancakes, but it is not the best way to start your day. There are definitely healthier breakfast options out there. I got sick of saying “NO” to pancakes because I was buying crappy box mix, and hit the good old internet to find a solution to my pancake problem. I ended up combining and tweaking these 2 pancake recipes from Martha Stewart into something that is a little more agreeable with me as a breakfast option.

The secret healthy ingredients are bananas and whole wheat flour. And of course, the not-so-secret ingredient is tons of blueberries! The key to super fluffy pancakes is to mix the batter as little a possible. Just gently mix it with a wooden spoon. You can leave it a little lumpy – no need to beat it smooth! Your pancakes will come out tough if you do. Martha Stewart taught me that, and you don’t mess with Martha! Consider yourself warned!

Healthy and Delicious Blueberry Pancakes

  • Ingredients:
    • 1 c whole wheat flour**
    • 1 c all purpose flour
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 2 tbsp brown sugar
    • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
    • 2 tbsp butter, melted – OR – 2 Tbsp coconut oil**, melted (If you use coconut oil the pancakes will have a slight coconut flavor to them. Even more YUM!)
    • 1 3/4 c milk
    • 1 ripe banana, mashed
    • 2 c freshly picked blueberries (Can substitute frozen, but it might hurt your soul.)
    • Oil to grease the pan (Don’t use olive oil – Your pancakes will taste funny! You can use vegetable oil, butter or coconut oil for best results. Just remember the coconut flavor will transfer to the pancakes if using coconut oil!)
    • Pure maple syrup** to drizzle before serving
  • What to do:

Prepare your work area. Put a skillet on a burner, but don’t light it yet. Set your oven to the lowest temperature or “keep warm” setting. (Mine is 175 degrees F.) Place a cookie sheet or platter in the oven, so you can easily transfer the pancakes to keep them warm as they come off the skillet.

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Put your blueberries in a bowl or container you can easily grab from. Grab your oil of choice for greasing the pan, a few paper towels, a 1/3 measuring cup, and a nice spatula for flipping. (This silicon one pictured below by Food Network is the only one I use for pancakes. It’s from Kohl’s.) Set all of this right next to the stove so you can reach it as you’re working.

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Measure your wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar into a large mixing bowl. Whisk until combined and fluffy. Set aside.

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Peel your ripe banana and place on a small plate. Mash with a fork. Set aside.

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Crack 2 eggs into a smaller mixing bowl. Whisk gently to break the yolks. Add your milk and melted butter (or coconut oil) to the eggs. Whisk gently to combine.

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Add the mashed banana and egg mixture to the dry ingredients.

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Stir gently with a wooden spoon, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure the flour mixture gets incorporated with the egg mixture. Stir until just combined.

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DO NOT  OVER-MIX OR BEAT THE BATTER. It is OK if it is a little lumpy.

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Now light the burner under the skillet. I like to start it on medium to get it going. Give the pan a couple minutes to heat through. You can tell it is ready when a couple drops of water dance and sizzle before disappearing.

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Grease your skillet by putting a few drops of your oil or butter onto a paper towel, and rubbing it onto the surface of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low.

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Using your 1/3 measuring cup, scoop and pour batter onto the prepped skillet. Immediately sprinkle blueberries onto the pancake.

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Let it cook for a minute or two. You can tell it is ready to flip when bubbles start to pop on the surface and the edges start to look cooked.

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Flip and let it cook another minute or two. Transfer to the warm oven.

Continue to cook the pancakes, greasing with your oily paper towel in-between to make sure they don’t stick to the pan. Once they are all done, plate them up with some more fresh blueberries and a drizzle of pure maple syrup!

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The breakfast of champions! Or toddlers. Whatever.

😀 Kaitlyn

**All those healthy ingredients would cost a fortune at the grocery store, right?! Don’t worry! I’ve got you covered, my fellow healthy mommas:

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At ALDI (Yep. I said ALDI.) you can get 14 oz of organic coconut oil for $4.99, 8.5 oz pure maple syrup for $3.99 and a 5 lb bag of whole wheat flour for $2.79!

I know. Too exciting. Try to contain yourself.

(But seriously! Happy dance! Byeeee Whole Foods!)

Watermelon Popsicles

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 1 Comment

Kait phone 73115 445  If there is a fruit that says summer, it has to be watermelon. Kids and adults love it alike! Every summer celebration at our house includes watermelon. For Emmy’s birthday party I cut up 2 whole seedless ones. After the party, I had half a watermelon left. It had gotten pretty juicy sitting out all sliced up on the counter for a couple hours, so I diced it and threw it into a big tupperware. I usually Kait phone 73115 447make smoothies with the too-juicy-to-bite watermelon leftovers, but lucky little Emmy was just diagnosed with the dreaded hand-foot-and-mouth disease. (If you aren’t familiar with this lovely childhood illness, click the link for more info. You are in for a real treat if your kids catch it!) It really hurts her to swallow anything, so popsicles seemed like the perfect solution! We are all enjoying them, but my sick little one has been especially happy since these came out of the freezer!

Watermelon Popsicles

  • What you need:
    • Blender or food processor
    • Popsicle molds
    • Room in your freezer 🙂
  • Ingredients:
    • Half of a seedless watermelon, chopped
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • 1-3 Tbsp sugar (I find this varies depending on the sweetness of each watermelon)
    • A little bit of cold water to get it going – about 1/4 cup
  1. Put all the watermelon in the blender. Mine barely fits. You can pulse a couple times to fit more in – it goes down in volume as it is blended.
  2. Add the lime juice and 1 Tbsp sugar. Pulse the blender. Depending how juicy the watermelon is, you might not need to add any water. If things are not moving along, add the water, a little bit at a time, until the watermelon starts blending easily.
  3. Puree the mixture until totally smooth. Give it a taste to see if it needs more lime or sugar. If you want to add more, do so and puree a few more seconds.
  4. Once you are satisfied with the taste, pour into molds and place them on a LEVEL surface in your freezer.
  5. Freeze until solid. Our pops usually take around 4 hours to freeze all the way through, but time varies by freezer temp and the size/shape of your mold. I would give them AT LEAST 4 hours to be safe.
  6. When you are ready to enjoy your treats, just dip the bottom of the mold in warm water for a couple seconds and carefully pull out your popsicle. You can store the rest in your freezer for up to 1 week – if they make it that long without being devoured by your popsicle-obsessed children!

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Happy summer from my family to yours, and may hand-foot-and-mouth disease skip your household!

😎 Kaitlyn 😎

Good Cheap Getaway

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 4 Comments

I was scrolling through Facebook, and suddenly became overwhelmed with an envious realization:

My friends are all living out their vacation dreams.

My news feed and Instagram are constantly flooded with their fabulous vacay pics; including, but not limited to: selfies on a cliff, selfies on a beach, selfies on the Vegas strip, selfies in bikinis, selfies on top of a mountain, selfies with tropical cocktails….You get the picture. I think I would kill a man for a decent vacation. Let’s be real – Sipping cocktails at the poolside bar while the steel drums play looks equal to heaven from where I am currently standing.

Where exactly am I standing, you ask?

Oh, just knee-deep in a swamp of housework, yard work and apple juice. And no, the episode of Peppa Pig currently on TV is not creating a desirable ambiance. You don’t want to see any selfies of me right now. I promise.

I know that you are thinking, “You guys could go to Disney! Fun for the whole family! Blah blah blah.” I know this because people have told me these exact words.

Sure, let’s do “Disney on a Budget”!

Yup. That is actually a thing I tried. I got all excited because dropping a couple grand didn’t seem too bad when I was looking up all the activities we could do. In fact, these words maaaay have come out of my mouth: “It is breakfast with Queen Elsa of Arendelle for Christ’s sake! You can’t put a price on that!”  Don’t judge me. It’s Disney.

Then I started thinking…Avery’s going to end up whining about being too hot, thirsty, sweaty, hungry, tired, itchy – and my own personal favorite – “maybe even dying.” She pulls that crap on a trip to Target, so guiding her around 90-degree theme parks for a week didn’t look promising. Then I thought about Emmy having a meltdown in the line to the Dumbo ride – or really – anywhere on the Disney grounds, for any reason under the hot Florida sun. That kid is currently a ticking time bomb of endless meltdowns. I would be entering The Happiest Place on Earth with a grenade of toddler screams that could detonate at any moment. And you know what? I don’t know how to defuse that bomb. So F that. Sorry, Mickey!

Then I told myself that spending the money on a Disney trip is silly right now. They are too young to appreciate it, and we are too strapped to waste money on a vacation they won’t even remember. Obviously, being a stay-at-home mom means the word I hate more than any other word in the English language: BUDGET. Four people living on one paycheck per month is doable, but not always fun. I would love to hop on a plane to take my kids to a Disney dream vacation, but that crap isn’t happening anytime soon. If I get my thousands of dollars worth of fun out of that place, it definitely isn’t going to be with a 4-year-old and 2-year-old.

So it was back to the vacation drawing board for this chick! Darn it.

But then the clouds parted and angels sang to me,

“You live by Lake Michigan! Drive to the beach, you idiot!”

Of course I smacked myself. There are so many things to do with little kids right here in the good old Great Lakes! I got right to work researching some Good Cheap Fun for our mini-vacation destinations. Over the past couple of years, we have had some awesome local family trips! I just need to share the goods with you!

I think it will be easiest to do a separate post for each vacation spot, so stay tuned for more! I am starting with my favorite little getaway town of all time. It is where I spent childhood summers, got engaged and got married! Sometimes I throw the kids in the car and head there for the day, just because we can.

Drumrollllll pleaseee…..

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NEW BUFFALO, MICHIGAN !!!

I know. I know. Not that exciting. But you have to give me a chance here! The drive time from my house in the southwest Chicago suburbs is only 1 hour and 10 minutes. (Provided the Frank Borman expressway isn’t a damn parking lot. Public Service Announcement: AVOID RUSH HOUR AT ALL COSTS!) It is perfect for a summer day trip, quick overnight or a whole week to relax. The beach town atmosphere really does make it feel like you are on a real vacation. Plus there is a BOATLOAD of cheap stuff to do with little kids, and we have tried it all! Ready for your cheap family vacay? Here we go!

Whitaker Street, New Buffalo, MI

FREE admission. If you want the convenience of beach parking, it is $10 per vehicle. (I never pay to park. I find a spot downtown and walk over the bridge to the beach. It is about a half mile walk. I have managed it with both kids many times as long as I have a wagon!)

There is a small playground, dune trails and wooden walkways you can explore. The concessions building has working bathrooms and assorted snacks. I recommend doing potty checks before you head out, because on busy afternoons lines can get long. I always pack a small cooler with drinks and snacks from home. Concessions for a family of four can add up quickly, plus it is inconvenient to walk all the way back up the boardwalk for a snack. I suggest bringing a wagon to pull little kids or beach gear to your spot on the sand because it is a little easier – strollers are useless off the boardwalk. (I have seen people pulling gear and kids across the sand on plastic snow sleds. I have never tried it, but seems ingenious!) Bring a big blanket to spread out so the kids have a clean place to sit for snacks, and a beach umbrella for shade if you have little ones. Sunscreen and hats are a must! I always bring shovels and buckets to build sandcastles and collect beach treasures. I also bring a chair for myself – the kind you can carry on your back with the shoulder straps so your hands are free to pull the wagon and corral the kids. There are life guards on duty during the summer season. More details on the beach policies and forecast can be found by clicking on the link above.

(Mommy Tangent Alert: I love our puddle jumpers! It is a life jacket meets water wings. They are USCG approved, so you can use them for boating as well. I make my kids wear their puddle jumpers in the water. The sand bars move around, and sometimes there is a drop-off in the shallow water that you can’t see.)

12032 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer, MI 49125 (about a 15 minute drive from New Buffalo)

There is an entrance fee of $9 per car regardless of how many people you are traveling with. You can ask for a map at the entrance to help you find your way because this is a pretty big state park. The best way to describe it is “beach meets forest preserve”. Bring your beach gear, and some hiking clothes if you want to explore some of the wooded trails.

There are plenty of trails to hike and HUGE dunes to climb. The tallest is 260 ft above the lake! You can take a creek walk to a clay pit, which is fun if you have some older kids to keep busy. There is also a playground and a designated picnic area with grills if you want to picnic or cook out. I usually just pack a cooler of snacks and drinks and eat out on the beach. Restrooms are located throughout the park. Bring your puddle jumpers and sand toys if you want some beach time. Be ready for a lot of walking, and most of it is not what I would call stroller-friendly. Our wagon works well here. Don’t forget bug spray if you are going to hike some of the wooded trails, and sunscreen for climbing the dunes!

If you are into camping, this is a great place to camp for a weekend. I normally HATE camping, but I do love the beach! Therefore, I actually had fun camping here for one night. You can click here to make a camping reservation.

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I think more blueberries end up in Emmy’s tummy than her bucket!
  • Blueberry Picking

If you have been reading my blog, you already know how much we love blueberry pancakes in our house! Fresh Michigan blueberries are an absolute must in the summer, plus it is fun to pick your own. My kids love it. It is free admission and parking at our 3 favorite places, but be prepared with CASH ONLY to pay by the pound for what you pick. (To give you an idea, my girls and I picked almost 3 lbs of blueberries this morning at Billy Boy’s and our total was around $5.00.) All 3 farms listed below have port-a-potties on-site in case of bathroom emergencies. It isn’t very stroller-friendly at any of them, but a wagon works well if you need to pull little kids. You can bring food and drink for a picnic at any of the 3 farms, but we never do. The kids snack on blueberries while we pick, and we are usually only there for an hour or two. Dress for the weather, and don’t forget sunscreen, water bottles, hats, bug spray and closed shoes! The phone numbers are listed below, and I recommend calling ahead of time to make sure they will have the U-Pick open the day you are planning to go. Seasons vary from year to year, so they don’t always have set hours.

  • Mike’s Blueberry Farm
    • 11160 Farina Rd., New Buffalo, MI
    • (269) 469-2509
    • Closed Mondays
  • Billy Boy Blueberry Barn
    • 650 Freyer Rd., Michigan City, IN (about a 10-minute drive from New Buffalo)
    • (219) 872-7477
    • Closed Tuesdays
  • Stateline Blueberries
    • 9957 N. Frontage Rd., Michigan City, IN (about a 10-minute drive from New Buffalo)
    • (219) 874-7721
    • Closed Tuesdays
Fun Yoder Fact: This is where we got hitched, and those are my 2 little muffins “playing wedding” at the park!

17425 Red Arrow Highway New Buffalo, MI 49117

Free admission and parking

This park is an awesome way to spend a day! There is a really nice enclosed playground and separate splashpad. My kids also love doing the nature walks to the scenic outlook decks. They are short little paths that explore the woods and take you to gorgeous decks overlooking the creek bed. The paths are stroller-friendly. Working bathrooms and drinking fountains are on-site. Plenty of shade to get a break from the summer sun. There is a picnic pavilion, so pack a lunch. There are also basketball courts and bocce ball courts to entertain your older kids while the younger ones play on the playground.

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Cody and the girls heading up to the observation tower.

115 Lakeshore Dr., Michigan City, IN 46360 (about a 15 minute drive from New Buffalo)

  • CASH ONLY
  • Parking: $7 per car
  • Admission: $7 adult, $6 children age 3-11, and under 3 is FREE

A cute little zoo with some fun exhibits! You can get right up close to tigers, monkeys, bobcats, river otters and bears. A couple of the exhibits were closed without much explanation when we visited, but there was still plenty to see. The park is pretty stroller-friendly, with the exception of some steep hills. There is a small playground structure, clean bathrooms and basic concessions inside the zoo. I saw signs posted for no outside food or drink, but we brought in water bottles and had a quick snack of granola bars at one of the picnic tables. Nobody seemed to mind. Your ticket is good for the day, so you could go out to your car to eat if you wanted to save your cash and do a picnic lunch. There is also a historical observation tower we climbed for some pretty views of the lake. You could easily keep the whole family busy here for an afternoon.

Avery is loving her ride on the mini steam train!

1201 E 1000 N, La Porte, IN (about a 10-minute drive from New Buffalo)

Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 12:00-5:00 CENTRAL time (it is just over the Indiana border)

Admission and parking are both FREE, but you pay to ride the steam trains. Single ride tickets are $5 per adult, $3 per child (3-12 years) and FREE for 2 and under. If you know you want to ride all the trains, buy a multiple ride ticket. (Gives you 4 train rides – enough to try all the trains they have.) Prices for multiple ride tickets are $17 per adult, $10 per child (3-12 years) and FREE for 2 and under.

They have some interesting historical trains, sawmills, and power plants on the grounds that you can check out. They also have a historical blacksmith’s shop. There is a soda fountain/cafe that you can eat at, but we have never tried it. I usually just bring snacks or a picnic of our own because there are picnic tables on the grounds. There are bathrooms, it is somewhat stroller-friendly, and there are shady spots. The paths are mostly gravel. We usually just show up to take a few train rides, and then head back to New Buffalo. Perfect place to bring little kids, ESPECIALLY if they are into trains at all. The steam train rides are very exciting for my girls. We love spending an afternoon here!

  • Captain Mike’s Fun Park
    • 10975 S. Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman, MI 49106 (about a 15-minute drive from New Buffalo)
    • Hours:
      • Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm EASTERN time
      • Monday-Saturday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm EASTERN time

A fun little amusement park! They have go-karts, mini go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, and mini golf. They also have a few other games and an arcade. Admission and parking are both FREE. You pay for tickets for the ride/activity of your choice or tokens to play arcade games. Most of the rides and mini golf were around $5 CASH ONLY per person, but they do let little kids (under 12) ride in the double go-karts for free with a paid adult. The mini golf course was very cute and easy for little kids to navigate. We didn’t spend much time in the arcade, since our kids are still too young for most of those games. There are bathrooms and typical amusement park concessions. You can bring your own food and drink for a picnic at one of their picnic tables. Stroller-friendly.

  • Stateline Stables
    • 10411 N 200 E , LaPorte, IN (about a 15-minute drive from New Buffalo)
    • (219) 778-9020 (Call ahead to book your trail ride! You can view their schedule here.)

This place looks perfect for entertaining a family with kids of multiple ages. Kids 8 and older and adults can go for a horse trail ride for $35 per person. There is a lead line pony trail option for younger/inexperienced kids for $15. They also offer riding lessons for $35 per hour. It is a little more expensive than something I would normally do with my family, but for a one-time adventure I would be willing to spend the money. **We have never been here! My friend told me about this place when she heard I was working on this blog post, and it does sound awesome. I think we are going to try it next time we take a trip out this way – so I will update this post with more information once I actually go. If you have been here, then give me some more information in the comments please!**

Another good activity for families with multiple ages of children – not really doable with a baby. If you have older kids, you can rent single kayaks for $20/hour or $70/day. If your kids are younger, rent a double kayak for $25/hour or $75/day.

Great for beginners! Do not be intimidated if you have never kayaked before! This river is easy to navigate. You rent at the address above, and then return to the same place when you are done. Since the water moves slow, it is not that challenging to paddle back upstream. With younger kids, just an hour of paddling is fine. Avery got bored and antsy for the last 10 minutes or so. (Remember to bring their puddle jumpers/life vests! You can rent one if you don’t own one.) We did see a lot of wildlife on the river! If you have older kids and want to try the full 3-mile trip down to the beach, then you might want to consider renting for the day. We have never gone that far, but according the their website this takes about 4 hours round trip. Apply sunscreen and bug spray before you launch, dress in clothes that can get a little wet and bring a water bottle or 2. There are no bathrooms – you are floating on a river. Do a potty check before you embark on this adventure. Kayaks are not known for their spaciousness so leave snacks and extra stuff in the car. Bring a ziplock bag for your keys and cell phone, and keep some air in it. If they end up in the water, they will stay dry and float on the surface.

  • Good Eats

When we go on these trips, I usually end up bringing most of our food. I plan ahead, buy what we will need for the trip, then pack a couple of grocery bags and a cooler for cold stuff. Most of our breakfasts, snacks and lunches are eaten from these groceries, and we usually even grill out a night or 2. But sometimes…when I am on vacation…I just don’t want to cook anything. So on these days we head out to a family-friendly restaurant. In my own personal opinion, family-friendly restaurants have to:

  1. Be able to tolerate some noise
  2. Have a reasonably priced menu
  3. Provide a kid’s menu
  4. Be casual – I am talking t-shirts and flip flops casual

Not too much to ask…Right?! We have luckily found some really good spots to stop in and eat lunch or dinner with the kids. There are a bunch of other decent restaurants around town, but these two are our favorites! They are both always crowded, so you might want to be prepared to wait for a table. If it is peak dinner hours my husband heads there ahead of time to put our name in. I show up with the kids a little later so we don’t have to keep them entertained while waiting to be seated. Both places also provide carry-out service if you don’t feel like putting on your flip flops and t-shirt after leaving the beach! Just call in your order ahead of time!

  • Redamak’s Tavern
    • 616 E. Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117
    •  (269) 469-4522
    • CASH ONLY

  • Good Treats

What good is a summer beach vacation without some ice cream stops? Our 2 favorite ice cream parlors are below.

  • Beachside Scoops
    • 225 N. Whittaker #1, New Buffalo, MI
    • Hours: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm EASTERN time
  • Oinks Dutch Treat
    • 227 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI
    • Hours: 11:00 am -11:30 pm EASTERN time
    • CASH ONLY

  • Places to Stay

The best way to stay overnight with little kids is in a house or cottage. Everybody gets their own place to sleep, there is a full kitchen to make and eat meals, a fridge for groceries, a yard for kids to play in, etc. It might cost a little more per night, but when you think about the cost of eating out every meal while staying at a hotel, you save in the long run. You can always get a bigger house and split it with some friends to make it even cheaper! If it is just your family, there are some less-expensive options as long as you stick to the smaller cottages.

Check these links for rental options in the area. We have had some awesome and very affordable experiences renting.

I am not what you would call a happy camper, but I know plenty of people who have had fun and affordable vacations while staying at a campsite. I cannot speak from experience, other than one tolerable night at Warren Dunes State Park. Here is a link of some campgrounds in the area. Good luck, you crazy campers!

When I was researching for our wedding last year, I came across the most adorable little cottage resort. I have not stayed here yet, but I did stop by to check it out. I can’t wait to bring the kids here! It is so cute! Click the link below for more details and to book a beach-side cottage.

Still too much money for your stay-at-home mom budget? I feel you, girlfriend! Don’t forget that it is only an hour away! You could always pick a couple activities from the list and visit for a day, without the added expense of spending the night somewhere. We have done this so many times that I have lost count. Sometimes we just head to the beach all day and grab an ice cream cone on our way out of town.

Now, my fellow adventurers, there are three things I would like you to do with all of this information:

  1. Enjoy your vacation.
  2. Flood my news feed and Instagram with pics of your fabulous yet cheap family vacay.
  3. Use a few of the dollars you saved to buy me a tropical drink. (Bob Marley playing in the background is optional.)

You’re welcome! 🙂

Kaitlyn

Ten Things Only Chicago Fans Who Married Detroit Fans Will Understand

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 2 Comments
Photo by Michelle Goeppner
Photo by Michelle Goeppner

I am a Chicago girl at heart. I just love this city. I had to move away from it for a few years in college, and it pained me to be so far away. I moved back ASAP! I grew up in the southwest suburbs, and like any respectable south side father would, my dad raised us to be loyal White Sox, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks fans. My Uncle Matt chipped in, and would regularly quiz my cousins, brothers and me as kids:

Example:

  • Q: Who is the best basketball player to ever live? A: Michael Jordan
  • Q: Who is Da Coach? A: Mike Ditka
  • Q: What was the best year ever recorded in football history? A: 1985
  • Q: Who will always get booed? A: The Cubs, The Packers and any team from Detroit

We were also taught to proudly sing the following songs:

I grew up to attend many a Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls and Sox game. Real life encounters with superfans is a daily occurrence in Chicagoland. Where else can you walk through the grocery store in a Blackhawks T-shirt and receive multiple high fives from fellow shoppers? There is no feeling quite like drinking a toast to Ditka with strangers at a tailgate. Nobody in this city is ever going to let go of saying “DA BEARS” and “DITKA” and “DA BULLS” – and in my opinion, it is glorious.

This stuff will always inspire happiness in my soul – And if that doesn’t sum up the extent of our South Side Chicago brainwashing – I don’t know what else will. So I am going move forward with this post and assume you get the picture.

As a born and bred Chicago fan I have done the unthinkable:

I married a Detroit fan.

I don’t even know what possessed me, but it is too late to turn back now. We are a household divided. If you also live in such a home, you will understand. So this one’s for you, my fellow cross-breeders!

Ten Things Only Chicago Fans Who Married Detroit Fans Will Understand:

1. Your spouse despises all the songs posted above, and mocks them constantly. Especially when Chicago is losing.

Nothing gets your blood boiling like your beloved’s rendition of “Suck it, Suck it White Sox”. Nothing.

2. They can’t stand your happiness when the Blackhawks are YET AGAIN playing to bring Lord Stanley home.

They mutter the words “nobody cares” every time the playoff highlights are on the news. They aggressively turn off the car radio when “Chelsea Dagger” starts playing. They will even go out of their way to change the channel “accidentally” during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jealous much?

3. Every time you talk about the Bears winning the Superbowl, the love of your life asks you how long ago 1985 was.

IT DOESN’T MATTER, YOU ASSHOLE!

4. They pretend like it is a fun family rivalry, while secretly brainwashing your children with blasphemy the minute your back is turned.

My 4-year-old child: “Go Tigers, Mommy! Daddy says you are going to be devastated when the White Sox lose. I will be happy though, because me and Dad cheer for the Tigers now.”

Me: “Oh sweet pea, you got mixed up. You really mean Go Go White Sox! RIGHT?! WHITE SOX!!!” (WTF?! Where the Hell is her father? He will burn for this. Burn.)

5. They declare war on the entire city of Chicago when their team is in town.

Some examples: Running into sports bars shamelessly wearing a Lions away jersey. Randomly yelling “DETROIT!” while walking the streets. Frantically texting buddies back home about how much Chicago fans suck. Getting carried away and telling Chicago fans how much they suck to their face, and then having to be saved from imminent death by their wife who is (luckily) a Chicago fan.

6. They desperately cling to Detroit sports memorabilia, and try to sneak that crap into the nice, Chicagoland home you share.

Over my dead body will he mount that Detroit sign in the living room. And why does this Tigers blanket keep ending up on the couch when I have put that stupid thing away like twenty times?! GOD DAMN IT, CODY! For the hundredth time: NO! The dancing Lions man absolutely CANNOT live on our bedside table!

7. They tell anyone who will listen that Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” is actually a Detroit song.

Maybe it was….Before 2005. Sorry, Michigan. Did we ever tell you about the time the White Sox won the World series?

8. When they see other Detroit fans in Chicago they get way too excited.

My husband almost crashed the car on the Stevenson. He cut across 2 lanes of traffic and endangered the lives of his wife and children. Why? So he could drive next to “his allies” – a.k.a. random dudes in another car wearing Detroit hats.

9. No matter how cute your kids are, they just look like crap in Detroit gear.

Sure, the girls can wear their Redwings T-shirts today. Around the house. For the hour that you are home from work. No pictures.

10. They begrudgingly admit Michael Jordan was awesome, despite the fact that he played for the Bulls.

Thank God I didn’t marry a complete imbecile.

We may be a household divided, but I love my husband despite his obvious flaws…

Until the next White Sox vs. Tigers series, that is.

Love conquers all, right?

Good Cheap Fun

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 48 Comments

As a stay-at-home mom, I am perpetually bored. I am in constant search of things to do. I know it seems like it would be nice to just be home all the time, but I PROMISE you, it can make a girl go crazy. I can only hear the Mickey Mouse “Hot Diggity Dog” song so many times before I am tempted to run for the high hills. As a result, I began taking the kids out for numerous “adventures.”

We all benefit from some time out of the house, but I quickly learned how freaking expensive it is to keep up with these outings. Paying admission for 1 adult and 2 kids can add up fast, and I know darn well that I am not getting my money’s worth dragging a 4-year-old and 2-year-old around. Nothing is more aggravating to me than taking the kids somewhere and ending up $75 in the hole before we even get through the door! Not to mention the minute my 2-year-old has a meltdown, I am evacuating the place like it is on fire and I can kiss my $75 of fun goodbye! I decided during one of these episodes that we needed to start heading out to some low-budget entertainment.

It was so frustrating trying to find some of these hidden gems! The free stuff is rarely advertised, and I found a lot of these places through word-of-mouth. I was like an undercover mom spy last year, getting the scoop from random women I had never met at the playground. They probably thought I was a lunatic. It really shouldn’t have been that hard. So now….I will bestow this magical knowledge upon you!

This is my summer list! Everything on my list is cheap – $5 or less per person – if you follow my instructions. Most of it is even FREE! I am well aware of the fantastic attractions available to us in Chicagoland, but you won’t find them on this list. They are just too pricey! I live in the southwest burbs, so the things listed are within a reasonable distance of me. I categorized the list by activity. With each place I have included the address, summer hours, admission, parking and a link to the website. (If they have one, the link is highlighted in blue – some don’t have a website) I also provided some other random info that I love knowing ahead of time before heading out for a day with the kids. (Such as – if there is a picnic area, the bathroom situation, if it is stroller-friendly, etc.) I hope you can enjoy going on some of these adventures as much as we do! Happy exploring, my fellow adventurers!

Zoos:

FREE!

1000 Ray Moses Dr., Aurora, IL

Open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

A small zoo located in Philips Park. Philips Park also has playgrounds, a free splash pad, a sunken garden and picnic area with tables. There are restrooms inside the visitor center. There is plenty of free parking, and most of the zoo is stroller-friendly. No concessions, but you can bring your own food/drink and eat in the picnic area. The zoo has a lot of decent exhibits for being free. They do ask for donations, but it is not required. There are donation boxes inside the visitor center and at the zoo entry.

$5 or less per person

1356 North Gary Ave., Wheaton, IL

Open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

A very cute, clean little zoo! $4 per adult and all kids 17 and under are free! The whole zoo is stroller-friendly. There is a concession stand, but you can bring in your own food and drink. There is a picnic area with tables. Restrooms are on-site.  Parking is free. You can feed the ducks and chickens daily. They also have a very cute “Backpack Explorer” self guided tour that my 4-year-old loves! You can rent a pack for $2 from the gift shop. (You only need 1 pack per family per visit.) The pack is full of little activities and items to help guide you through the zoo. Once you complete your tour of the zoo, you can return your completed pack to the gift shop and receive an Eco-Explorer button. There are 8 different themes to the packs, so you can get 8 buttons total throughout the summer! It makes for a new zoo experience every time you visit! We LOVE this zoo!

Gardens/Nature:

FREE!

500 N Chicago Avenue, Elwood, Illinois

Open daily from dawn to dusk

My favorite hidden gem to date! Totally free, beautiful children’s garden full of toys, musical instruments, art supplies and paths to explore. This garden has an evergreen maze, sunflower tunnel, mud kitchen, butterfly garden and so much more! My kids stay busy here for hours. Plenty of free parking. Huge playgrounds and working bathrooms across the parking lot. There are two picnic pavilions to choose from. One is inside the children’s garden and the other is by the bathrooms and playgrounds. Bring your own food and drink because there are no concessions available. Stroller-friendly. Be prepared with a change of clothes – Your kids WILL get dirty.

$5.00 or less per person

14158 W. 159th Street, Homer Glen, IL

Open weekdays and Sunday from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

The cutest local farm that allows you to pick your own produce! My kids LOVE this place! So far we have picked our own strawberries, rhubarb, blackberries, cherries and apples here. They have tons of other stuff you can pick listed on their website. $5 per person to enter the field, and then you pay for what you pick by weight. (If you want to pick your produce all season, buy a Pick Pass for $25 per person. This gets you unlimited access to the field, plus 10% off your produce price for the entire year.) ALWAYS check the website before you head to the farm! They update it every morning with what is available for picking that day. The paths are all gravel and dirt, so I wouldn’t call this place stroller-friendly. We usually bring our red wagon with to help pull the produce. The farm supplies containers and bags if you need them. Since they sell everything you pick by weight, you can also bring your own produce bags or cardboard boxes if you want to be Earth friendly. (I do recommend using their supplied quart containers for berries.) I also recommend wearing closed toe shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy, a hat that keeps the sun out of your eyes, sunscreen, bug spray and old clothes. If you have little kids, I can promise your whole family WILL leave this place covered in fruit juice, mashed berries and dirt. They have port-a-potties by the farm stand, but nothing out in the field! Plan your potty checks ahead of time if you have little kids!

FREE!

2501 Highland Park Dr., Joliet, IL

Open daily from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Visit the Pilcher Park Nature Center to see exhibits of local wildlife, walk a few hiking trails, go fishing in Hickory Creek, take a walk through the Bird Haven Greenhouse, play on the playground and stop at one of the picnic tables for lunch. No concessions available, so bring your own food/drink. There is plenty of shade. Some of the trails are stroller-friendly. There are bathrooms available in the Nature Center and by the playground. Plenty of parking available throughout the park.

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

Little Red School House Nature Center – Willow Springs, IL

FREE!

9800 Willow Springs Rd., Willow Springs, IL

Open 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday-Sunday, CLOSED Friday

An adorable nature center full of educational fun for kids. Inside the new Green Schoolhouse and the same Little Red Schoolhouse from our childhood, you will find live animal exhibits and interactive exhibits about local wildlife and their habitats. It has a children’s museum feel to it. There are bathrooms inside, and stroller friendly paths around the nature center. There are some good benches on the grounds to stop and have a picnic. You can take a short hike around the nature trail to see some gardens, plants and wildlife – some of the trails may not be stroller-friendly if there was recent rain. We saw bullfrogs by the lily pads last year! Plenty of parking. Check their schedule of events on the website if you are looking for something extra, because they have a bunch of free, family-friendly, nature-based events throughout the summer.

Splash Pads:

  • Brent Hassert Park – Crest Hill, IL

FREE!

19623 Renwick Rd., Crest Hill, IL

Open 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Plenty of free parking. A decent-sized, enclosed splash pad. It is attached to 2 different playgrounds with rubberized surfacing. It can get busy in the mornings, but lunchtime and afternoons are not as bad. There are bathrooms, a drinking fountain, concession machines and a picnic shelter attached to the splash pad area. Bring sunscreen and hats because there is very little shade here! We usually pack a picnic lunch and a change of clothes so that the girls can play on the playgrounds once they are done splashing. Stroller-friendly.

  • The Promenade Mall – Children’s Play Area – Bolingbrook, IL
FREE!
631 E Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, IL
Open during mall hours
Plenty of free parking. It is inside the open-air mall. Park on the side near Bass Pro Shops. This splash pad is little underwhelming, but fun for a quick little outing. It has a few interactive water fountains on a rubberized surface. It is usually not too crowded, and sometimes we even have it all to ourselves. Plenty of family-friendly restaurants in the area, and lots of shopping if you want to run errands before you play! (We also usually walk across the street to Bass Pro Shop because Emmy is obsessed with looking at the fish tank – whatever keeps the kid’s entertained!) It is stroller-friendly with plenty of benches to sit and keep and eye on the kids. Bathrooms are available inside the mall.
  • Hobson Corner Park – Woodridge, IL

FREE!

2910 Hobson Rd., Woodridge, IL

Open 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Free parking. Very basic with interactive fountains shooting up from the ground, but my kids still love it. I usually bring a couple small buckets for them to play with. Small area with a few tables to sit at, or bring a blanket to spread on the surrounding grass. Stroller-friendly. No restrooms, but a port-a-potty is there for emergencies!

$5 or less per person!

801 Blackhawk Dr., Westmont, IL

Open daily from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

If I am going to pay for a splash pad, it better be good! When we do go here, the kids always freak out – It is by far their favorite splash pad! You pay $5 per non-resident child and adults are free. Plan to get wet with your little kids, because this splash pad is huge! (If your kids are older you might be able to get away with supervision from the side.) NO food is allowed inside the splash pad area. You can get your hand stamped and exit the splash pad to have snacks and such. There is a nice picnic pavilion, but come early to claim a table! There is also plenty of grassy area to claim with a picnic blanket, which is what we usually do. You can bring your own food and drinks for a picnic, but they also have a concession stand that offers snacks and drinks.There are bathrooms, but they are a little bit of a walk from the splash pad. There is a nice playground and a huge sand pit, so bring some sand toys to keep the kids busy.  This park is stroller-friendly and has plenty of free parking.

Pools:

$5 or less per person – specific instructions below

500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, IL

Open Monday – Saturday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Zero-depth entry, sand-bottom pool with a couple of fountains for little ones to play in and a small slide. Also has platforms and diving boards in the deep water for older kids who can pass a swim test. Large sandy “beach” area for building sand castles and digging. My kids LOVE it here! It is pricey for normal admission and usually VERY crowded. This place makes my list because from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm you can get in for only $3 per non-resident on weekdays and Saturdays! Bonus: It is not as crowded at this time too.

Extra Details: Lifeguards on duty. There is free parking, but sometimes it fills up and you have to use the street parking on Jackson Street. Coast Guard approved floatation devices (such as puddle jumpers and life vests) are allowed. Somewhat stroller-friendly – There are paved sidewalks connecting the parking lot, pool area and concessions. Once you are in the pool area it is mostly sand and grass. Bathrooms and locker rooms are on-site. You can bring in your own food/drink. (I pack a small cooler.) They do have a concession stand/restaurant offering sandwiches, treats and drinks. There are plenty of picnic tables and lounge chairs to choose from, or bring a blanket to spread out on the grassy area. There are some shady spots too.

https://i1.wp.com/www.lemontparkdistrict.org/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Pool-6-23-09-097.jpg?resize=371%2C278

$5.00 or less per person – specific instructions below

16028 127th St., Lemont, IL

Open weekdays 12:00 – 7:00 pm and weekends 12:00 – 6:00 pm

A nice pool for little kids. Zero-depth entry with a few fountains to play in. A large water slide and diving board keep the older kids occupied. Normal admission is a little high, but this pool makes my list because on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they open early for families with kids under 11 years old! You pay a discounted admission for this time slot. FREE for 2 and under, $6 per non-resident adult, $4 per non-resident child – OR – a non-resident family of 4 for $11. Not bad for a morning swim when you consider the cost of normal non-resident admission, plus less crowds!

Extra Details: Lifeguards on duty. Free parking and stroller-friendly. You can bring in your own food/drink. (I pack a small cooler.) They do have a small concession stand offering snacks and drinks. There are plenty of picnic tables and lounge chairs to choose from. Bathrooms and locker rooms are attached to pool area. Bring your own towels, hats and lots of sunscreen! Shade is hard to come by here unless you can grab one of the tables with an umbrella.

Sports:

$5.00 or less per person – specific instructions below

1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive, Joliet, IL

Click the link above for game schedule.

An affordable way to take your family out to the ballpark! A very family-friendly minor league team. They make my list because they have $2 Tuesdays – seats are $2 apiece! They have promotional theme nights such as Superhero night, Princess night, Lego night, Harry Potter night, etc. On Fridays there are post-game fireworks. On Sundays there are post-game meet and greets, so the kids can get autographs from their favorite players. After most games, they let the kids on the field to run the bases. My favorite way to go with little kids is buying $7 lawn seats. It is an open grassy area, and the kids have some freedom to run around if the game gets a little boring. Bring a blanket to sit on, and your glove to catch foul balls! If you want a regular seat it is still only $12, or you can get a club seat for $14. Parking for Slammers games is free, and you can also get to the game an hour early to enjoy discounted “early bird special” ballpark food and drink!

Music/Movies:

FREE!

Every Monday night from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Central Square. (Corner of 9th St and Hamilton.) Click link for concert schedule.

Shop a farmer’s market, buy dinner off a food cart, let the kids jump in the free bouncy house, grab free treats (This past Monday had all you can eat ice cream, and last year we had snow cones every night), walk through the car show and enjoy a live music concert! The event is totally FREE, unless you choose to buy food/drink! Bring a blanket and some lawn chairs to claim a spot on the grass. You can also bring your own food/drink. Park in one of the downtown lots and walk over. Bathrooms inside Central Square building.

FREE!

New Lenox Commons, 1 Veterans Pkwy, New Lenox, IL

10 free movie nights total – click link above for schedule.

Starts at dusk, approx 8:00 pm. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs to claim your spot on the green and enjoy a movie outside. Concession stand available, but you can bring your own food/drink. (We have actually never gone to this, but I hear good things from a lot of people. I have no idea what the bathroom situation is. I will update this when I find out!)

FREE!

“Ratatouille” – June 3, “Tower Heist” – July 8, “The Lego Movie” – August 5 (Click link for more info.)

Movie starts at dusk (approx 8:00) on Breidert Green. (The big grassy area with a small stage in the middle of downtown.)

Bring a blanket, snacks and lawn chairs and enjoy a movie outside. Get there early to claim a good spot, and walk across the street to Kernel Sweet Tooth to grab popcorn and ice cream! (No bathrooms were on site that I could find, but I was able to use Kernel Sweet Tooth’s with one of my daughters last year after we purchased a snack.)

So there you have it. My list of local, cheap fun. Now go have a family adventure on me!

Just kidding….it will probably be free!

You. Are. Welcome.

🙂 Kaitlyn

P.S. If you liked this post, you may also like Good Cheap Getaway for some easy and quick family vacation ideas!

The Perfect Mom Quest

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 4 Comments

Something has happened to our generation of moms. Something terrible. We have lost our common sense in our quest to be perfect.

Our mothers and grandmothers didn’t have the internet or “How To” books for parenting. They went off their instincts, and if that didn’t work, they talked to their mothers, aunts, friends and neighbors for advice. They didn’t always follow it, but in the end we all turned out to be healthy and functioning human beings. That was what mattered, right?

The internet is an endless supply of information. Google search “how to make baby food” and you literally have thousands of options, methods and instructions right there in front of you. The same thing applies to diaper creams, medicated ointments, and basically anything else you can use on a baby. Here is the thing that pisses me off – some of this stuff is pure crap.

Did you know ANYBODY can start a website?! (I started one!)

Did you know that anybody can publish ANYTHING THEY WANT on said website? (I am typing whatever the hell I want right now!)

Did you know that if they are making claims and giving advice it is most likely a bunch of bullshit unless they can cite their information from a credible source? (I bet you are now vaguely remembering high school bibliographies with loathing. You’re welcome.)

Our generation of moms can turn to the internet for any parenting obstacle. Forget common sense. You can just Google it. Who cares what your Gram says? She only managed to raise five respectful and successful kids in a single income household! Screw what the pediatrician says. Why would we listen to someone who completed 8+ years of college and medical school followed by 3+ years of residency when we can just read some random Perfect Mom’s blog and follow her advice? I am sure she is qualified to give sound medical guidance on the health of our families.

Oh wait. Did she even graduate high school? Her children seem OK in the pictures, but are they ACTUALLY healthy and OK? We will never know, my friends! We will only see what she wants us to see, because she can say whatever she wants on that big, bad blog of hers. She doesn’t have to produce any credentials to hit the publish button, and people read it. I am weeping for every scientist and medical professional who has ever published solid research. Published research is boring, but jumping on the hip Perfect Mom bandwagon is fun! Let’s all forgo our educations and parent our kids based on current trends!

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I spent HOURS upon HOURS on the internet. I refer to this as the Perfect Mom Quest. I became obsessed with the notion of being the Perfect Mom. So much so that I pushed aside all common sense instincts and read as much of those crap mommy blogs as I possibly could. Naturally, (no pun intended) I came to the following conclusions:

  • I was going to have a natural delivery (even considering home birth) because any mom worth anything pushes their kid out of their vagina drug free.
  • I would make my own organic baby food, because jars of baby food have chemicals. Which chemicals? IT DOESN’T MATTER! HOMEMADE ORGANIC WAS THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO GO!
  • I was going to breastfeed exclusively because if I gave my baby formula her brain would be underdeveloped, plus she might get cancer. JESUS. Might as well call that stuff liquid death.
  • I was never going to give my baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen because, “OMG! I read a blog that said these medications are poison. I would be administering POISON to my child! What kind of tricks are these pediatricians trying to pull!?”
  • I was only going to use cloth diapers because I read another blog saying disposable diapers WILL give your child severe diaper rash. HOLY SHIT. My kid will never have diaper rash. I will not allow it. I will only use cloth diapers. Are those disposable diaper parents freaking insane!? Why would anyone willingly give diaper rash to their baby?!
  • I was not going to vaccinate because Jenny McCarthy said it gave her kid autism, plus kids die from adverse reaction to vaccines. How many kids? Who cares?! It is killing children! Vaccination is obviously a tool put on Earth to defeat mankind.

I know. Exhausting. If only I could go back in time and slap myself senseless, and then slap myself some more until I was once again sane. I was smarter than that! I have a Bachelor of Science for Christ’s sake! I couldn’t complete one lab in NIU’s Anderson Hall without citing a study. I couldn’t turn in a project unless I had proof that my stated facts came from somewhere credible. My professors wouldn’t have given an uncited project one glance. I should have been able to avoid falling for this Perfect Mom crap right?

Once I had my baby I realized this quest was not only unrealistic, but also so time and energy consuming that I could barely handle it. Why was I putting myself through all this when there was no actual proof that my baby would turn out to be a super genius or Olympic athlete? That was the end of Perfect Mom Quest.

  • I ended up having a C-section because Avery was Frank breech. Had I done a home birth, I firmly believe one of us would not have come out of that situation healthy. Good-bye to natural delivery, and thank goodness for my obstetrician!
  • Making my own organic baby food was messy, just as expensive – if not more expensive – and a huge pain in the ass. I wasted a few hours of my life on it, then decided there were better ways to spend my time. My kids ate the toxic Gerber (which is actually not toxic at all – see below) for a couple months, and I switched them to finger foods. They are alive and healthy. Why is this short transition from liquid to finger foods plagued with puree controversy?!
  • I hated breastfeeding. Hated it. I suffered through sixteen weeks of zero sleep, bleeding nipples, low milk supply and throbbing let-downs before I finally gave up on the whole thing. While watching Cody feed Avery a bottle of formula, I wept. I still can’t tell you if it was out of guilt that I had given up or flat-out relief that breastfeeding was over. Then I went to bed (Since my boobs were no longer needed – Thank the Lord!) and slept while he worked his first all-night feeding shift. I woke up as a new woman and never looked back.
  • Once my kids hit 6 months, I gave them ibuprofen and acetaminophen when it was appropriate. Seeing your child sick and in pain is hard. If I have a headache, I take medicine and feel better. Why would I want my kids to cry in pain when I know I have something that will help? Turns out using medications properly is perfectly safe and healthy. (see below)
  • Here are fun facts you don’t find on a Perfect Mom blog about cloth diapers: They are disgusting and time consuming. Also – Disposable diapers don’t give your baby diaper rash. Poop and pee on skin give your baby diaper rash. I lasted 2 months using cloth diapers. My washing machine and gag reflex thanked me when I finally snapped and bought Huggies.
  • My kids are vaccinated and have been since day one. My pediatrician BEGGED me to do accurate research. She would treat my kids either way, but it was strongly encouraged that I make an educated decision rather than a “But I read it on a Perfect Mom blog” decision. I love my pediatrician. She knew how to tame my crazy.

I happen to know many women who are, in fact, Perfect Moms. They are breastfeeding like champions and pureeing baby food like it is their job. They are washing their cloth diapers without gagging and pushed their kids out – all natural and drug free – like they were supposed to. Cheers to them! They must have their own good reasons if they are putting themselves through all of that hot mess. I always get down on myself when talking to these moms. They never fail to remind me with a snarky little smile that they are, “Just doing what is best for baby!” or the good old, “Mommies make sacrifices!”

Yep. I am currently sacrificing the joy of ripping out your hair, Lady.

Being a new mom is like that high school girl vs. girl competition all over again. You can’t be in the Perfect Mom club unless you have successfully completed the Perfect Mom Quest.

https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.thegloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mean-Girls-Cant-Sit-With-Us-GIF.gif?w=656

I guess I am kicked out of the club. Rebel for life!

Truth be told, when Perfect Mom’s child stands next to Avery (a.k.a. my vaccinated, medicated, formula-drinking, Huggies-wearing, Gerber-eating child who was delivered via C-section) at the preschool music show, all I see is two happy and healthy kids. I can’t look at that group of 24 kids and pick out the breastfed ones. I couldn’t tell you which ones had homemade organic purees when they were 9 months old. All I can tell you is that they still made it through their first year of preschool….Regardless of all that.

I am reminding myself and all other moms like me that we did a good job.  We did the research and made parenting decisions based on what we knew in both head and heart was best for our families. As a result, our kids are just as happy and healthy as Perfect Mom’s organic, all natural kids.

You know what that makes us?

Perfect Moms.

Want to know where I did my research? Here you go:

My decision to vaccinate my kids:

Here is the World Health Organization’s vaccine reaction rates website. You can click on each vaccine and get a breakdown of every possible adverse reaction to the vaccines, including worldwide statistical data.

Here is the Autism Science Foundation’s website for autism and vaccination. There are countless studies listed that provide solid evidence against autism being related to vaccination.

Here is some info on herd immunity from the University of Oxford.

 My decision to buy Gerber baby food purees:

Here is Gerber’s website. They have USDA certified organic baby foods, which also means the crops are not genetically modified. If you have also done research, you would know anything with an USDA certified organic label cannot contain any GM foods.

You can look up the full ingredient list for any of their baby foods. Here is an example with peaches. These are their standard peaches, not the organic. Click on the nutrition information tab below the product’s picture for the full ingredient list. (Like any other food you buy in the grocery store, baby food has to follow the FDA guidelines for food labeling.)

I made sure all the Gerber purees that I used for my kids only contained the fruit/vegetables of choice, water, and either ascorbic acid or citric acid. What are those? They are natural preservatives! Ascorbic acid is vitamin C. It can be used as a preservative for food by preventing oxidation. It can also be used as a vitamin C supplement. Your body needs vitamin C to help absorb iron. An excess of vitamin C in the system is very rare because it is a water soluble vitamin. Citric acid is a naturally occurring acid in citrus fruits. It is used as a preservative to slow down oxidation of food. Have you ever squeezed lemon juice over apple slices to keep them from browning? Or lime juice into guacamole? You just preserved your food with citric acid. Don’t trust me? Click on the links above!

My decision to use over-the-counter medication to treat high fever or pain:

Here is KidsHealth.org’s information on the safety of ibuprofen and how to use it correctly. Here is their page for correct use of acetaminophen.

KidsHealth.org is a good resource for parents. It is managed by the Nemours Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to education for children’s health.

Here is the popular WebMD website’s advice for young children and ibuprofen use.

Booberry Cancakes

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 2 Comments

I am not a morning person.

I have childhood memories of my mother literally, physically dragging me out of bed as I fought her off in a sleepy haze. I also have unfortunate memories of hitting the snooze button way too many times in my early adult life, and consequently rushing to work/class/anything I ever had to attend before 10:00 AM. I would shamelessly burn rubber into the Starbucks drive thru and risk running another 10 minutes behind schedule. There was no way on God’s Green Earth I would make it through the lecture (that had already started) or bank teller shift (that started in 4 minutes) without a venti-with-an-extra-shot dose of caffeine. Once the first few sips of coffee were ingested, my eyes would open up. The world was no longer a bright, glaring, evil place. I would realize the sun was out and I had stuff to get done. I would silently scold myself for sleeping in as I muttered an apology to my boss or professor. I would run to my seat and get to work. Crap. Late again.

If you are a “tsk-tsking morning person”, you should know that I am fully aware and ashamed of the fact that if I hadn’t hit the snooze for 45 minutes I would have been on time. I envy your ability to pop out of bed in a cheery-ass, obnoxious mood and begin your day without wasting $5 on a large coffee. That must be so great for you! For me that morning struggle was REAL. So keep your “tsking” to yourself. Thanks.

Suddenly I became a mother in my mid-twenties, and I also had to become a morning person whether I liked it or not. It wasn’t too hard, actually. A tiny, helpless human crying for me was a good motivator. I bought a Keurig. I would wake up to feed the baby and then stumble over to the coffee machine. It wasn’t so bad. I even started watching the morning news while I sipped my coffee and ate some breakfast of my own. How grown up and “morning person” of me!

But, alas! Old habits die hard. I wish I could say I am a good mom who gets up with the sun to scramble eggs and start the laundry. I wish I could tell you that I am showered, dressed and watching the news while sipping my cup of coffee before my kids even wake up. I just am not. I usually stay asleep until one of my kids wakes up. I have come to terms with the fact that despite my best efforts at getting it together before 7:00 AM, I will never truly be a morning person. Just because I am usually awake by then doesn’t mean I enjoy it!

The. Struggle. Is. Still. Real.

Nowadays, my morning can go two completely different ways. This depends solely on which child wakes up first. (I suppose my morning could go a third way if I would just get my ass out of bed a half hour earlier…But that is not the point of this post…So I guess we won’t be discussing that third option today. Yea, I know. Tsk tsk.)

Morning #1:

Avery wakes up first. She tiptoes into my room and crawls into bed with me to snuggle. Sometimes she falls back asleep. (Yay! Bonus sleep!) When she is ready to get up she whispers, “Mommy, can we get up and have breakfast?” Nine times out of ten she will request Cheerios and banana. She usually lays in my bed until I tell her breakfast is ready, which gives me time to start my coffee and throw on some clothes in peace. She will tiptoe into the kitchen and eat, while I sip some coffee. Simple, easy and minimal dishes. She even puts her bowl in the sink when she is finishes. She usually asks to watch a kids’ show after, and I let her because she is just so darn good to me in the mornings. This gives me extra time to get a few things together before Emmy wakes up. The morning runs smoothly. Everybody is happy and satisfied. I love these mornings.

Morning #2:

Emmy wakes up first. I hear her stomp down the hall and fling open my door. I brace myself.

“Mommy! Wake up!” She stands right next to my face on the side of the bed.

“Mommy! OPEN EYES!” I open my eyes in bewilderment.

“I hungry.” She stares at me.

If I take more than 5 seconds to stretch and assemble my thoughts, she goes into full drill sergeant mode.

“Mommy! Time to wake up! Time to eat freckfast!” (She calls breakfast freckfast.)

I run to the bathroom and lock the door, because I know if I don’t she will be barging in there to harass me through all my business. She bangs on the door.

“MOMMY! YOU IN DER???”

Yes, honey. I am in here. You watched me walk in here.

“I HUNGRY!!! YOU HURRY UP??”

I stumble to the kitchen to get that coffee maker brewing, while she barks at my heels, “Cancakes! Mommy! Cancakes!” (She calls pancakes cancakes.)

“Muffins, Mom! Wif toast! And jelly. JELLY. MOM! THE JELLY IN DA FRIDGE!”

I shush her because I know where the damn jelly is. Tell her to keep her voice down and not to wake her sister. I suggest cereal. Granola bars. Yogurt. Fresh fruit. Please. Anything that doesn’t require pans, mixing bowls, eggs and effort.

“NO! I no eat dat! I want hot muffins. In oven. I want CANCAKES! BOOBERRY CANCAKES!!!” (Yep. She calls blueberries booberries.)

By this time Avery is groggily making her way down the hallway in just as much of a stupor as me, because all these noisy demands have woken her up too. Her eyes snap all the way open at the suggestion of blueberry pancakes. Now she chimes in, “Mommy, can you please make blueberry pancakes for us?” While Emmy doesn’t let up, “Yea, Mom! CANCAKESSSS! YAAAAYYY!”

Since I have been out of bed for approximately 3 minutes and haven’t had any coffee yet, I have no energy to fight it. I sigh and get out the mixing bowl while they skip laps around the kitchen table, chanting:

“Blueberry pancakes! BOOBERRY CANCAKES! Blueberry! BOOBERRY! Pancakes! CANCAKES! Yummy! HURRY! Yummy! HURRY!”

I make the pancakes, and they devour every bite on their plates. I manage to finally get that cup of coffee poured. Ahhhh. Bliss. My head clears. I look around. Maple syrup is on every surface of the kitchen. I wipe it all up. Now where are the kids? Probably touching all the TV remotes, tablets, and doorknobs we own with their sticky, maple syrup fingers. Oh well. Everybody is happy and satisfied, albeit we got there a different way than Morning #1.

Might as well sit back, relax and enjoy some booberry cancakes.

🙂 Kaitlyn

P.S. We pick our own blueberries every summer! Click here to find out how you can pick your own too!

 

Mrs. Cody Yoder

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 1 Comment

Do you like that title?

I don’t. Where is MY name? Oh, that’s right! I am married now, and according to the traditional rules of society, I am no longer Miss Kaitlyn Novak. (Remember her? The name I was able to use my whole flipping life? Like 29 years of it?)

Why in the heck do women even get married anymore?

This isn’t about love. Of course I love my husband. It isn’t about disrespect. I respect him too. It is about being an individual in a relationship. Go talk to some married couples, and I will rest my case. With at least one of those couples the whole conversation will go:

“WE think…”

“WE support…”

“WE believe…”

“We don’t like…”

“WE are available…”

Ugh! Get out of each others rear ends! Go find yourselves some different opinions! What do some of you married couples even have to talk about if you already agree with everything that comes out of your spouse’s mouth?!

As far Cody and I go, the two of us have VERY different opinions on pretty much everything. I swear. You name it, we disagree about it. Politics. Food. Religion. Picture frames. The kids. Money. The house. Sports teams. TV shows. Decorative pillows. How to drive. How to sleep. How to breathe. And probably eight hundred other things that aren’t even coming to mind right now. We debate and roll our eyes at each other pretty constantly. It is just what we do. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. I like it that way though. It keeps us both interested and on our toes. I don’t need him to agree with me on everything. It has worked out so far. We challenge each other, and usually end up finding a middle ground that works for both of us.

This was not the case when it came to my name change.

Before the wedding, we briefly discussed it. I said I was going to hyphenate. He said that it would mean a lot to him for me to take his name and blah, blah, blah. I think I muttered a “mmhmm” in a noncommittal way, and avoided the topic after that.

I know. Real mature, Kaitlyn.

Truth is, I don’t get it. The whole name change excitement. I saw a girl I knew from college post a selfie on Facebook literally seconds after saying “I do” with a caption that read:

“You can now address me as Mrs. So and So! (excessive hashtagging and emoticons)”

This post was immediately followed by the “official” name change on her Facebook profile. (What marriage license? What social security office? NOTHING is official until it’s posted on flipping Facebook. NOTHING.) Now her profile reads a completely new name that I won’t remember, because the whole time I knew her with her maiden name. I will probably delete her by accident, because I will see her name pop up on my news feed and not know who the heck she is. Oh well. But it begs me to ask questions:

Why are women so eager to lose their individuality the minute they get married?

Who gets a secret thrill when being called “Mrs. So and So” like their mother-in-law?

Can we still live happily ever after without our husbands overshadowing our own identity?

Cody and I got married last June, despite that vague name change discussion. I wore the dress, said the vows and toasted the champagne.  We came home and resumed our lives. I remember being relieved that we had managed to keep our same daily rhythm after it was over. Prior to getting married, I had been afraid that marriage would upset the happiness we already had. Some of that happiness, at least on my part, came from the independence of not always being identified with my husband. I was just me, not the other half of someone else. I was afraid I was going to lose myself to my marriage. I think the name change was symbolic of that fear. The woman I once was would die the minute we were pronounced as Mr. and Mrs. Yoder.

I remember opening our wedding cards and finding checks made out to “Cody and Kaitlyn Yoder.” I hadn’t run out to change my name the minute the wedding was over, so I endorsed them twice (once as Kaitlyn Yoder and again as Kaitlyn Novak) so that the bank could put the deposit through. The teller cheerily reminded me that all I have to do is bring in my marriage certificate and updated driver’s license next time, and they could take care of the name change for me. That way I wouldn’t run into this problem again. Then finished it off with a “Congratulations, Mrs. Yoder!” and a wink. That poor, bubbly girl. I think I actually scowled at her. I was only two days post-wedding and this crap was starting!? I drove home muttering profanity.

One month after the wedding, joking started on Facebook in regards to the lack of the “official” name change. Cody’s family started asking him why I hadn’t changed my name yet. Friends and family casually brought it up. It was a constant discussion. Some agreed with me. Others didn’t.

“I don’t understand what the big deal is.”

“It’s just a name.”

“It’s just the way things are.”

“I changed my name. It wasn’t hard.”

“I was actually happy to take my husband’s name.”

Well…..La-Di-Da for you.

Of course, Cody thought they all made valid points. Being the (only slightly) stubborn individual I am, I decided then and there during that conversation that I would probably never, ever change my name. I would be Kaitlyn Novak for all eternity. I dug in my heels, and clung to my name for dear life. The rules of society are stupid, and I was not going to be another one of those idiot girls flaunting the fact that I gave myself to a man in holy matrimony. I was one prying question short of a full-on bra burning! Feminism! Equality!

The months went by. Cody would bring it up on occasion, and then I would promptly unleash an angry diatribe about the oppression of women. (I might have a flair for dramatics.) He would get mad. I would already be mad. It wasn’t pretty. What I had feared was happening. We were losing our happiness to this dumb marriage. I’ll be darned if I was going to lose my name too!

Finally, Cody took a different approach. He asked me to explain the real feelings behind my hesitation to change my name. Once I was finished, he told me he would still like me to be Kaitlyn Yoder someday. He told me how much it would mean to him. Then he told me he would try to understand where I was coming from, and that he was okay with me taking my time. He promised to never bring up my name change again, as long I promised to think about it and tell him if I honestly wasn’t going to be able to go through with it. I remember feeling relieved. We didn’t have to talk about it anymore. I didn’t have to be treated like a science experiment because I got married wanting to live happily ever after with my husband and my maiden name. Seven months after the wedding, we had found our middle ground.

Once I didn’t feel so cornered and pressured, I was able to think about the name change a little more rationally. It would be easier to be identified as a family of four with the same last name. I wouldn’t have to explain any confusion on legal or financial documents. Most importantly, it would make my husband really happy. I didn’t have to lose my sense of self, just my maiden name. I came to terms with it, and I sucked it up. I went to the social security office. I went to the DMV. I went to the bank. I updated my credit cards, library card, insurance cards, gym membership, and whatever the heck else. I made a new email address, because my regular one had my maiden name in it. I practiced my new signature so that I would stop accidentally signing “Kaitlyn Novak” on everything. The cherry on top of this pain in the neck? I changed my Facebook profile name. Because it just isn’t official until it’s Facebook official.

My husband was over the moon, and my kids were pretty excited too. I will never forget the day I taught Avery my new last name, because it was too cute.

“Mommy, now you are Kaitlyn Yoder? Just like I am Avery Yoder? And daddy is Cody Yoder? And Emmy is Emmy Yoder? We are all the same!”

Leave it to my four-year-old to melt my heart over an issue that a few months prior was driving me to lead a feminist movement!

I will never be as thrilled as my college Facebook friend that I changed my name, but I am glad I made the sacrifice. After all, marriage is about sacrifice and compromise. Finding the middle ground where both of you can comfortably stand. It is a good thing Cody and I had plenty of practice debating everything else over the years, otherwise we might not have known how to find our middle ground.

Love,

Mrs. Cody Yoder

The Secret of the Shoes

~ Kaitlyn @ Doing Dishes Making Wishes ~ 1 Comment

shoe closet

There is a little secret that many moms like me are hiding. It seems a little precarious to divulge this certain secret to just anyone. What would our new mom friends think? We keep it to ourselves as we responsibly sip two glasses of wine during dinner and cap off our girls’ night with a big glass of water. We turn up our nose at the group of 21-year-old girls doing shot after shot at the bar on our way out the door at 11:00 PM.

Mom friend: “I meannn…Could you imagine acting like that? That many shots?”

Me: “…….”

Luckily, others jump in with the usual goodbye banter.

“What a late night! (Yawn) So tired!”

“See you next week at preschool registration!”

“Remember to text me that recipe!”

Then we say our goodbyes as we hop into our economical and family friendly vehicles full of empty car seats and cracker crumbs. We drive home and hurry to bed. Why the hurry? Because those kids will be up by 7:00 AM, whether we had a late dinner or not!

I really do feel tired as I walk to my own Ford Edge (Go ahead and laugh! At least it’s not a minivan!) and unlock it. Heck – If I am being honest – I didn’t even want to get dressed, do my hair, put on makeup and go out in the first place. I look at the clock on the dash as I start the engine. (If I can make it home in a half hour and go right to bed, I can still get seven hours of sleep in! Pedal to the medal!)  I drive home and chuckle to myself about this little secret that I keep, because just a few short years ago things at 11:00 PM looked much different for me.

Ready to hear this little secret?

Here goes…..

I was once a Party Girl.

In fact, I was the epitome of Party Girl.

I went out all the time. Every. Single. Night. I knew every bar and every club. I knew the promoters and the owners. I never paid for drinks. I never waited in line. I left my apartment to START the night at 11:00 PM, not to resurface for real life until the sun was coming up. Quite frankly, I can’t tell you how I lived through this madness to see today.

It’s a true miracle that I stand before you!

I have to admit, I looked great during those days. (Which is completely inexplicable considering I had no sleep and no proper nutrition while ingesting immeasurable amounts of alcohol and the *occasional* illegal substance. Chalk it up to youth, I guess!) If you ever were a true Party Girl, you could probably check all of these boxes too:

  • My skin was a uniform shade of tan. (ALL party girls went tanning in the cancer box commonly called a tanning bed. Yep. ALL of them.)
  • My nails freshly manicured and toes freshly pedicured. (This was very important. It is stressful maintaining the Party Girl lifestyle while holding down a job and school. I needed that mani & pedi to unwind, damn it!)
  • My hair always cut in the latest trend with fresh platinum blonde highlights. (I don’t know how I was able to afford this.)
  • My closet was bursting with party dresses, clutch purses, and amazing pairs of high heels. (Again, how did I afford this? Eh, who cares – I looked good right?!)

I also had immeasurable amounts of time to spend on my appearance. I would spend an hour each night just doing my make up. My smokey eye was blended to perfection and cheekbones perfectly contoured. Another hour was spent trying on outfits. Nothing to wear? No problem! Just call a friend over and spend yet another hour trying on her outfits, and she could try on mine! Bonus: Now that we were together, we could start to pre-drink! Oh, and turn that new Britney album on! And turn it waaaay the hell up!

I would always finish off the “getting ready ritual” by selecting a pair of my killer high-heeled shoes. Flats? BLAH! Moms wear flats!

We would finally head out, and I thrived. My witchy little self loved the feeling of walking past the people waiting in line (Sucks for them!) and straight in the door. We danced and did shots. (If I remember correctly, it was infinity amounts of shots. So yes, my mom friend from earlier, I can imagine doing that many shots.) We would eventually be asked to join gentlemen in V.I.P. for champagne. We would accept, then promptly assess the other girls in V.I.P. – who clearly weren’t as “hot” as us. (Chances are we all looked exactly the same….Just tan, blonde bodies filling up the space and giving each other dirty looks so that random guys who could afford to waste money on bottle service felt good about themselves.) Once the night of partying was all said and done, I would make my way home. I would lovingly wipe my shoes with a damp cloth, thank them for making my calves look fabulous, and tuck them back into their spot amongst their siblings on the rack in my closet. Another epic night over.

Ahhhh….The Party Girl life!

If I met my Party Girl self and told her she would be a stay-at-home mom who pops out 2 kids in 3 years, she would probably laugh in disbelief while she trotted off to her next social event. Who would be dumb enough to ruin their life and body having kids?!

Chances are I would also probably punch her. Yep. Right in the stupid, tan face. Good thing my current schedule of awake during the day and asleep at night makes the chances of a nocturnal Party Girl sighting pretty slim.

As time passed, that chapter of my life ended. I assimilated into society as a functioning human being. Over the years of pregnancy and new motherhood, I have given away most of my party clothes without batting an eye. Even now that I have lost the baby weight, those dresses just wouldn’t have looked the same on me. It’s like they belonged to a different girl. I couldn’t part with the shoes though. They were just such great shoes. I kept them all.

11:00 at night is now my bed time. I need my beauty sleep. (Especially now that the births of two children have robbed me of some of the beauty I once beheld.) I hide from the sun like it is a demon dragging me to Hell. SPF 90? Get me some of that! UV rays are the fast track to wrinkles and death! (Which are interchangeable in my mind.) To say I have gone “low maintenance” with my appearance would be an understatement. My current daily beauty regimen takes 5 minutes, and is as follows:

  • Put on leggings and long T-shirt.
  • Put hair in ponytail.
  • Brush teeth.
  • Apply tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip balm.
  • Go about day without giving a second thought to appearance.

Now….A girls’ night out means I might actually spend a half hour getting ready. I will wash and blow dry my hair. I will add some eyeshadow and lip gloss to the above beauty regimen. I will also put on real clothes (Time to bust out the designer skinny jeans!) and perhaps…A pair of my amazing old high heels??? After all – it seems only fair to take them for a spin once in a while. It probably gets pretty boring in the dark closet they currently reside 99.9% of the time.

One of my new mom friends will notice them at dinner and say, “Oh my gosh! I love those heels! Where did you get them?!”

I can just smile with my little Party Girl secret as I answer, “Oh these? They are just an old pair.”

I might even get crazy and order a third glass of wine that night…Because…Well…If the shoe fits….